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In Reply to: RE: Audio Note DACs v the competition (sub 4k) posted by Astrostar60 on January 03, 2013 at 04:31:24
I have not heard better DACs outside of Audio Note.
That said - there is one that is intriguing - a reviewer for enjoythemusic.com who owns an Audio Note 2.1 Kit claims the MDHT Havana DAC at $899 is much much better. It is also a non-oversampling tube DAC.
The price is low due to being made in Taiwan. Who knows - many people like something when it comes in - rattles their cage - but may not have staying power - I remember reading Art Dudley say that about the Snell JII speakers he had and eventually regretted selling them. Something comes in and does one thing really really well and impresses you but you forgot that those "in your face" improvements were what caused issues in the first place.
Follow Ups:
Hi RGA
Yes, I read that Review. I think the DAC 2.1 kit is a very early model, (the current model is updated and improved). And I think it can be synergy of the rest of the system. The early 2.1 AN DACs do need a high ohm load in a pre amp, or it can sound thin.
I have found thus far, that the AN DACs sound very organic and none fatiguing. And good tubes further boost the sound.
I wish myself that I could find an SS DAC that could have the same quality of sound and sonic signature, and thus would remove the hassles of tube replacement and generation of heat.
I would love to hear the factory DAC 4 or 5 models, just to hear how much further up the music chain they really are. A pipe dream for me but hey, you can imagine!
Live long and listen!
I wonder how this compares. It does not seem to need tubes.
If it uses filtering (digital or analog), it would nor compare at all.
It doesn't compare at all.... I have an AN kit DAC4.1X and I also have an Attraction DAC. The AN DAC is MUCH more detailed and has higher resolution, which also gives a MUCH bigger soundstage. The Attraction is always pleasant sounding and "making music". I have put it back in my chain few times, but only for very short time. I want the AN back very quickly!
Edits: 02/21/13
That sounds like positive comments, "pleasant and makes music", when considering that you are comparing to one at 5 times the cost?
The AN DAC kit is 5 times the cost? It's (quite) a bit less... But need to tell my Attraction DAC is also (a lot) more expensive, because of big Mundorf Silver/Oil coupling caps, Hynes regulators and Hynes power supply. It also has the Jitter reduction option.
Except for the "pleasantness" and "musicallity", the DAC kit 4.1x has a lot more to offer.
But perhaps you are right and it's giving value for money, as the AN kit IS more expensive. For me it's worth the extra money, but for others it can be different.
P.S. I didn't plan to sell the Attraction yet, but when the offer is right I could... (without the Hynes power supply, as I am using it for other things at the moment)
I listened to the Altmann Dac and a Audio note Dac that was apparently upgraded to Dac 3.1 specs in the same system (m3 or higher,Conquest silver, AN-E spe HE)
The altmann sounded bigger and bolder although the AN dac might be more subtle and vinyl. But overall, I didn't hear a huge difference and could live with either one.
Try a different set to listen to the DAC's!!!
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