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In Reply to: RE: DAC I/V Transformer comparison posted by williamchildress on May 11, 2009 at 18:35:19
What I/V transformer comes in the current DAC 2.1 level C with the signature digital board?
Who makes it? What is the construction + materials?
Here's a picture of the 496 from the AN website
"Live free or die"
From my understanding (speaking to several & internet searches) I have concluded the following;
The factory 1.x DAC does not have a transformer coupled interface -- instead its capacitors.
The factory 2.1 DAC & the kit 2.1 comes with the TRANS-404 or TRANS-450 transformer (standard mumetal core)
The factory 3.1, 4.1, and 5.1 Special comes with the TRANS-496 (super mumetal 250 core)
The factory 5.1 Signature comes with the TRANS-497 (super mumetal 250 core & silver wire)
Now I can only assume (by lack of response) that hardly no-one has coughed up the mega-bucks to swap out the kit transformers for the TRANS-496 or 497. footsurg (from this forum) has and raves about it -- but he did do several mods about the same time...
But, from what I understand making the swap gives at least an equal amount of improvement at swapping out the output transformers (on the 2.5 C kit) to ultra cores. I cannot speak from experience since my kit 2.5 C is in the process of including it all from scratch.
But, one may think to compare to the factory offerings -- as the factory includes the same TRANS-496 with the 3.1, 4.1, and 5.1 Special, but throws in advanced output transformers with the 4.1 and 5.1 levels. Thus, as one climbs the ladder you end up with more and more of the expensive goodies and a resulting improved sound... Thus, if you plan on going all the way, at some point you will have to cross paths with the 496 or 497, the factory does it earlier rather than later, thus, I can only assume this early inclusion of the 496 speaks to its importance within the chain.
Thats my conclusion (right or wrong), so mine are on order (don't make the sticker shock any better though)
I think this is the sort of thing, Peter Qvortrup would be glad to discuss with you.
I get the impression AN-UK spends a lot of time matching components as one moves up their scale. I wonder if there are interactions between the interstage transformer with the output stage (capacitor coupling vs. transformer coupling and with the power supply to the analogue and/or digital board.
"Live free or die"
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