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In Reply to: RE: Finally got my Lampizated Kinergetics KCD-55 Ultra DAC working posted by morricab on May 06, 2015 at 04:30:11
>>The texture to the sound was really grainless but with a naturalness that I haven't found in Sigma/Delta dacs (my former Audio Aero Prima DAC was ultra smooth but still sounded somewhat synthetic to my ears ultimately compared to my ladder DACs).<<Home auditioned the AA Prima a while back; I've auditioned many higher-end players with varying DAC chipsets within my system, the Prima demo proved unremarkable, even compared to other DS players. Past it's more than decent transparency, didn't think the Capitole was all that special either, rather dull balance, dynamically stunted ... but that could've been more system dependent.
tb1
Edits: 05/06/15Follow Ups:
Now are you talking about the Prima DAC or the Prima cd player because they are two totally different animals. The cd player was a budget player while the DAC was a Capitole 24/192 without the transport. Why they named two completely different machines the same name is something only they could tell you.
The Prima DAC I had used the Anagram Technologies digital filter/upsampler whatever, a modern sigma/delta DAC chip from Analog devices I think, and a tube output stage with these cute little subminiature triodes. There are nice photos in the review on 6 moons.
I would say that compared to my Monarchy M24 DAC (BB PCM63K) and the Kinergetics (UA D20400) ladder DAC based machines there is an overly smooth and somewhat weak dynamic expression of the Prima DAC. It was transparent with nice soundstage and image focus. Bass was also not the most dynamic but still acceptably good. Tonality was very nice. It was a very good DAC in someways but I felt these others to give a more realistic sound.
was demo'd. No such experience with the Prima DAC. Demo'd (briefly) a Monarchy DAC, very nice.
The prima cdp is a much cheaper model without the sophisticated power supply, digital filter and output stage.
The Monarchy DAC is excellent, IMO and I have been using it happily for years. It gives a robust and analoglike sound with good resolution and ambient space retrieval. The Prima DAC was perhaps better at that last bit but not by much.
This newly Lampizated DAC is promising to go one step beyond these.
> > The prima cdp is a much cheaper model without the sophisticated power supply, digital filter and output stage. < <
I was provided a unit to home demo moons ago; was told it would easily better my Linn (linn digital gets so little respect around here) for less money. Didn't even come close, past it's tendency towards brightness, it obviously compressed the frequency extremes/bandwidth during peak passages, even compared to the Linn Genki(*). I also compared it to an Ayre I was also considering, in another system, no contest there either.
Others around here swore by it and the Capitole, neither proved to be my cup of tea ... (the Linn CD12 proved far superior to any Capitole I've heard, but each demo system was completely different (the Capitole was demo'd in an expensive tube based system, the Linn SS).
Well, I can't comment on the Prima cdp except to point out it was the budget model but the Prima DAC was not (it was $5K new).
Ultimately, I preferred my Monarchy DAC and now the excellent Kinergetics with Lampizator mods.
> > Lampizator mods < <
I'd like to hear or attempt the mod one day.
I've heard the Capitole in many different systems over a period of years and it has always stood out as one of the best: IMO. But, as you say, system integration is key. It is a very neutral player, and if you plug it into a non-neutral, low current amp, or warm, bass heavy, speakers: or conversely, - thin sounding speakers: it's not going to sound "optimal."
The overall sonic character of the AA is a little bit different than the Meitner: and it is not as flexible: but it pays big rewards when matched with the right components.
As you said, it is very transparent, and it can be brutally so with noise in the system or in the recording. I have a couple of recordings that were poorly done and were mastered "hot-to-tape:" - the Capitole shredded the brain with high-end distortion. Since so much "detail" comes from the treble ranges, - system gestalt is critical.
I am not trying to "argue" with your experience: just relating mine.
Cheers,
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
I heard it within foreign systems/rooms, again didn't do much for me. Transparent yes, but I expected more dynamic contrast from the entire systems/rooms in which the Capitole resided.
When it comes to ultra-expensive one-box CD players, the last truly excellent demo experience I had used a Burmester.
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