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I have a circa 1990's California Audio Lab Alpha DAC with two 12AX7 Telefunken tubes in it, and I'm thinking of replacing it with a PS Audio Nuwave DAC. I primarily listen to redbook CD.
I have not listened at all to current generation Dacs, What can I expect to hear different? Is it a downward, upward or lateral sonic move?
thanks in advance
Follow Ups:
The California Audio Lab Alpha I have is the original, not the 24/96 version that came out later. There are some that prefer the original, others don't.
It listed at $1,495.00 when it first came out in the 90's. The Alpha had some great reviews at that time, but I would not call it SOTA. It's definitely not entry level though.
This Nuwave I have I bought used. It is listed at $1000 but I believe you can trade in your old dac for a $300 credit, so basically it's $700. I would say the Nuwave can be considered entry level above the Schiit Bifrost price wise.
So what we have is a mid level dac from 2 decades ago v.s. a present day entry level dac.
Of course the comparison is limited to redbook cd playback, its relevance is for you to decide. I have to say though that the Nuwave has a usb input, which opens up its utility of which I have yet to explore.
So, I have been burning in the nw non stop for almost 4 days now, and this is my INITIAL impression per cd:(Please note that when I say one is more than the other, it does not mean the other is NOT. I'm speaking in relative terms between the two.)
Gary Burton Quarted Live "Falling Grace"
Gary opens up with a vibraphone solo and the nuwave immediately shows its resolving superiority over the Alpha in the high frequencies. The nw seems to reach higher up the frequency extremes but the Alpha answers back with a more organic and rounded rendering of the vibraphone. The vibes has that almost bell like ring and the decay seems longer.
Shortly after Gary's brief solo comes an electric bass solo. Here, the nw scores a knock down of the Alpha. The bass solo on the Alpha sounded distant and almost muffeled. On the nw, it still sounded distant but the bass is more defined and I can follow the bass lines easily.
Original motion picture soundtrack to the movie Glory- "Preparation for Battle"
This is one of my favorite soundtrack because of how the music connects and lifts the emotional engagement for that specif part of the movie.
The nw presents a slightly more wider and deeper soundstage. At around 2:47 of the cut, a trumpet sadly beckons from the distant right corner of the soundstage, the nw portrays a slightly deeper/distant trumpet but more amazingly is how the trumpet echoes or reverberates from that corner into the rest of the soundstage. I did not hear that trumpet reverb creep into the soundstage from the Alpha.
At the climax, there are bells rung in the background, the nw does a better job of delienating the bells from the rest and avoids getting lost in the grand finale.
The Alpha answers back with a more lush presentation of the orchestra.The strings are so sweet and moving, putting into contrast the nw almost steely portrayal of the strings.
The alpha also gave a more convincnig spatial cues of the chorals performance. With the alpha I can tell that the choral must have performed in a church or such,but not so much with the nw.
Finally, the alpha was just more dynamic,it portrayed more power and majesty of the orchestra, thereby making it a more moving dac for this particular musical piece.
Coming up in the next installment:
Pat Metheny
Frank Zappa
Patriot Games soundtrack
Joe Jackson
James Newton Howard
Steely Dan Gaucho- Title song
The opening riff of this song is sort of a stop-go-stop-go-stop-go beat of I can only guess, electric piano, bass and drums, but who know what does guys concoct to come up with their sound. Here the dynamic swing between beats are more,well..dynamic with the alphas. I can only imagine how much more it would be if I had solid state amps. The nw had dynamics but not as effective as the alphas for this song.
The nw countered in the end with the last few second of the song's triangular bells, I would guess they are. The nw frequency response seems almost to go up to forever compared to the alphas.
Patriot Games soundtrack "The Hit"
The first note out of this track is simply explosive. Here again the alphas was more effective in attack and in bass volume. The nw has a more resolving bass, tight and defined. The alphas has a fuller bass, but it does not mean it is not controlled, just fuller and more than the nw in this track.
