Digital Drive: REVIEW: EAR/Yoshino EAR 192 DACute DAC Processors by XLR8OR

Model:	EAR 192 DACute
Category:	DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price:	�4440
Description:	DAC Standalone Unit
Manufacturer URL:	EAR/Yoshino
Model Picture:	View

Review by XLR8OR on September 26, 2011 at 07:22:51
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for the EAR 192 DACute

Hello all Audionutz and audiophiles :) You may recall a few years back now my infamous review found here: http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=digital&m=135737 on a classic shootout between the EAR Acute CD player, ARC Reference CD7 and Ayre CX-7e CD players(hahah some even extracted the review without my permission and republished it on other webpage LOL). Anywayz, a lot has since happened from then both in my system setup and equipment( see my main room)..

Today I bring you a review of the all new EAR 192 DACute standalone DAC unit which cost a very little �4440 :pp

Prior to this review some updates on the Acute front. I still have this player but now it gathers dust unfortunately..

Thankfully, I have had a chance to purchase an immaculate NOS Marantz CD94MKII CD player which has the amazing TDA 1541A S1 - yes special editions DAC's :)

In a nutshell lets put it this way- you get a:
* Phillips CDM1 transport built like a tank and designed to last like a tank
++++
* Phillips TDA 1541A S1(special editions for tightness) - DAC's in dual mono configuration

= CD Digital Nirvana...

Yes you read it right an old vintage CD player can knock of the socks of expensive modern CD players which to put it frankly doesn't surprise me..hey look at valves... the more older the more vintage and better :)

But... then this review isn't about the Acute... it's about Tim De Paravicini new Standalone DAC called the EAR 192 DACute...

So in my testing of this unit I fed the Marantz - Phillips CDM1 transport via RCA digital output into the EAR 192 DACute and then into my EAR 864 preamp. I also to compare fed the Marantz output into the EAR 864 preamp standalone.

For the former:

EAR 192 DACute..
On first impressions there is something unusual going on which is deceptive. I don't mean deceptive in a bad manner but to an audiophile nut it is audible. To put it frankly, the DAC unit has a great soundstage, bass and gain but lacks midrange purity and top-end. Moreso, it seems to roll off the mids-to-tops and puts on a nice soundstage show via the lower mid-bass. Not that this is a bad thing actually some people might like it but after a while and after comparing it the Marantz DAC and EAR Acute CD player (older Wolfson DAC) there are apparent differences between them.

The EAR 192 DACute has enormous gain and pumps plenty of volume into your amps. However, the more you listen the more you become aware that there is a spectrum of frequencies missing in the music and it comes from mid-range upwards..This is not apparent in the older EAR Acute CD player and my reference the Marantz CD94 MKII.

I listened to this DAC and demoed it in an A/B comparo over several days and several hours doing A/B comparisons on the same track and as much as I hate to say it I think the new wolfson DAC that Tim has used in it is a real bummer..

In my testing I also had a chance to compare the Acute CD player and this has a more seemingly neutral approach from top to bottom one would say more purist approach to presenting digital audio and more technically correct. And this is also repeated with the Marantz approach but the Marantz wins out on the Acute and the EAR 192 DAcute for purity/sweetness/grain-edge free alone it cannot be surpassed top-to-bottom freq range. The Marantz is an amazing package especially to think that an older form of technology can better the newer and enormously expensive newer units. And it's no suprise actually the transport in the EAR Acute is an el cheapo $10 Sony transport... YIKES!!!! yes you read that right $10... but then again they don't build em like they use to... think Phillips transports here...

I would haste to say and regrettably so considering the price, that in order from best sound to worst sound my rank would be:
1.Marantz CD94 MKII - TDA 1541A S1 -DAC's
2.EAR Acute CD Player - Wolfson DAC
3.EAR 192 DACute - Wolfson newer DAC

There you have it... EAR 192 DACute unit reviewed...:)

XLR8OR

Product Weakness:	Poor mid-range<br>Poor mid-range resolution<br>Top end resolution/clarity is poor/absent - limited bandwidth in speaker range<br>Dark sound at first but let it warm up and darkness disappears.
Product Strengths:	Bottom end<br>High gain<br>Great width and depth sound-stage only from the bottom end frequencies

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: 300B Mono Bloc Amps
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): EAR/Yoshino 864
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Marantz CD94 MKII/EAR Acute CD player
Speakers: Gamut Audio Phi 7
Cables/Interconnects: Tara Labs/Discovery Cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz/Rock/Dance
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition

Amplifier:	300B Mono Bloc Amps
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	EAR/Yoshino 864
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Marantz CD94 MKII/EAR Acute CD player
Speakers:	Gamut Audio Phi 7
Cables/Interconnects:	Tara Labs/Discovery Cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz/Rock/Dance
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition