REVIEW: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors

General Asylum

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Purchased an assembled DAC Kit 1.1 from Audio Note North America recently and have been listening for approximately a week and a half. The unit replaced my original Cal Sigma 1 bit tube dac, and is driven by a CAL Delta. To cut to the chase, this unit is phenominal for the money, and a dramatic improvement over the Delta (which I still think is a nice piece of equipment).
The DAC Kit 1.1 is very open and natural sounding, and does remind me of good analog. No etched, spotlit instruments -- just natural tonality and good rhythim and pace. A word of caution when auditioning, -- my unit took a good 3 days of use (constant) to open up and sound the way it does now, so be patient -- it sounded shut in and sluggish for the first day and a half.
have not compared it directly to higher priced units($2000 or up), but based upon my recollection of hearing these units at a dealer, I don't think the Kit 1.1 gives up much of anything. In addition, my understanding is that upgrage kits will be offered (silver wire, elna/blackgate caps, etc) that should, for a reasonably low price, make up any ground between higher priced units and the DAC 1.1.
If asked to nitpick, my only minor criticism (and I am not sure if it is truly a criticism yet) is that the Kit 1.1 does not have the last bit of high end extension. I hesitate to call this a criticism yet because the unit may still be breaking in (and I also bought a new balanced digital cable to use with it that may itself be breaking in). Also, I have not tried a more expensive tube in the unit.
Finally, it is only fair to point out that I did have an initial problem with the first unit shipped -- the DAC would not lock onto the signal from any transport. Audio Note North America took care of the problem quickly and at their cost -- it turned out not to be a problem with the electronics at all -- it was just that the paint on back panel housing the switch between the two available inputs was applied a little thick, and did not allow the switch to move over far enough to engage each input. The problem was easily fixed, and I am sure will be corrected on future units. Also, Mike Kurster of Audio Note North America was a pleasure to deal with.

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Topic - REVIEW: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors Review by jshort at Audio Asylum - jshort 08:48:29 03/18/00 (8)

Re: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors - Steven R. Rochlin 16:13:37 03/18/00 (7)

Re: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors - Paul Skroch 11:58:32 03/19/00 (6)

Re: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors - Steven R. Rochlin 14:04:05 03/19/00 (5)

Re: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors - Paul Skroch 16:20:53 03/19/00 (1)

Re: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors - Shawn Harvey 06:42:25 03/20/00 (0)

Re: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors - bryan 14:31:12 03/19/00 (2)

Re: Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1 DAC Processors - Steven R. Rochlin 02:56:14 03/20/00 (0)

Sh*t. Meant off you're site, not on. Should cut the Sunday afternoon ale intake back a bit.... ;-) - bryan 14:34:45 03/19/00 (0)

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