Digital Drive

Posted by aljordan (A) on April 26, 2007 at 18:06:37

In Reply to: I could really use a DAC suggestion! posted by budburma on April 20, 2007 at 10:15:23:

Hi Art,

I own the Audio Aero Prima SE DAC. I use it as my preamp also (I sold my Audible Illusions Modulus 3A since buying it). The DAC is very musical, and the preamp section sound very good as well. One nice aspect of this piece of equipment is that it can drive any amplifier I mate to it, even ones that are notoriously difficult on preamps.

Interestingly, the Audio Aero sounds different depending on whether the single ended or balanced outputs are used. The single ended outputs sound a bit thick in the mid bass, while the balanced outputs have a less bloated mid-bass. Directly driving an amplifier, the dac and preamp sounds very musical, fast and snappy in the highs, nice texture in the mids, with a slight thickness in the bass depending on what outputs I use. Ergonomically it is very good; lots of digital inputs, two analog inputs, full finctionality via remote control, and a very good volume control (balance control too, but I don't use the balance much).

I originally bought the Audio Aero because I wanted to feed both my CD player and computer into my system and retain a nice tube-like texture. Since then I have dropped the CD player from the system because the computer gives more presence and detail with the capability of DSP based room correction, and sounds extremely musical with the Audio Aero.

I also have a Lynx Two B semi-pro card in the computer that has highly regarded DACs (for a computer card anyway). Sometimes I will use it to drive the amps directly or use it to digitally feed the Audio Aero DAC via an AES/EBU connection. The Lynx DACs are more detailed all around with more impact in the bass. The Audio Aero imparts a more analog sound with a slightly softer, hazier deep bass, but the tubes make the mids and highs sound glorious with while still retaining excellent detail.

The Audio Aero DAC is not particularly transparent in that the upsampling and tubes definitely impart their own signature, but that signature is very nice. The DACs in the Lynx card sound more transparent, but in the same manner can sound a bit harsh conpared to the tubes.

I do think the best sound I have acheived using the Audio Aero is with a balanced AES/EBU digital connection. I have also tried it using coax from an M-Audio card, and both coax and toslink from my CD Player. The AES/EBU sounds full and smooth coming from the Lynx card. I don't think a DAC like the Audio Aero requires a card as expensive as the Lynx because the reclocking and upsampling offers excellent jitter immunity. The AES/EBU connection of the Audio Aero does sound a bit better to me than the other connections, which is why I like using the Lynx card.

Regarding preamps, I own a Transendent Sound Grounded Grid, I owned an Audible Illusions Modulus 3A, and had a Cary SLP 98 (F1 version) in the system for a good long time. All have their strengths but I think the Audio Aero preamp section is the most well rounded of them all, and tosses in the ability to drive pretty much anything. I would love to have the opportunity to try an Audio Note DAC, but unfortunately can't give any feedback with a comparison.

Hope this helps,
Alan

• Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! - budburma 06:38:19 04/27/07 (4)
  In Reply to: Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! posted by aljordan on April 26, 2007 at 18:06:37:

  Hi Alan-
  Thanks for the very thorough reply. If i understand it correctly, the Lynx sound card is used to convert the signal to a useable AES/BSU type and the AA still acts as the DAC (and preamp). A very simple solution and the Lynx L22 is a little less expensive and offers only audio functions.

  I am new to the Mac world with an iMac now, but will have a dedicated music computer when I get it all together to launch this pc system. It is not quite as apparent how to install the sound card into a Mac, but I am sure I could get the help I need....I may need to use a Mac pro, which is far too expensive for this endeavor.

  Is it necessary to use the Lynx cables? I guess the more important question is do different brands of the same type of cable sound differently if they are just carrying digital information?

  I have also had the AI Modulus 3, but didn't own it for long. It was a bit thin and a little noisy for me. The AA seems like a logical step, but the idea of using the equipment I have now is also seriously appealing. If I could only afford to have both and a/b them, I'd be set! Why do you also own the Transcendent?

