The KillerDAC Audio forum
General HIFI => Other DACs => Topic started by: ozcal on March 21, 2011, 06:15:49 PM
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This looks interesting : http://www.totaldac.com/index.htm
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Yeah, I stumbled onto this myself quite recently.
Seems fairly interesting!
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Definately an interesting concept. Dac can be bought as part of a valve pre-amp with valve regulation and output stage but at 10,000 euros it getting rather exy.
The active crossover options are interesting too.
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Definately an interesting concept. Dac can be bought as part of a valve pre-amp with valve regulation and output stage but at 10,000 euros it getting rather exy.
The active crossover options are interesting too.
10k euros wow that is big $$$$
active xovers not a fan of them at all
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Active crossovers when done right piss all over passive crossovers, it's like comparing a sad IB design with a decent horn - no contest that's unless you like muted dynamics and coloured sound, surprisingly some do! (IMO-SNA). The poor olde amp looking into a complex load of capacitors and inductors has a very uneven response and tough time and that's without the typical driver inductance etc. Long live active crossovers particually when they are valve based with no snarling feedback to mess everything up.
V
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Definately an interesting concept. Dac can be bought as part of a valve pre-amp with valve regulation and output stage but at 10,000 euros it getting rather exy.
The active crossover options are interesting too.
10k euros wow that is big $$$$
active xovers not a fan of them at all
Sure is Mario, the basic dac with ss psu and output buffer is 3100 euros- 3900 depending on config.
T'was just the very unusual design the picqued my interest.
Can't really comment too much on active vs passive x-overs as my experience is limmited to Linn , Naim and Meridian. The Linn systems did show a big improvement in full active mode imo.
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DAC does look very interesting. Would love to hear one.. but doubt I ever will have the opportunity to :)
I originally didn't like actives crossovers either. Especially after my experience with the Behringer DCX2496 and even the high-end DBX Driverack 480. But after living with the GOTO CF-1 which doesn't have any digital processors in the way, unlike the Behringer and DBX units, I have to say I find active can do it for me just as well as a 'no compromise of parts' passive does.
I received the Pioneer D-23 last night too. Will post my subjective report on how that goes against the GOTO unit soon :)
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Yep T , pitty the price is so high as you would have to have pretty deep pockets to buy it on spec.
ps Mario have you heard Steves M100 yet ;D
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Active crossovers when done right piss all over passive crossovers,
V
i am yet to hear one vitavoxdude until then i stand where i am.
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Yep T , pitty the price is so high as you would have to have pretty deep pockets to buy it on spec.
ps Mario have you heard Steves M100 yet ;D
stevem? 100 what?
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Vitavoxdudes Meridian M100 active speakers.IMO the best speaker system Meridian ever made.
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Vitavoxdudes Meridian M100 active speakers.IMO the best speaker system Meridian ever made.
not yet he is away atm when he gets back he needs a killer source for it first ;D
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http://www.meridian-audio.info/viewphoto.php?compid=34
Have a look Mario , a bit unusual but but I remember hearing them at out H-FI show in Edinburgh back in the 80's with the MCD pro and being blown away.
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http://www.meridian-audio.info/viewphoto.php?compid=34
Have a look Mario , a bit unusual but but I remember hearing them at out H-FI show in Edinburgh back in the 80's with the MCD pro and being blown away.
looks good ozcal
but i am biased to valves so if its ss its still transistor sound,just me and my biased ways my ears dont like it much ;)
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http://www.meridian-audio.info/viewphoto.php?compid=34
Have a look Mario , a bit unusual but but I remember hearing them at out H-FI show in Edinburgh back in the 80's with the MCD pro and being blown away.
looks good ozcal
but i am biased to valves so if its ss its still transistor sound,just me and my biased ways my ears dont like it much ;)
No arguments there Mario but it would be interesting to here them being fed by a KD and Ktrans.
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Review of the TotalDac is now out on 6moons:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/totaldac/1.html (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/totaldac/1.html)
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Yum yum!
I really do admire his approach.
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Review of the TotalDac is now out on 6moons:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/totaldac/1.html (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/totaldac/1.html)
buy it tuyen me and hens will review it
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I must admit, this product does appeal to me a lot.
May need to sell a few toys before I can think about getting one of these though.. tempting!
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I asked Vincent (Mr TotalDac) a question I had on diyAudio forums. Posted it below:
Question, do you have any recommendations on devices/modules that can feed from a computer transport to the TotalDac via the SPDIF connection? Any plans to implement some sort of USB/I2S link?
His reply:
There are so many different USB to spdif or PCI to spdif etc... I use a DIY board using a pcm2902 followed by a analog 2.4GHz video transmitter but it is limited to 48KHz.
I prefer when the spdif generator from a PC is separate because these equipments are rapidly obsolete. I want my DAC to be used even in 20 years. :)
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Another email reply from Vincent.
Hi Tuyen,
I have a Goto SG-16TT, I used it when I had a horn midrange, I haven't yet had the time to try to integrate it to my 125Hz-18KHz ribbon.
Goto driver are transparent and never slow, but a full Goto system is expensive, I could by the low midrange driver.
A 15inch Goto would be nice in may bass horns as well.
My DAc has been comapre to a Zanden (on a french forum) and it is as good for midrange beauty and detail and soudstage, but Totaldac is now better for dynamic and bass, which is a limitation of the Zanden.
Yes the best is to use a USB (or pci) to spdif from a computer. Lynx PCI cards are also very good to output spdif. There are many USB to spdif converter, M2tech for exemple. You don't need to use I2S with my DAC, spdif is good because I d'ont use the spdif clock, I rebuild the clock in the DAC.
Vincent
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Great to see this very interesting dac getting some exposure.
Would love to try one myself.
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Vitavoxdudes Meridian M100 active speakers.IMO the best speaker system Meridian ever made.
Yup, not too bad at all Ozcal, the Meridians can rock and with those four B110 bassmids being driven by 2 x 70w amps in each box can move the air quite fast without overhang making them fairly dynamic for an IB design. Of course the B139 ABR assists the lowest octaves. Mid is handled by the mid only version of the B110 and a choice of tweeters, T52 or T33a's I use the later as they are a bit more extended in the top end. Expensive, hmmm fairly but when your an addict like me you just HAVE to have them! (Tuyen take note)!! I rewired them with something a whole lot better and Vishayed the active crossovers andding a fair bit more filigree detail at some considerable cost. They will not be replacing my 4 tonnes of horns any time soon though but they slip into a room easily and do not require 4 rippled men sweating on the floor to move them.
I'm back :P
V
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Glad to see you back V.
One of my lasting hi-fi memories was listening to 'Yes' 90..... being played on the M100'S ,via the MCD pro and Meridian pre at the hi-fi show in Edinburgh. Very nice.
G
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Glad to see you back V.
One of my lasting hi-fi memories was listening to 'Yes' 90..... being played on the M100'S ,via the MCD pro and Meridian pre at the hi-fi show in Edinburgh. Very nice.
G
Yup happy memories are made of such things ozcal ;D , it's great when you can just enjoy the music and forget all about HiFi....... :'(
V