What's all the hubbub? Entech (Monster Cable) Number Cruncher 203.2 DAC,

SolidSqual

What's so great about this thing:Entech (Monster Cable) Number Cruncher 203.2 DAC? Would it make my Pioneer Elite DV-46AV or any othet DVD player sound that much better? I assume it's only for stereo, right?

Can anyone share their experience with this, since I and other newbs would like some escorting into this audiophile region.

RuSsMaN

I got mine 2 days ago, just letting it settle in and I plan to post a review in a few days.

AsSiMiLaTeD

RuSsMaN wrote:

I got mine 2 days ago, just letting it settle in and I plan to post a review in a few days.

Likewise....

Russ, did you notice a less than snug fit with the power adapter? I did on mine, the power cable falls out if you fidget with it much.

Mine's been on for a couple days now, I'll wait until I hit the 100 hours mark before posting any comments.

SolidSqual

Thanks guys can't wait to read what you hear.

RuSsMaN

Everything fit fine with mine or at least I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Glad to hear it's just my luck then. It's not that big of a deal really, I just don't move it around much and no problem.

I was unimpressed initially with mine between the wiggly power adapter and the OK sound, but after a couple days of burn-in she's starting to mellow out a bit - bright as hell outta the box, much better now.

univera

How about an update on this piece?

RuSsMaN

Tonight, I just got in.

univera

Come on, Russman. These things are cheap and some of us want to know if they are worth the dough. You've owned every damn piece of equipment within reason, so let's see what you hear. Stop carving pumpkins and give us a damn review. Your few days to let it settle in have now been 3 weeks.....

adam2434

I posted my initial impressions here: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44576

After a little more time with this thing, I've discovered some things I don't like compared to my cdp's dac.

1) Vocals are not as natural, present, and detailed with the Entech.

I've been comparing the two with some of my favorite Delbert McClinton and Lyle Lovett stuff. Some of Delbert's gruff, strained-sounding detail is absent with the Entech. Also, some of Lyle's inflection and quiver is missing. Vocals sound more recessed into the mix.

The Entech's reduced vocal detail is perplexing because its overall presentation is of more detail than my cdp, especially in the high frequencies.

This is a deal breaker for me because I'm so familiar with these vocals, and they are less involving with the Entech.


2) The high frequency detail that I originally noticed has become distracting.

The Entech makes acoustic guitar transients and cymbals snap out in a distracting, disjointed way compared to my cdp. Music sounds less cohesive with the Entech. I found myself not able to be pulled in to the music, and could just not become accustomed to the Entech's sound.

I'm still going to keep it in my system and do some more comparisons. It's been an interesting experiment, but I prefer the sound of my stock cdp (which is only an entry-level Sony ES).

RuSsMaN

I've been putting it off, sorry - if I thought it was amazing, I would have shared earlier.

I've used it with my Arcam CD73, a California Audio Labs DX-1, and finally an AMC CD8b.

Arcam - the stock d/a in the CD73 absolutley slaughters the Entech. I can't even begin to list EVERYTHING it does better, because it really is everything.

CAL - the Entech seemed at first to provide a little more top end detail, but the overall size of the presentation was dramatically smaller. On my Spendor SP-1's and Thiel CS 1.2's it was listenable, but not involving. On the JM Lab Chorus 710's it was borderline unlistenable, with a very unbalanced top end on some recordings.

AMC - Again, the top end jumped out at first - but there is still something 'off' - though not as obvious as the CAL and Arcam. Midrange actually sounds very good, and involving. No fatigue on any of the three speakers listed above. Probably a good match for this level of player and DOWN. ($300-$400 retail).

All tests were done with an Audio Mirror PP1 Tube Preamplifier, Harman Kardon PA2000 amps bridged, Tribuataries Silver Digital Cable, and Signal Cable Silver Resolution Interconnects.

Nutshelled - it's a great peice for the price to upgrade an entry level cdp - but don't expect giant killer results. I've yet to open it up, you never know what a few Sonicaps will do....