  And, by the way, great photos! You should offer them up as screen savers....selfish of me, I know.

  Best Regards,
  Art

  
  
  

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  • Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! - aljordan 09:32:03 04/27/07 (3)
    In Reply to: Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! posted by budburma on April 27, 2007 at 06:38:19:

    Hi Art,

    I can't imagine how one would get a PCI sound card into an iMac. I think you would be limited to using an optical out from the iMac, or buy an external DAC which supports USB or Firewire. Yashu's suggestion of the Trends UD 10 looks good also, but I have no experience with the device.

    Regarding cables for the Lynx, other companies do make cables snakes that will fit some of the Lynx connectors, and other Lynx users have brewed their own cables. I have only used the Lynx cables so far. I am not one to get into the discussion of whether different cables sound the different carrying digital information, but the digital cable is not carrying ones and zeros, it is carrying an electrical representation of ones and zeros in the form of a varrying voltage.

    I can hear some differences between differing digital inputs on the same device, but of course using different inputs requires different cables, and I don't know if the differences are due to the output on the outgoing equipment, the input on the fed equipment, or the cable type. I generally stick to purchasing well constructed, good quality cables over using cables as a means to tweak the system sound. A good, judiciously applied subtractive parametric EQ allows me to get far better results over playing with cable configurations.

    I own the Transcendent Sound preamp because I like to build things, and it is one of those pieces of equipment that sound far better than I could ever sell it for, so I keep it for my second system.

    I think I may have given the wrong impression in my earlier note when comparing the sound of the Lynx DACs against the Audio Aero. I said the Lynx was slightly more harsh, but I don't think that is correct. I went back and listened again after writing the last note. The difference is more of a fleshed out midrange and more midbass warmth with the Audio Aero. I don't think the Lynx is more harsh, but has a different balance due to the lack of tubes. I will say that the Lynx is more transparent, and that transparency can lead to a bit of harshness on poor recordings. The Lynx has a slightly more etherial sound, with less instrumental solidity than the Audio Aero, but on good recordings it does sound very nice - much better than the other internal sound cards I have played with.

    Good luck with whatever you choose, and have fun!

    Alan
    
    

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    • Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! - Dawnrazor 10:59:00 04/27/07 (2)
      In Reply to: Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! posted by aljordan on April 27, 2007 at 09:32:03:

      Hey AJ,

      Based on your listening, do you think if there were tubes in the system some other place, say a tubed pre-amp, that you would get the added transparency of the Lynx and the mid/midbass warmth of tubes??

      
      
      

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      • Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! - aljordan 12:56:02 04/27/07 (1)
        In Reply to: Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! posted by Dawnrazor on April 27, 2007 at 10:59:00:

        Hi Dawnrazor,

        Most likely. I'll try it. It will be a very easy thing to do. I'll run the digital out from the Lynx into the Audio Aero digital input, and a pair of analog outs from the Lynx into the Audio Aero analog input and make a comparison between the two. The analog inputs of the AA doesn't convert analog to digital and back again so I should be able to compare the merits of each DAC and more precisely see what affect the tubes in the output stage of the AA have. I'll also try going from the Lynx into a different tubed preamp and see what affect it has. I'll let you know.

        By the way, if I haven't made this clear, the bass warmth of the AA is really a trade-off. It is the typical tube / solid-state argument when comparing the Lynx to the Audio Aero.
        
        

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        • Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! - Dawnrazor 13:24:50 04/27/07 (0)
          In Reply to: Re: I could really use a DAC suggestion! posted by aljordan on April 27, 2007 at 12:56:02:

          Hey Aj,

          Thanks for the info, and let us know how it goes.

          I did think your posts smacked of the ss/tube debate. That is why it would be interesting to see if you could have your cake and eat it too.

          One day, i will get around to making a cable box for the lynx and use some home brew cables to see if that offers and improvement. The stock cables sound good to me, but I think that may improve things even further.

          Cheers.
          
          

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