I got it from actual listening at Shows and from persuing forums like A-Asylum. There is a huge current dumping thread there.
I was interested in getting a Nakamishi Stasis amp once upon a time, as I know of Nelson Pass accomplishment with Stasis power. A UK audio industry buddy also told me about the hybrid amp tech and how they developed it.
BTW, I did not even visit Goldmund until mid-2013, so you are barking up the wrong tree. What would they know about Current Dumping anyway?
I also resent your implication that I cant think for myself and apply critical reasoning. Methinks you are the one swayed here by bling. |
01-01-15: Wisnon
The amps are not SOTA, as they essentially use the Threshold STASIS tech, which was an adaptation of current dumping. Class a voltage combined with class D current. The older techs used class B current. Norman, you have been making that argument since 2012 (or most likely someone else fed you that argument...Goldmund maybe?). People obviously disagree with you on the factuality of it: http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/47092-finally-an-interesting-class-d-amp/page-4 Erik, for your perusal: http://devialetchat.com/Thread-Mac-AIR-v-MiND-180-v-Auralic-ARIES-v-totaldac-d1-server?page=7 |
@Agear,
It's not the sound quality of the digital section that has folks (also me) trying different renderers and servers, it's Devialet's current built in streamer AIR. AIR sounds outstanding and works pretty good with the occasional hiccup, but it needs to have a computer running on the network.. no upnp built in..
But wait there's more :-) Devialet just announced their Dialog device and Spark control point, which looks as if it'll add upnp and streaming capabilities without the need for a computer running on the network..It's supposed to sell for $400.00 and if it does what it's supposed to do (I expect it will) Bam! Home Run Baby :-)
And DSD will most likely become available around the Munich show this year..
All in all it's an awesome turnkey product that punches way above it's weight and really helps one to get off the audio merry go round and just sit back and enjoy the music.. |
The amps are not SOTA, as they essentially use the Threshold STASIS tech, which was an adaptation of current dumping. Class a voltage combined with class D current. The older techs used class B current.
The complaint about Devialet is that they dont work that well with very hard to drive speakers. Their SAM tech does make them a flawless matchup to normal speajkers that have been SAM optimized though.
This is great turnkey stuff, but you have to buy into the Devialet eco-system, which currenly means no DSD and even if it comes later could likely NOT be pure DSD.
Get Devialet and one can just forget about Nervosa. |
I heard Devaliet with Totem Elemental Metal speakers at the NY show and it was a winning combo. |
I have the Devialet 200.. And I'm very happy with it.. |
Ricevs, the amp section on the French piece appears to be SOTA, but the digital implementation falls short in many people's eyes. Spend on time on the Devaliet forums, and they are screwing around with Totaldac servers and whatnot trying to get better SQ. Who knows. I would love to try one. Speaker selection seems to be very important.... |
Have you guys read this? : http://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/528-devialet-400-mono-integrated-amplifier-dacs
He even likes the $6500 one better than anything he has heard on his Magicos. A DAC, a preamp, an amp...all in one.
Why would you not try it if you could afford to? Never heard it myself but I certainly would try it if I had the money. |
Thanks, Scott; for clearing the air.
Your answer to Q2 makes the CAT more desirable now.
Cheers! J. |
Hi Scott,
1. What happens to 24/192 data after transmission from the CAT to the DAC which supports sampling rates up to the maximum of 176.4?
2. Can the CAT output to any other dac or is it, by virtue of its single output which is usb, limited only to the CAD DAC?
3. My conclusion is that the CAT cannot function as a stand-alone transport without the DAC. Is this correct? 1) The CAT will downsample the 192KHz to 176.4Khz (or any other frequency you would like) 2) The CAT can be used with any USB DAC. We also have some people using it as a high quality audio / CD ripper Ethernet server. Any digital device that uses Ethernet streaming can use the CAT. So you could use one CAT to connect up to both a USB DAC and another "streamer". 3) Correct. There is no Digital to Analog converter inside the CAT Best Regards, Scott www.computeraudiodesign.com |
Thanks for the comment Scott.
For me, the beauty of the card solution is the non-shifting data, the ability to handle data rapidly and most importantly, the ability to travel with your ENTIRE music collection in your wallet. Ultimate MOBILITY!
Price? just give it 2 years….
The tech is reminiscent or the Porzilli "Memory Player".
Keep on making your good stuff. Knowledgeable people (in the industry) have given your products the thumbs up. |
Hi Scott,
1. What happens to 24/192 data after transmission from the CAT to the DAC which supports sampling rates up to the maximum of 176.4?
2. Can the CAT output to any other dac or is it, by virtue of its single output which is usb, limited only to the CAD DAC?
3. My conclusion is that the CAT cannot function as a stand-alone transport without the DAC. Is this correct?
Best regards. J. |
Please correct if I am wrong - for 24/192 data, the transport can transmit this to the DAC which then downsamples to 24/96? Hi Jon, The 1543 DAC has no capabilities to upsample, downsample or filter. The CAT can be set up to take 24/192 data and output 24/96 or anything else you would like. Best Regards, Scott www.computeraudiodesign.com |
Scott, is it your opinion that the internall SSD sounds better than an SDxc card? I was told otherwise, but have no direct experience.
The thing is that a 500GB SDXC card in now about GBP400 and in a year or 2, 1 TB will likely cost that amount. That means that one can hace one's ENTIRE library in the top pocket with say 5 to 6 1TB SDXC cards and these cards are not constantly shifting data around for efficiency sake like HDDs and SSDs and are ligtning fast, as evidenced by their use in hi-speed photography. Hi Wisnon, In my experience an SDXC card does sound better than a standard SSD, but is more expensive. As you said for the price of a 500GB SDXC card you can now get a 1TB SSD. But the question I have spent a lot of time on is: Why does it sound better? I feel I have found the reasons and have implemented that technology into the CAT. Best Regards, Scott www.computeraudiodesign.com |
Thanks, Scott, for your very informative reply.
Please correct if I am wrong - for 24/192 data, the transport can transmit this to the DAC which then downsamples to 24/96?
|
Matt,
How can you NOT know CAD? They are a top quality British digital audio player. LoL |
Scott, is it your opinion that the internall SSD sounds better than an SDxc card? I was told otherwise, but have no direct experience.
The thing is that a 500GB SDXC card in now about GBP400 and in a year or 2, 1 TB will likely cost that amount. That means that one can hace one's ENTIRE library in the top pocket with say 5 to 6 1TB SDXC cards and these cards are not constantly shifting data around for efficiency sake like HDDs and SSDs and are ligtning fast, as evidenced by their use in hi-speed photography.
Your considered opinion is welcome. |
Hi Mattnshilp,
All our products are sold with a 30 day money back guarantee. If you are interested please contact me through our website:
http://www.computeraudiodesign.com/contact/
Best Regards,
Scott
www.computeraudiodesign.com |
Scott,
I'm not familiar with your product. Any interest in getting one to me for an audition/comparison. Wanna throw your boxer into my ring? ;) |
Hi Agear,
Yes, CAD was at the Warsaw show this year. We were in the Tulip room with the 1543 DAC, CAT and CAD USB Cable along with Boenicke W8 speakers and Purist Audio Design interconnects.
http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/poland2014/11.html
Best Regards,
Scott
www.computeraudiodesign.com |
Hi Scott - only stating the truth - I wasn't looking to flatter. |
Hi Jon,
The CAT is designed to output via a USB connection or Ethernet connection. The CAT does not have S/PDIF, RCA or XLR connections.
The CAT will play back any format at any bit rate and any resolution available.
The 1543 DAC will "natively" playback up to 176.4Khz. If you connect the 1543 DAC to the CAT it will playback DSD via DSD over PCM (DoP).