James Newton Howard and Friends "L'Daddy"
Here the nw resolution and soundstage superiority over the alphas show again as the opening drumstick hit each other as a countdown. There is more space around the sticks, but the Alphas counter with a more wooden sounding stick, thicker and more the sound of real wooden sticks hitting each other.
Then CRRRAAAACCCCCKKKKK, I think they made this record for that one fierce and angry hit at the drums. Again the alphas showed more savagery in conveying this transient attack.
Frank Zappa Waka/Jawaka title song
I knew Frank was a genius, but it took the Nuwave (I spelled it out this time, out of respect for it, this time for this revelation) to reveal to me how so much more he is.
There's a lot of instruments going on in this song, each on its own seemingly going its own way but taken as a whole, art at its best.
Each instrument was more prominent, I mean,they are also there with the Alphas but the nw made me appreciate the arrangement of Mr. Zappa.
The second guitar accompanying Frank's solo guitar, the horn blazing away, the electric piano and moog, the piccolo, drums, all going their own way ,but playing real tight, presented by the nw individually and as a whole. It's the genius conducting his orchestra.
This time the alphas had no response, I did not need to hear truth of timbre, organic, natural, analog or whatever, the nw gave me the whole picture, it presented the forest AND the trees. It's like appreciating the Mona Lisa as a whole at the same time aware of her smile.
This experience is similar to another of Frank's work: Inca roads, but I'll leave that for another time
Next installment
Pat Metheny
Joe Jackson
Joni Mitchell
Joe Jackson The very best of- "Steppin' Out
This is my go to song for PRAT. In this song, there is this catchy base line which carries the song from start to finish.
The alpha bass is so full and bouncy as against the nw tight and controlled bass. I think an analogy of this would be the Linn turntable of yester years (Valhalla)and the VPI turntables at that time. The linn had an upper bass hump while the VPI's were more neutral. Linny's love how engaging their turn tables were, as they were indeed more involving for me at least, while the vpi guys vounted their table's neutrality. It's not an exact analogy but there you go...
Joni Mitchell Wild Things Run Fast "Love"
This is one of my favorites from one of my favorite artist.
Joni starts powerful from the start of this song. Her voice almost straining, almost like begging to heed her message.
The nw portrayed her, at this point of her career, more matured voice, quite well. I can hear her voice from her throat, but with the alphas I can also sense her chest. There's just more body with the alphas, yes more natural and human.
Pat Metheny 80/81 "Goin' Ahead"
This one of my favorite guitar solos. If this music does not move you, then your heart is made of stone.
The nw again portrayed the guitar really cleanly, with all the details of the finger squeaking, and Pat's breathing. So does the Alphas.
In the middle of the piece, there is one pluck which for me measures a units dynamics, here the alpha predictably beats the nw.
There is also more lower midrange energy from the aplhas which the nw lacks. Consequently, the nw renders the guitar almost thinly. I can hear the strings from the nw but the alphas makes me sense the guitar's wooden body as well.
This music never fails to move me, but when I was listening with the nw, I found my mind wandering...
The Nuwave has superior resolution, soundstage, high frequency extension and a more defined bass.
The Alphas to me sounded more dynamic,had better PRAT and a more realistic, rounded and more fleshy rendering of music. It sounded more real to me.
I preferred each dac based on what song I played.
I prefer the Cal Audio Lab Alpha overall though, because it connects me more to the music, it sounds more real and involving overall. It will keep its place as my redbook cd source.
I got this second dac not as a replacement but as an addition.
Ironically, I will probably be listening more to the PS Audio Nuwave, because the runner up becomes my dac for my Arcam Rblink bluetooth device.
I will enjoy the convenience of scrolling through my iphone's playlist and pick out my song instantly with a flick of my finger. I don't have to walk to my Rotel transport and change CD, and I don't have to tilt my head looking for CD I stored vertically.
