Tube DAC - SW1X, Abbas, LAB12, Sonic Frontiers? [message #97405] |
Sun, 04 February 2024 07:56 |
kasperbergholt
Messages: 44 Registered: August 2021 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Baron |
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Clever people,
I'm considering investing a bit in a tube-based DAC. I'm in the research phase and have looked at SWX1, Abbas, LAB12 products - from new; for a long time interested in Sonic Frontiers offerings, but they're rarely for sale here in Europe.
About a year ago I sold my Audio Note DAC 01.x to fund upgrading my RIAA from a Sugden A21 Phono to a Leben RS30-EQ - in and of itself a great decision in terms of getting the sound I was expecting.
However, I miss the sound of the 01.X - perhaps because of its zero negative feedback design and lack of digital filtering. I'm currently using a Topping E30 - as different from the Audio Note as things can be.
Which leads me to my question. Does anyone have experiences with DACs from SW1X, Abbas, or LAB12?
The rest of the chain is Harbeth M30 speakers and Leben CS-600 amplifier.
Recommendations for others brands is more than welcome too.
The Audio Note DAC 0.1x design is with a fixed tube (6111WA) that cannot be changed without soldering. I'd like to have more flexibility in a new DAC.
Thanks in advance,
Kasper
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Re: Tube DAC - SW1X, Abbas, LAB12, Sonic Frontiers? [message #97412 is a reply to message #97406] |
Tue, 06 February 2024 05:53 |
kasperbergholt
Messages: 44 Registered: August 2021 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Baron |
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Rusty wrote on Sun, 04 February 2024 12:46I have a Chinese tubed DAC I've had for years now. Lite Audio DAC-60. I doubt it's up to what you might expect from a newer pedigree. Actually since I've integrated an audio processor I've been using for vinyl for years and now with my cd player and DAC-60. Has made the greatest improvement with cd listening. The Aphex aural exciter. Used more in commercial applications, broadcast, sound reinforcement and recording.
Most people on audio forums I've praised it's use have considered it to be sacrilege used in home audio reproduction. I guess I'm a heretic. But I find it enhances in a good way the aspect of the home audio experience in a more vivid presentation of recorded music. Which I feel is an approximation obviously to live music and what limits of the recorded mediums capabilities are. Anyway, that's my bag. And I like it.
Thank for you reply and thoughts. I hadn't heard about the Lite Audio DAC-60. Sounds exactly along the lines of what I'm looking for.
And I wouldn't rule out older DACs / construction types. The Audio Note DAC is built around the Philips TDA 1543 chip (launched for cheap end cd players in 89'. Got a cheap Marantz CD65 II with the same chip, but have moved out of CDs to focus on vinyl.
What does the Aphex do more specifically?
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Re: Tube DAC - SW1X, Abbas, LAB12, Sonic Frontiers? [message #97422 is a reply to message #97421] |
Fri, 09 February 2024 04:43 |
kasperbergholt
Messages: 44 Registered: August 2021 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Baron |
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gofar99 wrote on Wed, 07 February 2024 20:15Hi, I have no experience regarding the gear you are thinking about. I do love tube sound and almost all of my designs are all tubes. (a few things like SS rectifiers though). My sense is that since the media that goes into DAC is digital I would personally opt for a digital DAC with a clean audio section. It could be either SS or tube. Each has positive and negative aspects. It is ironic that the DAC I use has settings to "make it sound like a tube unit". After listening to all the choices I chose another one. I'm not sure what they were trying to do but the clean output variations sounded better. If you can hear the units you are thinking about it would be best, an alternative is a try before you buy arrangement (yes I know fairly rare). Otherwise it is kind of a crap shoot. No two folks have the same ears and yours are the ones that matter in this case.
Thank you for your reply, insights & thoughts!
I have Topping E30 DAC now which measures very well in terms of 'neutrality' according some measurements done on Audio Science Review, but it's like something's missing - which I see some peoeple attributing to op amps instead of tube amplifiation.
The Abbas is made to order, but it might be possible to listen to the LAB12 at the dealer's. But sometimes the listenings rooms, amplifiers and speakers are so different it from time to time doesn't make sense.
thanks again
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