Charles, have you listened to the Lavry Gold DAC ? It is also a highly regarded NOS DAC but the implementation is totally their own. |
I have been following this dac for sometime and have it on my must audition list. Has anyone heard it ? It is priced very attractively at under $3k but how does it sound ? Srajan Eaben seemed to replace his APL NWO player with this dac, Whats in it ? |
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thanks for that elaborate reply Charles. Really helpful. So, do you have the YDA01 (SS version) or the YDA01b (tube version) ? Which transport are you using ? Have you heard other NOS dacs like Audio Note, BOW Technologies etc ? |
Hi Charles, I just went through the review of Metrum DAC. It definitely is intriguing and for the price is just surprising. One thing though, Srajan did not at anytime talk about the Metrum Vs Yamamoto in his review (sonically). He spoke about other players but not Yamamoto. Now that has got me thinking. Did you talk to Srajan personally on this DAC and ask his views about this vs Yamamoto ?
One thing I know without even listening that Burr Brown DACs generally get the tone and timbre very correct. Considering that the YDA01 has been made by a hardcore Vinyl guy I cant think of it as sounding typically digital. Even Srajan had said in his YDA01 review that it just doesnt sound like digital is being processed. Both these factors together gives an amount of confidence on the Yamamoto which can lead me to go with a blind buy without hesitation.
But still, since you are getting a Metrum, I will wait for you to comment on it before taking the next step. How much did you pay for the YDA01 ? Is it switchable between 110V and 220V ? |
Very very interesting Charles....
I would have gone with the Total if I had the opportunity to listen to it before buying. Did you notice that Srajan mentioned couple of times that the Metrum tone is darker and richer. Now that sometimes makes me nervous because tonally darker and richer many a times means change of timber towards the lush side. If you would have read, many romantic speakers (JMR, Spendor, Harbeth) are termed as richer and darker sounding, but to me they color the timber to the thicker and darker side. I just hope that is not the case with Metrum.
Anyway, from your explanation of the YDA01 I can see that you too recognize timbral accuracy well so I will take your word on the Metrum when you have it. Please do inform me when you get the DAC. BTW, I read that there is a waiting period for the Metrum DAC. When are you expecting it to come ? |
Hmmm....your comments are very inspiring. One thing is true that digital never sounds like analogue, at least I have never heard that happen. The continuity and liquidity of analogue is something so compelling that after a session of analogue listening even the best digital sounds discrete and thin to me. I attribute this to the absolute "continuity" of music that analogue presents. Yes there are other things like the midrange body, bass and treble presented by analogue is also something very special about analogue but that is something I can compromise a little on. What Srajan says is also true that analogue sounds "opaque" while digital sounds transparent and thinned out. If these R/2R dacs can solve any of these problems of digital playback without introducing a new one I would love to try them out. So, the Yamamoto remains as the DAC to beat when it comes to conventional design !!! Not bad :-). BTW, have you heard the Reimyo ? I used to own the Reimyo DAP777 for 2 years. Nice DAC. |
Superb Charles, it seems that we have similar goals. Apart from Delta Sigma, there is also multibit dacs like Burr Brown PCM 1704, 1702, Philips TDA1501, Analog Device AD1865. Many consider these to be architecturally more correct for music reproduction hence a more natural sound. However I have not heard the better implementations of these DAC chips so cant comment.
Fingers are crossed for the Metrum !!! |
all I can say is WOW!! and Thank you Chales !! |
Thanks a ton Charles. Another interesting review this is. How is the bass. Is it a bit one note as someone else pointed ?
I will wait for your unit to burn in and then hear your final comments before placing the order. |
This thread is amazing !!! |
I am happy I reinstated this thread :-)
Thank you Charles for that well thought out review. Yes, it is difficult to express the rightness of music reproduction sometimes. But you did it my friend. |
Very correct Charles. I recently had a similar experience while listening to a all Naim setup. |
