Van Alstine Ultra DAC...Thumbs UP!!!

pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
edited December 2006 in 2 Channel Audio
Let me preface this by saying that my 2 channel system before the addition of the Ultra DAC consisted of: Conrad Johnson PV14L tube preamp, Consonance CD120 player, Van Alstine OmegaStar 440EX amp, & AAD 2001 monitors. The musicality of the system was superb to put it mildly. I was extremely satisfied, "BUT". Here we go, you know what that means. The never ending quest, the relentless need to squeeze that something extra out of my system. Already being amazed at the performance of Frank's amp, I just had to try his Ultra DAC. So order it I did. The wait is finally over & here it is on my door step. I get it all hooked up & load my first CD. Bam!! what happened to the broken glass??? No, not to worry, nothing broke. What's missing is something that I never realized was there in the first place. That nasty digital edge that is the devil as far as recorded CD's are concerned. Something I suspect is there on a lot of CD players regardless of price. Some more than others. The Ultra DAC totally eliminated it. In trying to get as close as possible to analog sound from a digital CD, the Ultra DAC is a marvel. What comes to mind is absence of fatigue, with no digital glass breaking, the music is just so much smoother. I also noticed a better separation, depth, & amazing dynamics. The voices are so crisp & addicting. Now don't forget, the CD120 as a stand alone player is a stellar performer, but with the addition of the Ultra DAC it's now a world class performer. Extremely pleased & highly recommended!!! Good job Frank, (kudo's to your DAC gal) who is she?
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited December 2006
    You're right. As you were switching it over, I could immediately hear the edge go away. Then you notice the refined seperation, lowered noise floor and better soundstage depth.

    I blends extremely well in you're rig, Phil. No ****...

    Yeah, I figger you won't need to use the thirty day trial period for that one...;)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited December 2006
    Very :cool: Got a link?
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toka78
    Toka78 Posts: 192
    edited December 2006
    http://www.avahifi.com

    Glad you dig it...Frank makes the best stuff around, period. On the shortlist of audio folks who actually know what they are talking about.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited December 2006
    DAC's are magical. I will never run a 2-ch system with out one. They can truely transform even the nicest most balanced sounding system. Welcome to the ranks of the DAC addicted :D . It's a good place to be.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2006
    My Benchmark DAC1 is a mainstay in my system. Welcome to the next level!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2006
    It is a great performer. The Consonace is no slouch but the Ultra DAC just brings in the smooth silky sound of real music in an analog way. It definetely tightened up the image and pinpointed the vocal image. One thing I have to say about Phil's system in general is how extraordinarily quiet it is. Blackness is the best adjective. There were times, and I vocalized this Friday night, when my ears were making more noise than his system.

    The Ultra DAC seems to be outperforming my $4000 Timbre DAC. . . we will know after more A/B tests.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited December 2006
    Does this DAC support HDCD decoding? I was looking at the new Cambridge 840c CDP that has the ability to be used as a separate DAC. This might be a better investment!
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,335
    edited December 2006
    dkg999 wrote:
    Does this DAC support HDCD decoding?

    I think it does, but I couldn't find the specifics on the Van Alstine website. I must have read it in one of the reviews.
    Carl

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited December 2006
    I found a post on the Van Alstine forum on Audio Circles where Frank discussed that it doesn't support HDCD as he feels that format is dead and that this DAC will produce better than HDCD sound with normal redbook CD format. I wasn't clear from the post if it will decode 24 bit and HDCD discs or not. I need to do some more research.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,335
    edited December 2006
    You could do that or maybe email him from the "Contact Us" link on his website.
    Carl

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited December 2006
    I need to replenish the slush fund prior to getting that interested ;)
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited December 2006
    Email Frank. He seems very good to deal with.

    In an email he told me that he is the one that usually answers the phone as well.

    Good luck,
    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited December 2006
    MM - see previous comment about slush fund being not so slushy at moment! Emailing Frank would just start a chain of events that I need a couple of months to be able to complete :(
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter