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RE: DAC 2.1 Level C with C-core output transformers

Posted by DRCope (P) on March 5, 2009 at 09:47:49

In Reply to: RE: DAC 2.1 Level C with C-core output transformers posted by xaudiomanx on March 5, 2009 at 09:06:23:

Tap dance all you like. If you say 5hz - 200khz is limited, I have to ask what you're after. DC to daylight?

Making things as simple as possible but NO SIMPLER is an Audio Note watchword. (Watch-phrase?) Many improvements have been made by removing things: digital filters, then any filters at all in the DACs, the third gain stage in a growing number of Audio Note power amps. Complexity for its own sake is certainly useless and counterproductive, but so is tossing out entire concepts because you've heard an iteration where it didn't work well. Such is the case with regulation. I've heard regulation strangle the music right out of an amplifier. Then again, the Audio Note Galahad power supply reduces noise to such a level that is has been patented and has application in medical and test equipment.

Yes, Audio Note - Peter Qvortrup and Andy Grove - write the articles. Those who haven't done the research can't very well write them, now can they? However, anyone can hear and or measure the results, preferably on a system that can resolve the differences.

A really out-there Audio Note system such as the one demo'd at RMAF last fall, uses at least 5 transformer stages. Moving coil step-up, RIAA (in M9 Phono), pre OPT, P4 Balanced input, interstage and OPT. People who heard Metal, Mahler or anything in-between on this system were floored by its life-like qualities. In three days of running the room, I never heard anyone suggest that the system was somehow badnwidth-limited. This goes on all year all around the world. If transformers were such bad boys, don't you imagine compounding that bad boy behavior compounded FIVE TIMES would have been clearly audible - probably disastrous? Hunh. Didn't happen.

Dropping a DAC 5 (the options are Special or Signature, BTW) into a system of unknown provenance and declaring the benefits nearly inaudible is a non-starter. There's no way of knowing what can or cannot be discerned therein.

As far having an open mind, I suggested doing a shoot-out at AKFest. Who said I would be bringing a 10s of thousands of dollars DAC? It's more likely to be a $2k DAC fed from my MacBook Pro or a $3k CD player. I'm hoping to get Brian to do an Audio Note Kits room as well. Audio Note will be there and you're invited. The mind is open; the door is open.


Keep your ears and your mind open.

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