Most of all I will have the under expectation of hi fidelity because it is just bluetooth. That acceptance frees me from critical listening and I get to "enjoy the music"
I'm listening to Rod Stewart's Mandolin via the Nuwave - rblink, as I type this, and it sounds great, better than expected from blue tooth.
I'm done.
Wait, what is that 192khz button on that Nuwave for?
And if you venture further into the land of R2R dacs you will find that there are some that are much higher resolving than the middling Alpha DAC and still give you those, dynamics, pace and musicality.
but which ones, specifically?
Some good choices with UltraAnalog DAC modules
Kinergetics KCD-55 ultra
Sonic Frontiers DACs 2, 2 mKII and 3
Mark Levinson No. 35 and 30 and 30.5
Threshold DAC-2
VTL reference DAC
STAX DAC X1-T
Manley Reference DAC and Manley Wavedac (first generation)
Resolution Audio Quantum DAC
Audio Research Ref1-20
Counterpoint DA-11 with UA module
Good DACs with BB PCM63 or PCM1704
Theta DS Pro Gen V
Monarchy Audio M22, M24, M33, NM24
Camelot Uther
Several Chinese players, particularly Lite DAC
Moon Eclipse
Older Accuphase DACs that used multi, multi bit (kind of like Metrum now) DACs (often the PCM1702 though, which is not considered to be quite as good)
Counterpoint DA-11 with BB module
Resolution Audio Opus 21 and new Cantata
Assemblage DAC 3.0
Less Loss DAC (PCM1704 I think)
There are many others but that is a good start
I so far prefer the sound with the UA dac modules to those I have heard using the BB PCM DACs.
What I haven't heard at length though are DACs based on the Analog Devices AD1865N (18 bit and preferred by Audio Note UK) and the AD1862 (20 bit but not used by too many people for some reason).
These might also be very promising.
Do Ultra Analog and Burr Brown chips have a general "house" sound charachter? How would you compare them?
Don't have enough extended, hands on experience to say this for sure but the UltraAnalog sounds more alive and resolved but at the same time with lots of great tone and body.
Hi i see that many acclaimed dacs are not multibit
The Bricasti M1 for instance uses one AD1955 per channel i think
Maybe there is much more than only the dac chip ?
Kind regards,
bg
Well the AD1955 is not a R2R ladder DAC and I am not sure that I have heard it in anything so I honestly cannot comment on the Bricasti DAC. I do know the main reason to go to the other chips is cost...R2Rs are expensive relative to the delta/sigma or hybrid types.
Look at what MSB technologies is charging for their own made R2R dac modules...big bucks!!
Also, the French TotalDac wants serious money for their DAC also with self-made modules.
Hi and thanks again for the kind and helpful advice
I have never listened to the Bricasti dac but reviews are very positive indeed.
I understand that some dac chips are quite expensive but my point is that when the aim is to build a top dac it would be at least surprising that they skimp on the dac chip quality.
I read one comment about a listening test of 3 dacs with same dac chip (quite cheap by itself) and very different level of cost and build of course.
The most expensive was completely in another league soundwise compared to the cheaper ones.
So it really seems that excellent performance can be obtained even from today dac chips when well used.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 02/16/15 02/16/15 02/17/15
check out the PCM1704 or 1702. Earlier examples were the PCM63. None of these are that easy to find in new production DACs, but I think Tentlabs still has stock of the PCM63 for its designs, and I bought a fantastic 1704K DAC last year (listed in my system).
Ultra Analog 20400 DACs are supposed to be amazing.
The Philips 1541A is great - if care is taken to maximise its potential (see the AMR CD77 or the Zanden series). The has been used in many a NOS design.
New, proprietary chips can be had from Metrum or MSB, but those are $$$. Schiit Audio is rumoured to be releasing a new R2R DAC (Yggdrasil) but that is still mythical at present.
That's a decent start.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
and I liked the CAL Alpha as much as you seem to, I'd have it 'spruced up' - your current comparisons notwithstanding. Looks like the output stage could be improved by fitting sockets, facilitating op-amp rolling. Clearly you can roll the tubes. Also, might be worth getting HQ caps to replace the ones in there. All of this would probably lead to much greater resolution, but keeping the dynamism you've noted, and the sense of a performance (one of the things I listen out for).
