music hall 25.2 DAC mod

I have had the DAC for a about a week, using it with a squeezebox duet and my pioneer elite 05 dvd/cd player as a transport (thinking of getting something better as transport but not sure if that will be any better than pioneer). I have a new Cary 120s tube amp and using a calypso preamp from my dealer until my lector tube preamp comes in. I wrote Music Hall about break in time and Roy Hall wrote back telling me it takes a couple of days but recommended an EAT tube damper that makes a nice improvement. I put that on but never listened to the unit without it so cant compare. Plus I read an internet posting from somebody that compared a bunch of tube dampers and thought the EAT damper sucks. However, it may be tube/unit specific for the kind of improvement you hear. So far, (i am still on the first 50 hrs of amp break in) i think the music hall sounds very good, but not as good as my vinyl on a rega p3/24. That was why i was wondering about the mod. Affordable audio says i can come in an do an A/B comparison since i live in LA area. i want to slowly tweak the system but hate wasting money on stuff that makes imaginary improvements (i have not bought any high end IC or speaker cables yet).

Have a MH 25.2 modded by Dan Wright at Modwright.
Tube output, audioclock 4, caps, etc.
Not much out there that sounds much better.
Have the PS Audio Dac3 which is much easier on the ears than the Benchmark. Would assume the the Dacmagic is also a bit dry being from England.

Magnumpi205, thanks for the comments. I too had the Benchmark and didn't like it either. Kinda sounded like a computer, very fatiguing and bright in my system. I also tried the DacMagic and it was very lightweight and dull sounding...again "in my system".

I think I might try the PS Audio and see how I like it.

Mofi,
PS going for $699 this month at PS Audio. You can also put in a B stock order and wait.

I've owned the music hall 25.2 DAC for about 1 month and also contacted Gary regarding the mod. He let me know the mod includes a new tube, the JJ6922. He said to try the tube on my own, and if I liked that upgrade, I would like his mod. Well, I just got the European tube installed 2 days ago and it **immediately** made a dramatic difference. Warmer, more weight, more holographic, seemingly deeper bass, though there is a little bit of roundness in the bass as tubes are known to do....that's part of the sound. The JJ is supposedly a new tube that uses the old Tesla factory which is somewhat famous. It has gold pins and it just sounds way better than EH.

BTW, isn't that funny, I also tried the EAT on the Electro-Harmonix tube, and seemed to like it but wasn't too sure. It actually doesn't fit the JJ because the diameter is too small even though the tubes have the same spec.

I'm strongly inclined to get the mod. Gary has good feedback on Audiogon and seems to know what he's talking about. Go to google images and search for Music Hall Dac25.2. You'll come up with sellers that include photos of the 25.2's circuit boards. Compare these pics to photos of modded unit on Gary's site. Indeed, w/o being a techie, it seems he's really adding some premium parts that are immediately apparent due to larger size/different color, especially around the tube area.

Keep me posted if you pull the trigger, and I will try to post my impressions on the mod if I do that in the next week or two. BTW, I would definitely take him up on the A-B comparison/audition since you live in SoCal. Let us know!

Thanks,
Audiohound