I just became aware of this thread and have the AA Drive 1 MkII and DAC 1 MkIV coming. I imagine that it will be some time before it is at its best and that I have much experimentation with isolation, power cords, and digital cords to do.
Did anyone have prior AA equipment which these components replaced? What improvements did you hear? |
Dev, all that I can say is that I know many very happy H-Cat users who listened first and asked questions afterwards.
I anxiously await my AA equipment. The reviews here and from other sources suggest that this maybe a major advance. I only know what I don't like, having own the dCS, EMM, and Levinson gear in past. I was very happy with the Esoteric X-01 LE and often regret having sold it. |
Jeffrey, what hard drive have you gone to? I have been very interested in the StereoTimes review of the Memory Player by Nova Physics. It now is available with a dac included. I heard VRS equipment beginning about 5 years ago. They did manage great improvement and easy of use by the 2005 RMAF but since have been invisible. I understand there are several other companies moving strongly in this direction. |
I heard the AMR at CES and learned that it used the old TDA 1541A chip as does Zanden. I liked the looks of the unit, but the sound like in all the rooms on the mezzanine was pretty awful. I lost interest.
I know how much difference the post dac filtering can make as I had the Exemplar 5910 with the initial mods and later with the post dac filter mods. The filter mods were a substantial improvement. Zanden, of course, spent a good deal of time dealing also with the issues associated with the TDA 1541A chip. I had the first version and found it quite good, but I think it is uncompetitive now. |
Dev, I owned the Dac6 and the Phillips SACD 1000 and the dCS Elgar with sacd capability and the pro 972 upsampler. In neither case have I heard much of an improvement, if any, in newer models.
I have no idea what the reason for the fictitious dealer was, but I know many of the dealers and they are quite real. I doubt seriously that this is the totality of your questions about the H-Cat, however.
You know that my philosophy is merely to tell of my personal experiences with components. If you or others listen and don't agree it does not bother me. If you question the integrity of people that I know to be good people I will not ignore it. Nor will I ignore dismissing innovations as hype when I know them not to be.
I am more interested in what people like Jeffrey above have to say than what you have to say, because he seems to listen more than pontificate. |
I got my AA Dac Mk IV and Drive 1 MkII today. After four hours it is sounding much better than at first. I expect it will be several days before I can make any real conclusions. It is very quiet and has very nice extension at both ends, but the soundstage is what most pleases me. I have the Drive 1 on the Halcyonic active isolation base and the Dac on an Acapella base. I ultimately will try the Dac on the Halcyonics and the Drive on top of it. Not having a drawer transport makes the use of the Walker Talisman more difficult. |
Dev, there were beta versions of the Indra. I had some. They differred from the production versions only in the connectors. If your friend has the low conductivity Stealth connectors, he has production versions. Indras are no longer available.
I put the AA Dac on the Halcyonics and then the Drive 1. I was totally shocked with the improvement-great dynamics, clean high end, profound bass, and total realism of the soundstage. Wow! I must say that I cannot afford another Halcyonics under my Shindo tt, so vinyl is disadvantaged. |
Pubul57, see http://www.halcyonics.de/en/products/micro.php?navid=14&topId=13 This will at least give you a picture. I cannot really say what the price is as this is in flux. It is in the $8000 area, however. Yes it is very expensive but then again you cannot get its benefits in the sound of your components for any cost. I don't agree with the recent rave review that suggests the Minus K is its equal under turntables.
Last evening I just sat in disbelief of what I was hearing with the Accustic Arts Dac Mk IV and Drive One Mk II. My dCS, EMM, Esoteric, Exemplar, and SONY efforts just are no longer in the ball game. |
Srouse, I am a believer that most everything varies depending on ones system. I see no reason why a spring unit would equal the Halcyonics active isolation, but it would be great to have to spend less money. I have never had a Minus K unit but do know the benefits of the Halcyonic on at least the Shindo turntable. Unfortunately, I only have two and have found the Halcyonic under the amp is of such benefit that I cannot take it off to go back under the turntable.
Initially, I demurred on the reviewer's comment that one could put two components, one on top the other, on the Halcyonics as that was not my experience with the Esoteric X-01 LE and the Exemplar dac. But I put both my Accustic Arts Dac Mk IV and Drive 1 Mk II on the Halcyonics with incredibly better results.
I had a recent experience with the importance of the direction of fuses. Brian Ackerman had mentioned that the IsoClean fuses I was ordering should go in the opposite directions for the Dac and Drive 1. When I got the fuses I thought I was following his direct, but really had them reversed. I listened for one day with them backward and thought the sound was modestly better. Then yesterday, I learned that the fuse in the Dac is to face outwards not inwards. I changed both unit, and can honestly say I was shocked at how important direction was.
Since Lloyd Walker long ago suggested that I change the direction of the fuse on his turntable controller and I found him right, I have bothered to find which way is best. On the Accustic Arts it is greater than on anything else I have experimented with. I strongly recommend that you try which ever fuse you are using both ways. And if you have the good fortune to have the IsoCleans, do point the direction arrow out from the Dac and in from the Drive One. |
Dev, I have only tried one HiFi Tuning fuse relative to the IsoCleans. It may have been that the IsoClean had been in use for some time before the HiFi Tunings became available, but I thought the HiFi Tuning was little different from the original fuses. The IsoClean sound more authoritative especially in the bass, if it is inserted in the right direction. Also the top end is more accurate on brass in particular.
