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REVIEW: Xiang Sheng DAC-01A Preamplifier (Tube)

Posted by soldermizer on January 20, 2012 at 09:59:55:

Model: DAC-01A
Category: Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price: $178
Description: hybride (1-tube) USB DAC and preamp
Manufacturer URL: Xiang Sheng
Review by soldermizer on January 20, 2012 at 09:59:55
IP Address: 99.188.104.188 Add Your Review
for the DAC-01A
This was also sold by Grant Fidelity as DAC-09. It is still widely sold on Ebay (and no doubt elsewhere) as the DAC-01a. It's sold as a DAC, headphone amplifier, and [with some hunting] you can change internal jumpers to make the RCA outs variable (not fixed) so it's a "normal" pre too. Choice of transistor or tube outputs (use 6N3 tube). Digital ins: USB, SPDIF (coax, optical); two RCA ins. My unit has worked flawlessly out of the box, two weeks now. There are ("were"?) reviews of the DAC-09 on Grant web site. I'll skip all the oohs and aahs about "how it sounds..." most of that is subjective bullshit anyway. It's a capable little pre and did I mention CHEAP!!!
Product Weakness: No turn on/off muting. Only sold on internet from China, the usual risks apply.
Product Strengths: cheap, adequate, flexible digital inputs, two RCA ins, doubles as a headphone and pre amp.
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Carver M400t
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): DAC-01a
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony streaming player
Speakers: Bose 901 V
Cables/Interconnects: generic
Music Used (Genre/Selections): pop
Time Period/Length of Audition: two weeks
Type of Audition/Review: Friend's System
Your System (if other than home audition): GF's system of hand-me-down components :)

Model:	DAC-01A
Category:	Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$178
Description:	hybride (1-tube) USB DAC and preamp
Manufacturer URL:	Xiang Sheng

Product Weakness:	No turn on/off muting. Only sold on internet from China, the usual risks apply.
Product Strengths:	cheap, adequate, flexible digital inputs, two RCA ins, doubles as a headphone and pre amp.

Amplifier:	Carver M400t
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	DAC-01a
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony streaming player
Speakers:	Bose 901 V
Cables/Interconnects:	generic
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	pop
Time Period/Length of Audition:	two weeks
Type of Audition/Review:	Friend's System
Your System (if other than home audition):	GF's system of hand-me-down components :)