In other news....

[SoundMods]

I've played with several DACS over many years only to end up picking nits or not liking the piece at all.

Then along came the Esoteric D-07 (I was weak and got a deal) I did my SoundMods upgrades (I can't leave anything alone) with emphasis on the power supply and to make sure the AES/EBU input was correct (It was -- the first DAC in my experience that was).

This chunk of extruded aluminum sports the AsahiKASEI AK4392 DAC chip along with its input receiver with an output stage configured around the Muses 8820 Dual Op-amp and the NE5534 Op-amp.

Surprisingly the D-07 had aluminum electrolytic output couplers and only .07-mv output offset. It is now DC coupled and not compromised by of things electrolytic coupling caps. Electrolytics? Really?!

NO coupling CAPs.

What I got in the end was a supremely transparent and musical playback that's competitive with my DS Audio optical-cartridge vinyl playback. The Japanese hit on something special with this AKM DAC chip.

Here is a look "under the hood."

Attachments

[tomp]

Interesting since the NE5532 and NE5534 have been around for more than 30 years and have been panned as being inferior to more modern devices. In reality, it is more than up to the job.

[HAL]

The TI OPA627 opamp with Class A biasing is still my favorite DAC output stage.

Problem with the NE5534/NE5532 opamp in a lot of DAC's output stages was that they isolated them with a series resistor and parallel cap on each of the power supply pins for a low pass noise filter. Oh well...

[SoundMods]

Interesting since the NE5532 and NE5534 have been around for more than 30 years and have been panned as being inferior to more modern devices. In reality, it is more than up to the job.

As it turns out the NE5534s were used for the single-ended outputs (RCA) and the Muses' chips were used for the differential outputs (XLR).

I can't argue their choices because the Exsoteric performs beyond my expectations. Go figure.

[HAL]

The E70 DAC should be here on Wednesday for trials.

Probably will be until after Dec 27th before hearing it with everything going on.

[Roscoe Primrose]

The E70 DAC should be here on Wednesday for trials.

Probably will be until after Dec 27th before hearing it with everything going on.

If you can find the time, hook it up to a source and let it run for a few days while you're busy Then listen to it

Roscoe

[HAL]

Will try. It might get here early!

[Pelliott321]

need to hook up a load to work the output section too

[HAL]

The E70 Velvet DAC arrived late, so will be next week before I can get it and set it up.

Happy Holiday's!

[cport]

@HAL - mine (Velvet DAC) arrived last week - I am very happy with the sound, as there is a notable (but natural) smoothness and rounding of notes that I hear in comparison to the ESS chips I am more used to. For the price, it is sounding like a winner.

Charles Port
LINKWITZ-Lounge “East”