FS: ECP Walnut X.1 Dac (lundahl nickel)

Discussion in 'Closed (Archived) Sales' started by pure5152, Jul 26, 2021.

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  1. pure5152

    pure5152 Friend

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    EDIT: SOLD

    tl;dr:

    $775 shipped CONUS (+3% for paypal or gift), minor scratches on front and left wooden panel, selling because I have a walnut v5 now, friends and known contributors only.

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    Selling a ECP walnut X.1 Dac that I got used from a head-fi user in late January 2021. Unfortunately the original seller didn't pack it well, so it has some slight cosmetic damage (a minor scuff on the front plate, and a small scuff on the left wooden side, see pictures). But the top, right panel, and back are in perfect physical condition, and in terms of sound it's in wonderful condition. Will come with the stock power wall wart, which the DAC was developed specifically for and should not be replaced.

    This DAC is something special and is severely underrated. The sound is organic and slightly warm, with full-bodied R2R-like timbre, great macro/micro dynamics, a full 3D soundstage, and excellent resolution. For perspective, I felt it was a step up from the schiit gungnir multibit a2 and soekris 2541, and ended up selling both those dacs after extensive A/B with the walnut x.1. From my experience, the dac synergized well with the DNA Starlett, Dan's EC ultralinear (I imagine it'll work with other EC amps well too), and ECP 3F (via rca-XLR adapters). All this while being in a size only slightly bigger than a schiit modi. It's impressive.

    If I liked it so much, why am I selling? In short, I lucked out and was able to get an older balanced version of the dac from Tom B, the same ECP Walnut V5 shown here. There's actually no real difference in main topology; they are both fully balanced internally, the walnut x.1 just transforms the output to single-ended with transformers for no loss in quality while the walnut v5 keeps it balanced at the output (v5 also uses cinemag; x.1 uses lundahl). Main reason for me switching to the walnut v5 is simplicity (no more rca-XLR adapters needed) and slightly more tight and punchy sound with my 3F.

    These go for $1000 new. Asking for $775 shipped CONUS (add 3% for paypal fees, or gift). Friends and known contributors only for now.

    As always, very happy to answer any questions, either as discussion below or via PMs. Thanks for looking! :)

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    Last edited: Jul 31, 2021
  2. Erroneous

    Erroneous Friend

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    Fellow Walnut owner chiming in. I keep the Walnut and a Yggdrasil A1 in a system with Aficionado (using Acme globe 2a3 and a WE396A at the moment), and Walnut is so good that I'll probably move Yggdrasil to a different system because it's simply not needed where it is currently.

    I also like Walnut enough that I'm having Tom make me one with the amorphous transformers so I can compare them. It's weird that this DAC has totally flown under the radar. I've been on a DAC journey for over 6 months (and probably 25 DACs) and I know I'll keep a Walnut around regardless because it's that good. The small size is also a really great trait, but who cares compared to the sound quality. SQ is great, and I definitely recommend this DAC, especially at this price!

    Also, forgot to mention- Walnut makes Gungnir Multibit A1 and A2 both sound smeared and soft. I hadn't heard that from either until I A/Bd them all. Walnut won, and it wasn't even close.
     
  3. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Not to clog up pure's thread, but now I'm a lot more curious about this DAC. In either of your opinions, what is the "closest DAC" to the Walnut DAC? Or, what is it a mix or reminiscent of?

    GLWS
     
  4. Erroneous

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    @penguins It's close enough to Yggdrasil A1 that I'll probably move that to another system because I end up using Walnut.
    Other DACs that I've tried, this one is cleaner and "purer". I don't tend to like DACs that hide details and didn't spend much time with Spring 2 (though I'm going to revisit the Spring in my journeys kinda specifically for Utopia). The rest probably aren't worth a novel except to say that all Schiit DACs except Yggdrasil have a veil the Walnut cuts through immediately upon comparison.

    I don't find it bright, and certainly not dull. It's just a really nice DAC that will survive in my system while other DACs get sold off because I only have so much room.

    Detail retrieval is excellent. Low level detail is better than BF2 and Gungnir Multibit A1 and A2 to my ears. In my memory it bested Holo Spring 2 level 2 in overall neutrality, air, space.

    Soundstage is great but I use it on my Verite Closed exclusively and I'm pretty happy with the stage on these HP in general. I get good height, front to back layering, and a general 3D all-around sound that seems to exist with the HP when driven by the proper equipment.

    In short, I don't know how you could go wrong at this price, for this level of DAC. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong once you hear it, but I don't think you will. I've heard a lot of DACs and this one definitely punches well above its weight class. I'm a fan.

    Closest, I would say Yggdrasil A1 because of what I've heard in my search it's close enough that I can move Yggdrasil down to the speaker setup and won't miss it.
    It's better than a host of DACs. Bested by the May and Wavedream, but that's to be expected. It's dynamic, fast, has great extension at both ends, great resolving abilities, and is fun to listen to.
     
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    Last edited: Jul 26, 2021
  5. pure5152

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