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Audio note Dac question

Hi

I don't hear much talk on the Gon about the Audio Note Dac kits. I know they may be a bit dated but they still look interesting to me. I am in the market for a new dac and really like building kits when ever I can. I was considering either the 2.1 or the 3.1 kit. If anyone can shed some light on them it would be a great help.

I am also considering the Benchmark Dac 1 usb. I had one when they first came out with the NE5555 opamps and ended up selling it. I wasn't that impressed with it at the time, then again the system I have now is much better than what I had. I have also heard they sound better with the LM4562 opamps.

Thanks for the help
Frank
128x128fc911c

Showing 1 response by kijanki

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kijanki
4,394 posts
 
Fc911c - it is NE5532. It was made by Signetics (Philips) until factory burned down in 2000/2001. Texas Instruments bought license, redesigned die (larger) and obtained fuller sound. Early Benchmarks, with Signetics chips, sounded a little thin. Ti Chip has TI logo on the top (Texas state outline). I replaced TI NE5532 (all of them) with National Semi LME49860 with good results. Sound is more vivid and cleaner. I also tried other opamps like OPA1612 but did not care for the sound (very dynamic and warm but also very bassy, lacking transparency). My Benchmark, before and after mods, sounded bright with aluminum dome tweeters. Now it sounds nice and soft with Hyperions HPS-938 that use soft domes. I suspect that Benchmark reveals, in many systems, bright amps or speakers while other (warm) DACs mask it. Also, not everybody likes clean sound. A little distortion adds dynamics. I even found opinion that instruments should not sound separately but all together (like sound blob). People try to repeat whatever they had before. To me Benchmark sounded unnaturally clean at first but now I'm very happy. Perhaps I got used to it (or learned to listen).
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