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| Model: | DAC-01A |
| Category: | Preamplifier (Tube) |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $178 |
| Description: | hybride (1-tube) USB DAC and preamp |
| Manufacturer URL: | Xiang Sheng |
| Review by soldermizer on January 20, 2012 at 09:59:55 IP Address: 99.188.104.188 | Add Your Review for the DAC-01A |
This was also sold by Grant Fidelity as DAC-09. It is still widely sold on Ebay (and no doubt elsewhere) as the DAC-01a. It's sold as a DAC, headphone amplifier, and [with some hunting] you can change internal jumpers to make the RCA outs variable (not fixed) so it's a "normal" pre too. Choice of transistor or tube outputs (use 6N3 tube). Digital ins: USB, SPDIF (coax, optical); two RCA ins. My unit has worked flawlessly out of the box, two weeks now. There are ("were"?) reviews of the DAC-09 on Grant web site. I'll skip all the oohs and aahs about "how it sounds..." most of that is subjective bullshit anyway. It's a capable little pre and did I mention CHEAP!!!
| Product Weakness: | No turn on/off muting. Only sold on internet from China, the usual risks apply. |
| Product Strengths: | cheap, adequate, flexible digital inputs, two RCA ins, doubles as a headphone and pre amp. |
| Amplifier: | Carver M400t |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | DAC-01a |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Sony streaming player |
| Speakers: | Bose 901 V |
| Cables/Interconnects: | generic |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | pop |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | two weeks |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Friend's System |
| Your System (if other than home audition): | GF's system of hand-me-down components :) |
I have had a Xiang Sheng DAC-01 for a few years now. I like it fine although it is beginning to get a little long in the tooth. Through USB it only goes up to 44.1 KHz and the highest resolution is only 96 KHz which I'm getting through the optical input.I did order it from China on eBay and had no problems with the order or the delivery.
The sound of the DAC is nice although it is the first one I've owned and don't have another one to compare it with. One of these days I hope to get an Oppo 105 or a Schiit to compare it to.
It has two outputs, solid state and tube. The solid state out put sounds pretty bad. It also can be used as a headphone amp which goes through the solid state outputs and it also sounds bad. Apparently you can get an RCA to 1/4" stereo adapter to plug into the tube outputs to use the tube side as a headphone amp. Removing the top and moving a jumper makes the DAC into a pre/headphone amp with volume control rather than the DAC with constant output.
The tube it takes sells fairly inexpensively on eBay. I can't remember what tube I have in it, I think a Western Electric 2C51.
About a month ago I had a friend over and we listened to my music server. He was pretty impressed with the DAC. He texted me a couple times since then asking what the name of the DAC was and how much it cost.
For a person who doesn't have much in the way of high resolution music it's a good beginners DAC. Grant Fidelity sold the same DAC under a different name for a few hundred bucks more. Like I said, it's showing it's age but it still worth the money or maybe even more than the asking price.
Chad
Edits: 11/22/12
Gimme some "subjective bullshit" over that any day.
However, you're probably right that there's no need to describe how it sounds. Safe guess would be "$178 worth".
I own two of the same unit. I have found that one of them has a channel imbalance of about 2 or 3 db (left/right). Have not tried disassembling, cleaning yet. 2nd unit has near perfect match. So they are not perfect.
I lack the resources to do a truly objective review. Mine would include objective tests as well as the dreaded a/b (blind, double bind) testing against a unit already blessed by the High Priests of Audio (funny how rarely we hear of the latter -- I suspect, because it would prejudice the vast price differences we find in this hobby.) I will offer my (subjective) opinion that the DAC-01a sounds good, has no obvious faults, and to my indigent tastes, offers a lot for its price. And, hey, it's got a vacuum tube for heaven's sake! Enjoy your audio jewelry, if you can afford it, but I'd buy gold coins if I want precious metals :)
If you have nothing to say...I have seen number of non-reviews on AA, bit your excuse takes the cake.
Edits: 01/21/12
Forget about the others here...
Forget about costly, boutique, and low value for the money equipment.
Forget about the fact that the average audio playback system here costs nearly $20,000.....
Aren't there plenty of other places that share your viewpoint that will be far more receptive, and therefore far more enjoyable for you?
"In this land right now, some are insane and they're in charge. To hell with poverty, we'll get drunk on cheap wine."
You know...no matter what the consensus is, scientific study, specs, double blind, quadruple blind, totally blind (and deaf) or what ever "trials" are not going to give a good account of how the hands on performance is of a piece. Without subjectivity, a review is not only incomplete but lacks the human interface "vibe" that is all so important to the experience of ownership. How did we get to the point of robotic enjoyment of gear?
How do you like the sound yourself? It would have meaning to me and others. The ones that cannot accept that are looking at the boutique equipment anyway to have something to bash..in their endless spare time and bashing hobby.
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