Will the Big Ben improve the 24 MXL?

unknown if it will work or not. I also have the 24MXL (superb dac btw), and tried it with my SF D2D-1 (similar to the Big Ben interface). No measureable improvement, but then no real degradation either, so you could try it and see what happens. Please post on this forum if you DO try it, and let us know how it goes.

Tabl10s- yes, and yes :-)

further testing in my system (since this thread started) has proven jitter interfaces do NOT help the AL 24MXL Dac, and so I agree with Rcprince. That says a hell of a lot about Jerry's design and superb re-clocking doesn't it? EVERY other high-end digital setup I have had (and I have had many, including EMM) benefitted from a jitter reduction interface (yes, I have had the Purcell among others), but the AL Dac sounds best without it- a great testament to a design that doesnt' need any re-clocking/jitter-reduction interface 'help'...

I CAN say that the Marigo Apparation 5.7 Sig dig. cable definitely brought it to the highest level possible though.

RC- I am a bit jealous with that Forsell transport I gotta say! My Vecteur L-4 is very good, a solid phillips drive with excellent build, but yours as well as CEC TLXX's are others that I am curious about (as well as the superb Spectral SDR3000 VRDS tank I used to own- that was awesome with the Audio Note 3.1x Balanced dac).

Oh, and RC- btw, I had a nice long chat with Jerry O yesterday- after I found through extensive testing in my and a friend's ultra-revealing horn-based system that believe it or not, the SINGLE-ended analog outputs from the AL 24MXL sound better (yes, that's a subjective term- let's say more 'emotional') than the xlr outs...

Sutts
Toronto

Elberoth2- for jitter interfaces, I have owned and tested the DCS Purcell; GW Labs DSP; and Assemblage D2D-1

Tabl10s- be careful on that last statement- not sure Jerry himself would agree with that

Kana813- great advice for Tabl10s- buy the AL dac and simplify- couldn't agree more!

RCprince- 'K-Works IsobaseK'??!! sounds interesting- I am currently using an older Rosinante 'Dark Matter' slab under my 24MXL. ALso- your choice of IC's is very cool, but a bit $$$ for me unfortunately- I am still using HT Pro Silway II from dac to pre and happy with it...

a shame about the CEC service issue- always wanted to try one of their transports, but from what you guys are saying, might have to give it a pass...

Tabl- JO did not mention what version Apparition, but I know it was an earlier one than my 5.7 Sig. As for price, he might swing you 15% or a bit more off, but thats' probably it- the cable is more than worth it IMO...

RCprince- re: the tubes, I (partially) agree with you with, as I found the Sovteks OK, but in no ways superb on the full-bodied front. Now we have agreed the stockies aren't too bad, however when compared with NOS, it's no contest. I noticed it mainly in 2 areas vs my Siemens Gold Pins- the Siemens had 1) better soundstage width/depth; 2) superior transients and detail retrieval. The Philips miniwatts I tried were a nice compromise b/w the two- not quite the Siemens, but a bit more body than the Sovteks. The Sovteks are no question the distant third in this shootout, and I wil be keeping the Siemens in mine.

Interestingly RC, we also tried a buddy's cheapie Bugle Boys, and you know what? They actually were pretty good! Price/performance wise I would actually choose them over the Miniwatt SQ. OK, you can flame me for this one, I have my fire-retardant jacket ready :-) C-ya!

they were great sonically (except for a slight mid-bass hump), but the build quality is not up to par with what I would expect at that price range- chassis not that solid, and my pair had a problem holding the bias properly; use of resistors that were under-spec'd for the given voltage...

NO- mine were the previous chassis. I won't argue that the newer 'vertical style' chassis, although perhaps not to everyone's taste cosmetically, does look somewhat sturdier then the previous one...