Audio Alchemy DAC and jitter reducer

dragon1952

I might be interested in unloading these if there is any interest. I've got too much stuff and I want to fund another purchase.
Here's what I have:

1) Audio Alchemy DAC - Digital Decoding Engine v1.1

2) Audio Alchemy jitter reducer - Digital Transmission Interface Plus (DTI-Plus)

Mint condition cosmetically and functionally.

I bought these from a very respectable ebay seller and have used them in my system for several months. I believe I paid around $124 for both (plus around $15 for shipping) although I had (and still have) no idea of their actual value. These include one standard power supply and one Power Station ONE power supply.

I would be willing to sell them both for $125 shipped. I think this is a fair deal.

My take on these is as follows:

1) If you have a CD player that has less than dual 20 bit Burr Browns these will be a very definite upgrade.
2) These will smooth out your digital sound significantly. If you get any listening fatigue at all with your current CD player, this will be a welcome treat. A very sweet, smooth sound.

If anyone wants pictures just let me know.

You can check my feedback on Ebay under username RobWil1952....I have 100% positive feedback for 39 transactions, about half from sales.

Cheers!

P.S. I will take PayPal but please add 3%

P.S.S. Here's the DAC only that recently sold on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14978&item=5704235840&rd=1

dragon1952

I found my PayPal receipt for these and actually I only paid $112.50 plus $15 shipping. So I'm lowering the price accordingly to , let's say $115 shipped.

organ

I'm interested. I'll pay extra shipping to Canada. Does the DTI+ add dither for upsampling?

Maurice

dragon1952

I don't think it does that. I don't have the manuals to any of these but I do have the original box for the DTI+.
All it says on the box is that is utilizes Audio Alchemy designed Dual PLL topology and provides jitter reduction down to 5Hz.

These both do take either toslink or coax inputs. The DTI+ has one coax output for connecting to the DAC. The DAC can actually be connected to two devices at once, one with coax and one with toslink. There is an input 1 and 2 selector on the front. It also does absolute phase conversion via a button on the front. It has one coax output as well as one regular analog output. It also has an I2S bus connector output which I don't have a clue about. It looks like a DIN connector. I'm not sure what good the coax output is. Doesn't this kind of defeat the purpose of digital to analog? Maybe there's something I'm missing.
To tell you the truth, if you're thinking about these to replace your DTI/DACMAN I really don't think you'd notice that great of an improvement to justify the cost. I would only go for it if these are for another source.

Cheers!

RuSsMaN

Organ, you going to sell me your Dac-In-The-Box then?

dragon1952

Also, if anyone knows the actual value of these and thinks my price is not appropraite, please let me know.
Thanks!

organ

Dragon,
Wow, great info there. Sounds very similar to my DTI and DITB when it comes to connections. This sale will be up to Russ.

Russ,
If you're interested in Dragon's DAC and DTI, you can buy them. That's a killer price he's offering them for. If you don't want them, I'll buy and sell you my DITB. It's the Pro32 stuff that I'm really after. Let me know.

Maurice

organ

Russ and Dragon,

If you only want the DAC, I'll take the DTI if that's cool with Dragon. He can split the price.

Maurice

gidrah

Russ - If all else fails I've got a DITB with about 5hrs on it since I bought it for a real good price. I like it and would rather keep it, but could possibly use the funds elsewhere.

dragon1952

I have no problem splitting them up but like I said, I've got no idea what each one is worth.
I think the Power ONE goes with the DAC and the DTI+ has the standard PS, just to clarify. I'm sure they're interchangable though.
Here's a pic. The button on the left of the DAC is the input selector (1 and 2) and the one on the right is the phase button which toggles between 0 and 180 degrees.

dragon1952

The rear of the DAC:


Crap! :mad:

dragon1952

Like I said....the rear of the DAC:

organ

They look damn sexy! That DTI looks just like my DITB. I'm sure Russ knows the value for each unit. I'm sure he has access to that 'special book'.

Maurice

dragon1952

I guess I've never looked at these in the light but as you can see the Power Station ONE has a scratch:

dragon1952

Both :

dragon1952

The rear of the DTI+

dragon1952

Looks cool in the dark!

dragon1952

Like I said, I've never examined these in the bright light so I'd like to say that I did find a very small and faint scuff on the DAC in the lower left hand corner of the faceplate. You have to hold it up and angle it in the light to see it. Other than that I couldn't find anything else on the DAC.
The DTI+ has some tiny 'spots' on the top....I don't know how else to describe it.....almost like tiny imperfections in the paint job? But you have to be in bright light to see them. Thought I should mention it though.

dragon1952

The DTI+....this is a super close-up.

dragon1952

The DAC....it is not this noticable. I had to hold it at an angle and get the light just right....just trying to be completely honest

dragon1952

Organ.....when I told you that I didn't think this DAC would out perform yours enough relative to the cost I was thinking you had the DAC*MAN. I have no experience with yours so I couldn't really say but I think this one would be an upgrade. Wasn't the DITB pretty much the first one? Here's my DAC*MAN.....it's got some pretty decent Tara Labs cables 'built-in':

dragon1952

BTW, if anybody is looking for a nice digital cable you should check out Zu Cables. They're running some promos now on ebay and you can get some sweet deals. This one here is their entry level cable at $59. I got it for $17 plus shipping. I love the locking connectors on this cable....way better than some I've seen.

RuSsMaN

Gidrah, I think I read you loud and clear, email or pm me the 'difference', if there is any.

Organ, move on both of them. We will talk about the DITB in the next 30days - along with some Golden Tube Audio gear perhaps.

Cheers,
Russ

organ

Alright. I'll take them. PM or e-mail me tnmr0009@hotmail.com your addy so I can send out a m/o. Let me know how much to add for shipping.

Russ,
That's cool. I'll e-mail you about the DITB and Golden Tube.

Maurice

dragon1952

Email sent....thanks bud!

organ

Originally posted by dragon1952
Organ.....when I told you that I didn't think this DAC would out perform yours enough relative to the cost I was thinking you had the DAC*MAN. I have no experience with yours so I couldn't really say but I think this one would be an upgrade. Wasn't the DITB pretty much the first one? Here's my DAC*MAN.....it's got some pretty decent Tara Labs cables 'built-in':

Yeah, I think the DITB was their first. Even though my NAD's internal DAC is more "ideal" when it comes to accuracy, the DITB sounds much more musical and pleasing for me. It has what sounds like some resonance in the sound where the mids become thicker, warmer and smoother. It's very good for 'smoothing out' bad recordins too. The bass is more powerful as well. Overall, it sounds very tubey compared to the NAD's colder sounding DAC. The DITB have character.

I can clearly hear the difference by switching inputs on the pre using a remote.

I hear all AA DAC's have this coloring in the sound. I really enjoy that.

Maurice

dragon1952

Excellent description. That's exactly the way I hear it also. My CD player has dual 20-bit Burr Browns and at times I think I like the little 'extra' resolution in the highs, where the DAC does seem to subdue it ever so slightly. But I do like the smoothness of the DAC....much less fatiguing. I keep going back and forth on the issue though.
Cheers!