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DAC Off: Marv's Place 17th or 18th November

Discussion in 'The Meeting Place' started by purr1n, Nov 6, 2018.

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  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    @brencho came over a DAC-Off "shakedown" before the real event.

    Impressions from him later. I only have availability on 17th or 18th of this month. I know, short notice. We could do it on thanksgiving too. Let me know if anyone would like to have a small meet. Otherwise, I'm sending the Convert-2 directly to @Clemmaster and commencing the invite-only loaner.

    IMG_20181106_104018.jpg
    Top to bottom: Gungnir Multibit A2, Crane Song Solaris, EAR DAC (not really listened to - not enough time), Dangerous Music Convert-2, Yggdrasil (bottom behind glass - not really listened to - not enough time).

    IMG_20181106_131316.jpg
    Behind the laptop from top to bottom: Dangerous Music Source DAC and OG Gungnir DS. Small chassis on top is XLR to RCA iso-transformers (required for DNA's SE inputs).
    Left of laptop: Latest revision of DNA Stratus 2A3
    Right of laptop: EC Af (NFB version)

    IMG_20181106_123359.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2018
    purr1n, Nov 6, 2018
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  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Quick comments.
    • Convert-2 and Gungnir MB A2 were more similar than different.
    • I preferred Convert-2 for most popular music.
    • Both of us agreed the Crane Song soundstage was awesome.
    • @brencho and I had to refresh ourselves, wash away the digital stained upon our ears, with vinyl after the DAC-Off. The vinyl rig (Classic 4, Ortofon Bronze, Schiit Mani - recent production - just for kicks) just did everything right. It possessed the best qualities of each these of these DACs, without any of the less desirable traits, and more.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2018
    purr1n, Nov 6, 2018
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  3. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    All I can think of looking at all that is your wife is a very patient woman ...

    Also, the EAR unit is a 2U rackmount?
     
    Taverius, Nov 6, 2018
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  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    EAR is like 2.25U and not rackmount.
     
    purr1n, Nov 6, 2018
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  5. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

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    17-18 is the weekend of CTNX. Would love the chance to hear a Stratus, especially with Yggdrasil A2, but probably won't make it. If you guys go on without me I will understand...
     
    BillOhio, Nov 6, 2018
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  6. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Really fun time with Marv. Got to try my first ever McRib. Thank you America.

    As for the DACs we compared, Gungnir Multibit a2 and convert 2 the best, Solaris my least favorite and not just cause the green knobs. It was hard sounding, a bit too thin and cold. It also didn't have the kick of the convert 2 or the detail of the Gungnir Multibit a2. Staged well though.

    Convert 2 slams nice, stages well, and is a really fun dac. I like it a lot. Definitely blaqqquer than Gungnir Multibit a2 and more kick. However it didn't resolve low level details as well as Gungnir Multibit a2. For Gungnir Multibit I could hear small details in fingers on strings and such small details. Those were gone from the convert or became more audible if you turned it up more (but I already listen on the louder side).

    As for the amps, hd800 with just sdr sounds great from Stratus. Digging that combo a lot. Liked EC more with hd6x0.

    Will post in appropriate thread as well but ZMF Verite is still too dark, warm and closed in for my liking. Even with thinner pads. Still has cup coloration and reverb. Fast driver helps but its still squarely a ZMF sounding headphone. Some will like others will not.
     
    brencho, Nov 6, 2018
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  7. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Woah something is changing G.u.m.b.y to Gugnir Multibit. Well played sbaf.
     
    brencho, Nov 6, 2018
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  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Elex awesome from Stratus. Utopia too.
     
    purr1n, Nov 6, 2018
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  9. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Yeah agreed, focal worked really well from Stratus. For same reasons hd800 sdr works so well.

    Also heard a Marv-modded HE-5. I'd like to call it a Code-X except that's probably proprietary. Very very similar, except I may actually like it MOAR than Code-X. More air, still flattish FR, tite tite tite bass. Liked it a lot. May be up for sale soon if someone wants it.
     
    brencho, Nov 6, 2018
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  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Dangerous Music Source DAC was veiled and had more emphasized upper mids. Made Elex un-listenable from either Stratus or ECAF. Probably works good to slay thy ears with Slayer while being slowly suffocated to death with a blanket. OG Gungnir Multibit USB Gen 1 kept cutting out with my POS laptop, but it sounded bettar than the Source. More details on this later.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2018
    purr1n, Nov 6, 2018
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  11. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    How did you like the Verum?
     
    Ash1412, Nov 6, 2018
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  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The Dodge Charger 6.4l V8 was fun right? Figured you had never been in something like this. 'murica f**k Yeah!
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2018
    purr1n, Nov 6, 2018
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  13. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Dodge Charger kicked harder than Convert 2. Beast mode engaged. Fun as f**k. Euro sports cars need not apply. Go home.

    If I didn't comute 100 miles a day id buy one. American muscle rocks. Will watch fast and furious later.
     
    brencho, Nov 6, 2018
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  14. SoupRKnowva

    SoupRKnowva Official SBAF South Korean Ambassador

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    There were only two Gungnirs right? an A2 Gungnir Multibit and a Gungnir DS(probably with gen2 usb?). i think there were some types about what the gungnirs were in the main post.

    and since you didnt make too many comments about the comparison to Gungnir DS, i assume youre leaving that to for me to write about when I get it :p
     
    SoupRKnowva, Nov 6, 2018
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  15. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Correctamundo. Gungnir Multibit a2 and OG DS gungnir. The comparison of the Source was to OG DS gungnir we had side by side but Marv has done more comparison of the source than when I was there
     
    brencho, Nov 6, 2018
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  16. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Focals dough...
    [​IMG]

    All Focal products need a:
     
    Psalmanazar, Nov 6, 2018
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  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Correct, the latest "A2 upgrade cards" (unconfirmed) in the Gungnir MB and the OG Gungnir delta-sigma speshal using the best AKM DAC ever created, the AKM4399. This unit I believe has the upgraded delta-sigma update cards, but the original USB Gen 1? Gen 2? which dropped out audio with crappy laptops.

    I haven't listened to OG Gungnir DS in a while, sort of forgot about it... it's not bad, in fact it's quite good. Not the most airy, but super solid dynamic sound.
     
    purr1n, Nov 6, 2018
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  18. SoupRKnowva

    SoupRKnowva Official SBAF South Korean Ambassador

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    I didnt realize they made an update to the Gungnir DS analog cards too? did anyone ever discuss this? back in 2015 i remember it getting more discussion after the new USB gen2 came out, which showed what it was capable of

    i guess Ill find out what DS boards mine has when I open it up to install the gen5 USB that i ordered for it
     
    SoupRKnowva, Nov 6, 2018
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  19. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    In the absurd world and absurd prices of planars, it's very decent. It's not super resolving or open or dynamic but it doesn't have the weird f'ing FR issues of other planars (like audeze 2c mrShitter and some hifimans). In today's world it's a deal. That is my 5 second impression. Should check more in depth next time.
     
    brencho, Nov 6, 2018
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  20. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    so it's like the ukrainian esp 950 of planars ?
     
    Psalmanazar, Nov 6, 2018
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