Yes, the IsoCleans make a very noticable improvement, again if insert in the right direction.
My Accustic Arts pieces have nearly two weeks on them. |
I think the real issue is the P3/D3 units from Esoteric not the AMR. Also the Memory Player may be a better source than the Drive One mk II. As usual even were someone or even several people to have compared each of these, I doubt if there would be much of a consensus. |
Pubul57, I agree, of course. I do think, however, that there has been four or five years experience with hard drive sources for cpm. I can remember hearing a first VRS unit at a show in Silverdale Washington at least five years ago. It was awful. But as in everything involving computers, next year's products obsolete those of today. |
I guess I expected the BA Stabilizer to be a replacement puck not a mat. I assume that one continues to use the puck. I even think I have one of these mats. I have about six different cd mats, none of which did anything for me before, but maybe with the new AA Drive One, mk II, one will. |
Dev, I think you are an unreliable source for this. We have no idea how you got the three Accustic Arts unit, such as whether they were gray market items, or even current models. You note some quality control issues while no one else has said anything about this. You note slight difference in the three remotes which may indicate nothing about the Drive Ones at all. My remote is what you would characterize as the latest version.
Your ears are no substitute for mine, so where I given an opportunity to compare the Oracle and the Drive One, I would certainly listen, but I have no interest in seeking this opportunity. I am, however, actively seeking to hear the Memory Player with it dac versus the AA. |
Dev, thanks for the additional information. I would have to assume that were what you have said true, that KR Audio would have substantial issues with the Importer.
I would suggest that I have alerted others to your irrational evaluations, namely that you opinions are based on other than what others might hear. My example is the H-Cat. Others' very favorable reactions are but small testimony that either you cannot hear or that you have not heard anything you claim. And Dev I would indeed like to know the serial number as I don't in the least believe you.
I would only suggest to everyone that they give Dev's opinions their proper weight. Listen for yourselves. |
Dev, I hope we are all unique individuals. You say I am a very negative individual. I take exceptions to some of your negative posts, such as focussing endlessly on the listing of a dealer who doesn't respond by H-Cat or it being a "joke" or the supposed changes in the Accustic Arts Drive One's remote and suggesting changes within, "The information that I received was there were some changes within the actual unit along with a brand new remote design. I didn't really dig any further to find out because this all seems to be kept as a secret just like other manufactures do. There a name they call it but for some reason I just can't remember what it is."
I don't know why you get on these wild hairs. Sometimes your posts are informative, especially when no one challenges your observations, but you are certainly not all knowing as you sometimes seem to believe.
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Dev, now more than ever I stick with what I have said about you. You are anything but a person that prefers to try and inform and help others. You just don't want others to note that you have no clothing on. I cannot help you to see what you are but hopefully others can see that you have need to lash out at others with opinions different from yours for what ever reason.
I would be interested in hearing the Oracle transport, but I must admit that your recommendation taints it as I suspect you favor it because you are the first person to do so. I well remember your begrudingly liking the Accustic Arts because you had not discovered it.
I have no idea what you mean about not being aware of the two AA transports. Long ago I owned the original Drive One and knew well that I was buying the mk II as I knew I was buying the new mk IV Dac. You are so off the wall that half the time I at least have difficulty understanding what you are talking about.
Many do not bother with AA or Audiogon because of the caliber of people who post. I have tried to express my experiences as I think presently we have limited opportunities to audition new products. Everything I have said should always be take with the warning that your experience may differ. The H-Cat is an example. There are at least 40 people out there that love what they are hearing with their P-12R but don't need to deal with the likes of you who has never even bothered to listen to it and instead goes on and on about a dealer who did not respond to you.
I have no idea what "So enjoy as I am" means but please do. |
Pubul57, Yes the IsoCleans probably are overbuilt. Yes, I use the fuses in my AA dac and transport. I have compared the IsoClean and the HiFi fuses and found the IsoCleans are superior even trying the HiFis both directions to find their directionality. But this is another subject. |
Pubul57, I cannot imagine that Accustic Arts would have put a sub-optimal puck with the transport. I have been unable to identify anyone to really ask about their reaction to using mats, but I must say I have three mats around here from long ago efforts to find a beneficial mat and am hesitant to try them. Previously I had an Esoteric X-01 LE and was warned about using mats. |
What you talk, guy? Who dat Dev? : ) |
Oh God, Dev and I agree about something; sorry, only about the IsoClean, of course. |
Pubul57, IsoClean's main claim is their isolation transformers and filter boxes. I have a picture of mine which are for sale, if you want to see what they look like or check out aaudioimports.com.
Hotbird, and I thought I was a tweaker. I have heard very favorable comments from a guy in NC about the Quartz Resonators or insulators. I don't recall which, but he puts them on transformers. I may try a bag of six I believe. It sounds like you are under the influence of Joe P. He has some great stuff. We will just have to agree to differ about the Bybees. |