I have no plans to make the 1543 DAC accept DSD natively. I have had customers concerned about this and my suggestion is to please go to any of our dealers with some of your DSD files and have a listen to the CAT and 1543 DAC.
The bulk of our customers are people that have been involved in audio for many years and have a large collection of CDs and possibly a CD player that has a few years on it. I am personally also a big vinyl nut and I have tried to get the sound of the 1543 DAC and CAT to be a bit more like that and less like many digital components out there that have "sort of CD High Res sound to it" as Lohanimal mentions.
The CAT and 1543 DAC combination will playback any file currently available.
Best Regards,
Scott |
Hi Scott,
All that you have said is indeed music to my ears, so to speak. If I do get the CAD transport, it would be solely for hi-res material. 1 TB of internal SSD is more than enough to hold my current hi-res collection. Can the transport output DSD or 24/192 data via spdif, either RCA or XLR, to any other hi-res DSD DAC?
I ask this because I have quite a number of such files but I note from your website that the CAD DAC is neither DSD nor 24/192 capable. Do you have any plans to incorporate such capability in the near future?
Many thanks. J. |
Hi Jon,
The CAD Audio Transport (CAT) is built with any music storage the customer wants. We can install SSD or HDD.
You can also use a NAS over Ethernet, USB thumb drive, etc. You can have multiple music storage locations if you wish. The CAT will see them all as one library.
So yes, there is a direct input for a USB thumbdrive on the CAT.
We recommend using internal SSD storage for music because in my opinion it gives the best sound quality of any option available.
Along with an internal SSD you can also connect up to a NAS via Ethernet if you wish.
Most customers choose a 1TB SSD, enough space for at least 1500 ripped CDs, which costs about £350 at the moment.
Best Regards,
Scott
www.computeraudiodesign.com |
Hi Scott,
Nice of you to drop by. I have read the rave review of your product in HiFi+. The transport currently does not have a direct input for usb thumbdrive, SD card or solid state hard drive. Would you consider this in your future designs for those of us who may not want to do streaming or have a computer near our audio rig? If not, could you tell us whether such a provision would compromise sound quality in any way?
Thanks in advance.
J. |
Whitewind,
Trinity vs Vivaldi - this is absolute top tier stuff. Please tell us more about the comparison setting - preamp or no preamp, power amp, speakers, etc.
Thanks in advance. J. |
I had the good fortune of hearing the Computer Audio Design (CAD) which I think is a USB DAC - whereby you rip cd's to a computer first. Scott Berry also makes a kind of player/ripping device. I am not entirely sure ass to connectivity with your front end, but it was utterly brilliant - very natural, no glare, no hash, it was to all intents and purposes just right - I have never heard digital that 'right'. I've heard DCS which is fabulous but as a sort of CD High Res sound to it, Burmester has a certain luxury, MBL I recall had a Burmestereque luxury as well. But the CAD - that was something else - effortless correctness Thank you Lohanimal! Best Regards, Scott Berry www.computeraudiodesign.com |
Trinity DAC
Any thoughts? I have recently had a chance to compare the Trinity DAC to the Vivaldi stack in friend's system. To our surprise we both prefered the Trinity DAC, which had a better PRaT, overall sounded more transparent and - for lack of a better word - less processed. He is complementing selling his Vivaldi and getting the Trinity DAC instead. The problem is the Trinity transport is not as robust as the Vivaldi transport (the Trinity PC Drive is basicly a computer in a matching case) so he may end up keeping the Vivaldi transport. I read the Trinity sounds even better via the USB, but we didn't have a chance to try this input. |
There is a barely new Esoteric K-01X on auction at Audiogon now. Current bid is 10k but below reserve price. May be an opportunity to get this on the "cheap". |
Matt. If you could arrange a lampizator seven, ModWright's Elyse tube dac alone with the allnic, this would give readers a good base comparison regarding tube dacs to empirical. |
Actually, some Japanese audiophiles did something in the same vein with bright lights and solar panels... discussed here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/142562-microsd-memory-card-transport-project-13.html#post3569285
Greg in Mississippi |
How about some gerbils in wheels connected to generators?!?!?