That said, I look forward to reading about your further comparisons.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
I have two DACs, one is vintage (circa 1992) and the other is newish but in with an old chip design.
The first is the Kinergetics Research KCD-55 Ultra, which uses two UltraAnalog 20 bit R2R ladder dacs. These were the ultimate dac modules of the 1990s and they sound that way...awesome.
I am in the process of Lampizating the output (it was discrete transistor) so it will have a tube output off the DAC modules.
The other DAC is a Monarchy Audio M24. Mine is a bit older than the current model, which uses the BB PCM1704K 24/96 chip. Mine uses the BB PCM63K 20 bit chips. It doesn't sound quite as good as the Kinergetics but it is still very good with redbook.
My advice would be to dump the Cal Alpha but instead of the PS Audio get a 1990s DAC that uses either an UltraAnalog chipset (Sonic Frontiers DACS, early Audio Research DACs, Threshold DAC 2, Krell KPS 25 (but not the sc), Kinergetics, Mark Levinson No. 30 or 35, Manley WaveDAC, Manley reference DAC, VTL reference and studio DACs, Resolution Audio Quantum etc.) a BB PCM63 chipset or an Analog Devices AD1862 chipset. All of these will deliver superior redbook sound to a modern delta/sigma processor with upsampling etc.
I tried to love a very interesting DAC for some time...an Audio Aero Prima DAC. This had the Anagram Technologies super sophisticated digital filtering, Analog Devices delta/sigma chipset (can't remember now which one) and subminiature tube output stage. It upsampled everything to 24/192. It was very smooth, detailed, pretty good tone but dynamics were just...lacking. Timing was not nearly as good as my other DACs. I traded it for a VAC 30/30 amp.
For a new DAC I would only consider something from MSB, TotalDAC or someone else who is making a ladder DAC from scratch...pricey but overall better I think.
You could also consider a NOS DAC like the Metrum Octave or Hex or Audio Note designs...I personally found the Metrum Hex to sound superb.
If you search, you will find a post I did tube rolling the CAL DACs. Search 'gofast tube rolling'. I had both an Alpha and Sigma. They are very sensitive to tube rolling and yield great benefits. Seimens or Telefunken 12ax7s, or Shuguang 12ax7c will take them to a new dimension.
I have stuck to my vintage ARC DAC3 as my reference DAC, tube rolled (again I have a post on this). The ARC DAC1-20 with Ultraanalog is very good too, but the DAC3 with specific e188ccs is even better. I have some SACDs, and a modded SACD player, but have never been impressed enough to ditch my redbook CDs. I've tried a variety of upsampling modern DACs, and none have bettered the ARC for redbook. Its probably that hirez sources played through a hirez DAC might be better than the redbook software through the ARC DAC, but I've not tested that yet.
Samir
I have had 3 dacs over the last couple of years
Audio Note Dac IIB
Teredak Chamelion
Metrum Hex
They are all ladder dacs and sound really great
The Metrum Hex is very special and they do have a new dac coming out using there own custom built R2R chips
Alan
Sounds good and the new Metrum will definitely be one to look out for in the future...but at what price??? I expect sticker shock :).
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Hi they offer in the link a board from PCM63 > PCM1704K as a DAC Upgrade
I wonder if it is really an upgrade
But speaks for the quality of the PCM1704K, i guess
Kind regards,
bg
I have heard both versions of the Monarchy Audio M24 DAC, the first version (mine) with PCM63K chips and the NM24 with PCM1704K chips. I preferred the sound of the older one...so did a friend of mine who then went out of his way to find an older one.
Now, the 1704K version is very good but something relating to the "analogness" of the older chips kept me from getting mine upgraded.
Hi and thanks a lot for the helpful reply.
If the older cheap sounds more analog the newer one is hardly an upgrade.
Why they have stopped producing the old is a mistery.
At least for the cost no object units, for which the best parts available should be a must.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
And then decide for yourself.Stereophile on the release of the 1704.
Lessloss with a (whiff of a) passing comment on the 1704/63.
Monarchy on the 2 DACs.
Lynn Olson making some more in-depth comparisons with delta/sigma dacs.
I find the 1704 to sound tremendously resolute and portray fantastic scale, offering scary-good bass performance. If I had the 63 instead, I'd still be happy to use it, but the implementation of either will be key.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Edits: 02/05/15 02/05/15 02/05/15 02/05/15
Interestingly, the PCM63 has a more robust current output than the 1704, which makes it more friendly for passive I/V conversion (the Monarchy uses just a resistor). I once inquired about the 1704 upgrade and was told by CC that the 1704 wouldn't work in that design...a couple of years later he came out with the 1704 in the Monarchy!
I am probably one of the few who has had both side by side in very resolution systems (Apogee Grand, Acoustat etc.). Both are great but I find the 63 version to be just about as resolute but with a bit less edge to the sound.
I might well look for a good design using the 63. I think folk like Tent Labs still have stock of the K edition. Aside from the Monarchy, what's your favourite 63 DAC?
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
The BAT VKD5 was pretty good but perhaps a bit dark sounding. Later they switched to the 1704 and it was also good.
THe EAD DSP 7000 was also quite good sounding.
Krell's KPS20i was quite a machine but it still sounded a bit solid state.
But probably the best one I heard was the Theta DS Pro Gen V. That is a machine I definitely wouldn't mind having today.
That said, the whole Monarchy lineup, M22A,B,C, M24 and M33 all used the PCM63 and all sound great.
I am keeping an eye out for the Schiit Yggdrasil, for precisely that reason (Theta DS Pro Gen V designer). If it ever arrives...
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Hi and thanks again for the helpful advice
You are right because i see very high end units (especially pro) that use common dac chips like the Prism Sound Orpheus using a cheap CS4398
So maybe i should focus more on a complete dac
Even a very top dac chip is not guarantee of good sound per se
Thanks again
Kind regards,
bg
Well, I am sure that the designer either thinks it is an upgrade or just didn't have PCM63s available anymore.
Hi and yes of course
I am pretty sure they are both fantastic dac chips anyway
interesting list even if i am afraid difficult to find
If i had a top dac i would keep it very close to me ... a precious piece of the chain indeed.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 02/05/15
Get them while you can.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Hi and thanks for the advice
But my dream is to get a Wadia dac one day ... i like what i read.
Great soundstage, solid and powerful sound ... than i can make-up the sound a little with the cable choice (i love Cardas)
This would be my final dac ... even the small 121.
Kind regards,
bg
Wadia's 15 is a well regarded PCM63 DAC. They sometimes come up for sale (though not often, admittedly). I'm enjoying the Lite Audio DAC83 at the moment, using 4 1704K chips in differential mode.
Might pay to examine the MSB R2R module which can be had in other designs, or wait for the appearance of Metrum's Transient DAC module. That said, neither are or are likely to be inexpensively implemented.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Hi and thanks a lot for the valuable suggestions.
It is wonderful indeed ... i see prices of about 3-4000 USD
I like it a lot indeed.
Also the Lite Audio at half the price is really greatly built.
Nice dac you have.
" That said, neither are or are likely to be inexpensively implemented "
this i do not understand completely ...
anyway in the meantime i got an information that very good sound is not elusive of specific dac chips but more of well done designs and constructions
For instance the Prism Audio Orpheus, very popular in the pro sector as a masterpiece, uses a cheap chip ... the CS4398 as dac.
And the sound is said to be phenomenal.
Also that one is not cheap ... only the chip is cheap.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
I saw a Wadia 15 go for about GBP 1,000 recently on Hifi Wigwam. So it is possible to get one cheaper. Nice unit.
The Lite Audio system was a bit of an underground hit. I use I2S to the LT-1 transport, itself a nice unit with particular attention paid to the signal transmission (a bit like Audio Note does, possible). Separate power and so on.
These chips require specific filter and implementation requirements to be paid to them, more so than the do-it-all cheap chips you find today. As a result, unless you are a competent digital designer, you may not get the mbest out of them. For high-end (and enthusiast) digital companies of the past and present, this wasn't a problem, but that pushed costs up. The sound as a result, however, is frankly amazing.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
You owe it to yourself to seek out a dac with the UltraAnalog 20 bit R2R dac modules...they really are something special and based on what I have heard, have it over both the PCM63 and 1704.
My Kinergetics has two stereo modules in differential mode and once it warms up it has a dimensionality...even with SS output that was stunning. The whole package is just better.
given that some of the best R2Rs today plough the same path as the UltraAnalog, I may well do so. It's unlikely I'll be able to afford the Metrum or the MSB chips in a DAC anytime soon. Thanks for the recommendation - I guess I was casually searching for one, in a way. :)
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
NT
try it! you know you want to!
I noticed that at the end of last year. Have you built it?I2S input = good. Op-amps to achieve balanced output = not so great, usually. But perhaps the SE output is okay?
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Edits: 02/09/15 02/09/15
Just received 4 here but haven't put it all together yet. Waiting for the designer to release info on synching them together for 8 channel active system....
try it! you know you want to!
I stumbled across mine at a ridiculously low price so I could not say now :). The dealer apparently knew very little about what was inside and since Kinergetics is not really a household name...especially now that they are defunct it was cheap. Very very good sounding.
I'll post a comparison.
.
now!
and having assessed many DACs since then, I advise you to sell the Alpha and seek a current generation DAC. There has been a sea change in digital processing, and the experience you can gain is substantially better in every respect. The only area in which I would suggest the Alpha might hold its own is in tonality, but newer DACs have not slipped in that regard.
The Alpha is holding back your rig and it's time to advance. You may not think there is all that much improvement to be had, but you would be wrong to think so. Those who feel timbre and warmth are to be desired above all may advise you otherwise, but if you wish to advance into the realm of where state of the art sound is today you will have to change the DAC. Even cost conscious offerings like the ifi iDSD Micro USB (which also accepts S/PFIF or coaxial input, and which I reviewed for Dagogo.com) is quite a bit more capable than the Alpha. And it can get even better from there. :)
The greatest impediment to advancing an audiophile system is the audiophile.
Excelit: you have a nice system with quality tubes. If you try a newer DAC, I would be willing to bet that you WILL hear a definite difference. How you perceive, and value, that difference is unpredictable and ONLY you can answer the question of whether you prefer a newer DAC or whether it is worth the money. No one else's opinion matters. Doug gave you an honest opinion that many would agree with. But what matters is not what the many think, but what you think.
It's like statistics in medicine. A doc may tell someone that 99 times out of a hundred, that someone has a good outcome from surgery. But if you're the 1 out of a hundred who has a bad outcome, the other 99 don't matter to you! Do your best to listen to new DACs in your system, and please post your impressions if you manage to do so!
nope
...but I wouldn't expect any different from an audio reviewer who gets something expensive in every week to drool about.
...actually compared old DACs to new DACs? In a system newer than the 90's?
So the old DAC, now 15 years old, is every bit as good as the Stereophile AND TAS 'wonder of the month'.
I was able to return the new DAC.
Lucky me.With my current system, the Sony SCD777ES standalone CD player is very slightly better than the old DAC. But not enough to be worth anything.
The Sony was also just as slightly better than the new DAC too LOL
Edits: 02/01/15
I had the sony, it was OK, the EAD DAC I had was better and most anything that I have had that is newer has been better but it is all relative...
You going to have a tough time finding something with that kind of build quality!
Dave
Just keep the CAL until it dies. It's a good sounding unit, esp. with the NOS tubes. On the whole, I suspect it is a lateral (and expensive) move.
One thing that may be true, the PS Audio might be a little less finicky about the transport you are using.
Tom,
I'm glad to hear I still have a DAC competetive to current Dacs albeit entry level.
I'm sorry to hear I might have to spend more to hear a better (different?)DAC.
thanks for the post
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
Lummy,
I also played around with different output cables and power cords. The biggest difference is in the tubes. I've tried the 5751 and finally settled on the Telefunkens.
When you say "computerized sound" I think I know what you're saying. Less organic, detailed but etched. Sometimes I think I'm just an oldie who got used to the old sound and can't appreciate the latest technology improvements. I hope the new improvements are real so I have something to look forward to.
thanks for the post
Go to my homepage, then search for "tags." Find California Audio Labs. I've written 5 posts about the Alpha itself, 15 dedicated to tube rolling.
In DACs, I'm currently using a Simaudio Moon 100D and NuForce DAC-9. I've described the latter as "thoroughly competent, detailed, and professional." Others take that to mean the DAC-9, for all its strengths, lacks that human touch. The imaging, while focused and stable, isn't as round and 3D as it should be. So when you "look" at the music, it's more like a bunch of decorations hanging on the wall, rather than life-sized models.
The CAL Alpha may not have the WIDEST and DEEPEST soundstage, but it does a good job of tracking the images' shape, plus the ambiance surrounding each image. But in order to extract this type of reproduction, make sure your cables allow for it. When it came to 3D images, the Cardas Clear interconnect best preserved the Alpha's abilities.
Although, as a reviewer, I use cables which cost thousands of dollars, the CAL Alpha does not *need* such expensive help. My friends got terrific results with (treated on an audiodharma Cable Cooker) Kimber PowerKords and Timbre interconnect.
Same results with Alpha, and also with various ARC preamps
Samir
I understand what you're saying and although I have not read all your treads regarding the Alpha, it sounds like you've extracted the most out of it.
So tell me, what current generation of DAC would best the Alpha, while retaining that "human touch"?
Not having enough relevant experience with today's DACs, I am not at liberty to comment.
As far as DACs from the CAL Alpha's time, I do miss the Mark Levinson No. 360S. Around 2000 or so, I heard the Nos. 37/360S combo. I still have the No. 37 transport. Forget audiophile-speak. To this day, I haven't heard any DAC paired with the No. 37, which has captured the (virtual) "realness" of Slayer's B.C. Rich guitars on South Of Heaven . The guitars had a smoldering burn, which is how they'd sound, in the late-80s.
As for one-box CD players, I still haven't heard any match the EAR Acute, when it comes to organic textures.
In capturing the liveliness of music, nothing IME has matched the Simaudio Andromeda. I wonder how Simaudio's own 650D and 750D compare.
But back to the Alpha. I still recommend pairing it with CAL's own Delta. On my homepage, I have written 17 posts directly about the Delta. I use one in my secondary system, and have a backup in storage. A DAC is limited by the upstream transports and digital links. So it behooves us to get the best sources we can.While the CAL Delta isn't "the best," it is available on the used market, its remote works well, load times are quick, and it just looks cool, sitting next to, on, or below the Alpha.
The PS Audio NuWave DAC sounds nice.... When it's working..... Kept having channels go silent.
I also prefer the Schiit Bifrost Uber.....
..that I know of who had a lemon NuWave DAC. This is not an indication of the reliability of other NuWave DACs performing beautifully out there.
I actually prefer the $1000 MSRP PS Audio NuWave DAC over the $5000 MSRP Luxman DA-06 or the $2000 MSRP (with Mortar Power Supply) Wavelength Brick DAC. I'm certainly convinced that price does not always equate to better sonics.
I'll sell mine to you.... Cheap.............
Is it still broken? ;-)
The problem is intermittent.....
I was turned off by the hassle to repair the thing.... I kind of let it gather dust after the Uber upgrade for the Schiit. (I prefer the NuWave over the non-Uber Bifrost.)
One of the channels goes out intermittently. I don't remember which channel is bad.
