$2000 Dac

Thank you @lanx0003, I really appreciate you reminding me of this review. I think that most parts of this review actually reads as-if this Divinity Dac is a good deal for the price, it has a dedicated volume control and remote that would make it work great as a stand alone front end with a power amplifier.

But I do not have a blanket view as you have that all dacs work better without pre amplifiers. External or otherwise. I have a LTA Microzotl MZ3 preamplifier with some pretty nice NOS Telefunken and NOS Sylvania Metal base tubes and it is the most responsive piece of audio gear I have ever owned and I’m sure it can let the voice(s) of the Divinity play, be heard and come through just fine.. 

The reviewer compared the $1849 Divinity Dac to the $23,261 D/A section of the Ayon Audio CD-35 HF Edition SACD player. Seems to be in pretty good company to me.

like a breakthrough

better made

developing side projects

six digital inputs

digital FIFO input buffer

is a balanced de-sign

there is a display on the front panel instead of LEDs, and thanks to the output voltage (volume) control, the DAC can be connected directly to a power amplifier or active speakers. This is a thing.

in-house-made discrete circuits

navigate through the menu

well-made

Capacitors, it should be added, have a large combined capacity, there are many of them and they are small. This is an increasingly popular choice, aimed at improving charging and discharging speeds. The power supply has multi-stage regulation, and the capacitors have a low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance), i.e., internal, real resistance.

The chassis is exceptionally complex, as there are steel screens inside the aluminum shell that divide the interior into two parts.

Truly – top class design.

it is sweetness. Especially when combined with the lack of oversampling, as in Divinity. This is a captivating device, as in its performance there is no trace of aggression.

Bewitched. Patti Labelle sings very high at the very end, which was not softened by the withdrawal of this range. It sounded expressive and resonant. That’s why I emphasized the difference between smoothing and dulling (plush) and smoothing with shine and smooth openness (silk).

The converter tends to arrange everything on stage in a nice way.

I would generally perceive it – as neat playing. That is, nice, pleasant, internally organized and – another important feature – very clean.

In fact, the upper midrange is delivered by the tested DAC clearly and powerfully. More clearly than the Ayon. That is why this smooth and warm sound is not muted, but – as a whole – has a lot of energy.

the device shapes the presentation. It is not the most selective DAC in this price range, but it has very high resolution. The low tones are dense and massive, which in this track translates into a large scale.

ALL EVENTS ON STAGE are shown legato with the tested Converter. They flow rather than follow 

But when the powerful drums kick in at the very beginning of track 4 ˺ Things We Said Today, Divine presented them in just that way – powerful, almost aggressive. The same goes for the electric guitar that appears briefly in the right channel. It was even more powerful than with the reference player, which was particularly noticeable with the tambourine, which was more biting and clearer.

It may not have as many details as other DACs in this price range, but the whole thing will be more interesting. The whole album played fast, seemingly clearly, yet smoothly with the Garlubidor.

PREAMPLIFIER - Removing the expensive preamplifier always “makes a difference”, for the worse. This was also the case here. The sound stage narrowed and flattened, and the differentiation between instruments was less clear. But at the same time, the characteristics represented by the DAC itself, i.e., smoothness, clarity, and fluidity, did not disappear. In other words, one could call it tube sound.

@lanx0003, I wonder if the above sentence in black bold is referencing the internal pre of the Ayon Audio CD-35 HF Edition SACD player? 

The DAC without an external preamplifier demonstrated a full bandwidth, deep bass, and powerful treble. It was not, as usual, thin or more anemic. On the contrary, the attack was clearer and more contoured. The whole thing was lively, energetic, and powerful. The space was also good, although an external preamp would probably help the most in this respect. But it is not as necessary as it usually is.

In most mid-range systems, you can easily connect a power amplifier to Divine and it will be really cool.  

And it is a smooth sound. Not selective, not expressive, but smooth. In other words, it must finally be said, very pleasant. It does not impose itself on anything, thanks to which not only cool jazz tracks, but also electronic and rock music sound great with this converter. The latter two types of albums should be particularly appealing. The sound will be powerful, close to us, clean, smooth, and open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOU CAN LAUGH, I encourage you to do so – laughter is good for us. However, I cannot pretend that I do not hear what I hear: Acoustic Revive’s spike pads change the sound. I am familiar with this effect, as I have been using the company’s RIQ-5010 quartz discs for years. And yet, every time I have the opportunity to hear something new like this, I wonder how much we still don’t know and how much can be improved in sound. Even if we previously thought that everything was OK with it.

That is why placing the QSB-3810 under the feet of the Garlubidor Divinity DAC changed what came out of the speakers. It improved the sound, let’s add. It became denser and more resolving. I listened and listened, put discs in and took them out, and each time I got the same result – denser, warmer, lower. And at the same time, more resolving. As if there were more sounds “there”

This is in-reference to me to planning to also purchase (3) StackAudio AUVA equipment isolator pads. This is encouraging that the Divinity Dac just may respond to those in a good way.also. Yep, thank you indeed.

from what I understand the Gungnir clicks between songs. Wouldn't that be a distraction during listening? Do the dacs you guys speak of provide sound quality to hook up to hifi? I am using a Lamm 2.1 deluxe pre with a VTL st150 tube amp and Vandersteen II rev3 speakers. I guess the difficult thing for me to accept is using an 1800 dac in a system that might require something better. Not that my gear is the best but I'd hate to purchase a dac and know right away it's the weakest link in my chain. Thanks for all your help.

@dpm2340 I agree that the Gungnir is a good choice within your budget, but yes, with your system and ears, you could find it the weakest link.