Digital Audio Denmark convertors

I have one here in Las Vegas and I can say without hesitation that it is by far the best converter on the market and I have compared it to many highend audiophile players such as the Playback designs & the Berkeley. They don't come close, and best of all, it is cheaper than both of these.

Vincent R Sanders
VRS Audio Solutions

Yes, it is a AX24 and it belongs to a client of mine. It is setup for 2 channel output and can do all PCM formats via the AES digital I/O module. It is being used for computer audio playback and no, it does not have independent volume control. In order to control it, you must use a computer, PC or Mac.

Vincent

Im sorry that I have not responded sooner, but to answer your qusetion, I heard it at my home in Las Vegas. Tim Ryan of Simplifi-Audio had brought it for us to listen. We compared the PD to some of the pro dacs that we have hear using a computer as transport. There were 4 of us that were listening and felt that the Playback designs was not to our liking.

My door is always open as well for anyone that would like to do a shootout or just take a listen. I'm not easily persuaded by the marketing hype that goes on with highend audio. Neither do I allow someone to tell me what and how I should listen. I was a professional percussionist for over 25 years and know what instruments and recording venues sound like. Yes, I made a very bold claim and will stick by it. For me, the DAD is by far, the most organic, detailed, and transparent dac that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. It is the only dac, and the Sonic Studio 304, that just lets the music through. I'm tired of the hype that comes along in the audiophile world, as most of the gear, never meets my expectations. Cost is not an issue, but implementation is everything. If you ask me what my dislikes are about the Playback design, I will not answer anyone. I prefer you listen for yourself and let your ears decide.

Vincent R Sanders
VRS Audio Solutions

The price for the unit is $5,416. Even though Las Vegas Pro Audio no longer distributes the unit. We are the only audiophile dealer at the moment for the same unit that is placed under the Merging Technolgies Sphinx 2 name. Here is information that will tell you more:
"Jointly developed with Danish Digital Audio Denmark (DAD) and Merging Technologies, the Sphynx-2 is an 8 channel integrated AD-DA interface offering the latest in Crystal chip technology to produce what we describe as the most advanced and sonically pure converter ever developed."

Go to the website at, http://www.merging.com/ Click on Sphinx2 and you will see that they are exactly the same unit, but with a different faceplate.

Now, I want to clear up my comments on the Playback Designs SACD Player. I am not one to slam any one's product, especially on a public forum, as I feel this is not appropriate to do. There are many products that are not to my liking, and I will never, talk about them in a public forum either. I know my comments about the unit is very blank and serve no purpose, and for this I apologize. If you want to know my opinions, then call me and then we can discuss things further.

Vincent R Sanders
VRS Audio Solutions

When I first became a member of this forum some years ago, I had nothing to do with the audio industry, so I did not think about changing my status, (if there is such a thing here) having industry affiliation. But me mentioning the DAD really had nothing to do with trying to sell or promote, as that was not my intention. I was just answering someones post, and did not think of it as being a conflict of interest. For this, please allow me to apologize. This will not ever happen again, so my question to anyone here is, how do I change my status in Audiogon to industry affiliation like you can do at the Asylum.

Understand, and will always take this into consideration when I post in the future.

Sincerely,

Vincent R Sanders
VRS Audio Solutions