If you're willing to get this unit off my hands, we can discuss price/shipping off line.
Have you considered sending it to PS Audio for repair? If I'm not mistaken they charge a flat $250 on $1000 MSRP class products. That's what I spent to get my GCPH phono fixed a few years ago. It might not be worth the $250 to you depending on what you already have into it.
Thanks but I'm not really interested in having a 2nd NuWave DAC.
I might put it up for sale on the Trader.... "Sold as is"...........
Im really curious to know how the Nuwave compares to the Luxman
navman
Honestly, I thought the Luxman was very smooth and a bit warm but it seemed lacking in terms of detail, dynamics, and frequency extension. It sounded it little rolled off to me. You eventually get used to it.I'm not sure if that's the Luxman 'house sound' as this was my first ever Luxman product. It may appeal to some but I tend to prefer greater dynamics, transparency, detail, speed, crispness, and frequency extension from my front-end source components. I would then rely on the preamp and/or amp to tailor the sound. In other words start very clean, dynamic, transparent, and detailed. Then let the tubes downstream preform their magic. ;-)
I got used to the Luxman sound and it's enjoyable but when I switched the NuWave DAC back into the system I immediately notice the difference and what was missing.
I found the Luxman DA-06 and Wavelength Brick DAC to be polite, smooth, warm, and to my ears less detailed and rolled off compared to the PS Audio NuWave or the Wyred4Sound DAC2. The W4S DAC2 and PS Audio NuWave sound similar to me, with the PS Audio being slightly more resolving, the DAC2 being ever so slightly more robust in the lower mids.
The Luxman and Wavelength are not for me but might be appealing to others.
Edits: 01/30/15
I think you captured it nicely.
My write ups are very sparse in comparison
navman
After extensive listening, yes the NWD is definitely a better DAC.
But the Bifrost sure is a honey for the money.
"We are all in God's hands... and God is a malign thug."
-Mark Twain
I have the PS Audio NuWave DAC and like it a lot. But I have never heard the old vintage Alpha DAC. I did own the Cal Icon MkII which was a wonderful sounding and very well built CDP. It was my first 'high-end' CDP and I bought it used in the mid 1990's.
I can tell you that I like the NuWave DAC more than the vacuum tube Wavelength Brick DAC v3 that I owned. The Brick DAC was warm and smooth but rather soft and veiled in my opinion. I prefer resolution, dynamics, transparency, detail, and frequency extension in my source components (like DACs and CDPs). I prefer to add some 'tube magic' downstream.
Please let us know how the NuWave compares to your Alpha DAC.
I had a CAL IKon MKII for eight years. Replaced it with something that wasn't any better, sold it to a friend who has owned it for ten years.
It was a true classic.
"We are all in God's hands... and God is a malign thug."
-Mark Twain
Chance and sheer luck on my part. I was just getting started in high-end audio when I decided to try the used Cal Icon MKII advertised in an audiophile advertising rag that my friend subscribed to. Man, I can't remember what that rag was called. There was no Audiogon back then. ;-)
Maybe the old "Audiomart"? Mailed out every two weeks + or - to subscribers. Today it would remind you of a poorly printed program from a grade school play. But it was really the only game in town at the time. Each issue featured several pages of used gear. Bought several items from that little periodical including my first tube pre-amp. ( Audible Illusions 2B)
...I remember Audiomart! I used it to buy my Meridian 508.24. It was definitely on the simple side. Nice blast from the past.
You described Audiomart perfectly. I enjoyed reading hand-me-down copies from a co-worker audiophile friend. He's also the one who ridiculed my Sony receiver and JBL 'party speakers'. I visited his listening room in his San Francisco apartment back in the 1990's and after hearing his setup, I've been blowing money on audio gear and music ever since. I should kick that guy in the knees for getting me started!
In addition to buying/selling, Audiomart members were probably the best source for honest opinions on components, etc. I remember long conversations with fellow members and dreading the arrival of the phone bill some months.
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