In Reply to: Vintage DAC vs PS Nuwave posted by excelit on January 28, 2015 at 13:46:51:
In the CAL Alpha, I found a lot to like. I had the older version, with the too-high output. But I could really have fun, tailoring the sound, by experimenting with powercords, digital cables, and of course tubes.
Many of today's audiophiles find modern-day DACs too "computerized." While they can be high-rez, low in noise, and measure well, they at times lack humanity. I could not characterize the CAL Alpha as "computerized." It had the ability to preserve some of the music's sense of breath and being "in the moment."
If you like what the Alpha does, and it doesn't appear to be breaking down, I would recommend keeping it, and then trying different transports. Obviously, the Alpha's natural mate is CAL's own Delta. But the Alpha benefits from other high-quality transports. I got good results with the Theta Data Basic II and Mark Levinson No. 37. Who knows? Maybe the Alpha will like PS Audio's PWT transport.
The Audiophiles' DJ,
-Lummy The Loch Monster
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Follow Ups
- Another Option - Luminator 18:47:17 01/28/15 (5)
- Alpha tweaks - excelit 11:30:26 01/29/15 (4)
- Tube Rolling In The Alpha - Luminator 12:08:22 01/29/15 (3)
- Tube rolling Sigma - Gofast 12:05:46 03/03/15 (0)
- RE: Tube Rolling In The Alpha - excelit 12:55:49 01/29/15 (1)
- I Can't Answer That - Luminator 13:17:22 01/29/15 (0)