Direct DC generation and Totally off the grid....
There are, of course, some kinks to work out. But think of all the mods we could implement. Higher efficiency generators, titanium light weight wheels, upgraded flywheels, gerbil sneakers (Air Gerbil), genetically altered gerbils for more consistent power generation... Oh the possibilities!!! |
12-20-14: Lohanimal
I had the good fortune of hearing the Computer Audio Design (CAD) which I think is a USB DAC - whereby you rip cd's to a computer first. Scott Berry also makes a kind of player/ripping device. I am not entirely sure ass to connectivity with your front end, but it was utterly brilliant - very natural, no glare, no hash, it was to all intents and purposes just right - I have never heard digital that 'right'. I've heard DCS which is fabulous but as a sort of CD High Res sound to it, Burmester has a certain luxury, MBL I recall had a Burmestereque luxury as well. But the CAD - that was something else - effortless correctness Was this at the Warsaw show? Sounds very promising... |
Matt - actually, if I modify a couple of Dynamo supplies, I can try this right away for +12V digital and +18V anaolog supplies. I don't have any -18V linear to try for the third supply, but this voltage is less critical. I can just use the Substation for this.
CharlesD - A linear will have less noise I think, even using the same regulator.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Oh yes
Can I just add that I remember hearing a very impressive DAC from the Chord Company |
I had the good fortune of hearing the Computer Audio Design (CAD) which I think is a USB DAC - whereby you rip cd's to a computer first. Scott Berry also makes a kind of player/ripping device. I am not entirely sure ass to connectivity with your front end, but it was utterly brilliant - very natural, no glare, no hash, it was to all intents and purposes just right - I have never heard digital that 'right'. I've heard DCS which is fabulous but as a sort of CD High Res sound to it, Burmester has a certain luxury, MBL I recall had a Burmestereque luxury as well. But the CAD - that was something else - effortless correctness |
Steve, If both are implemented to a very high level will a linear power supply sound better than a SMPS? Your new DAC is an all out effort so I realize every aspect matters. I know that power supplies are a crucial factor.
Best of luck,
Charles. |
Yes, I agree, Mattnshilp would be a great beta-tester indeed, he has proven it here on this thread, he has used his money to be a tester for himself and all of us, the man has reported all his finding's, how many people do you know would take the time and money to do this?, yes, someone should sponser MattNshilp. |
Steve, since your still prototyping then a linear power supply test might not be a bad idea as a comparison. I'm sure it's quite an investment in time and parts but the rewards, to your loyal customer base, justify the barriers.
I'm happy to help with your testing and offer auditions/opinions on different designs. With my new room and a bit of an upgrade on my gear (to be shortly announced) I think my system will be rather resolving and show the finesse needed to identify the subtle differences and improvements you are trying to achieve.
Cheers! |
That did jog me. One possibility is an external linear supply rather than the SMPS I use. I would be really big box though, about 10X of the DAC.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Let me know when your Diamond SX is ready for prime-time production model is ready for an audition. I'm dying to hear it!!!!
Over Drive - Diamond SX
ODDSX
I like it.
Thoughts for best sound possible:
--> Upgraded all internal wire and cable, Upgrade footers to reduce vibration, upgrade cabinet to reduce micro resonance and increase damping, isolate and separate power supply (do you need to go to a separate power supply for left and right channel?), upgrade all cable connections, upgrade umbilical power cord, isolated DAC's and schematics for DSD and PCM (although I think the SX is PCM only), improve upon those recessed toggles all the way on the right (they are not easy to flip). That's it. I'm no engineer, but these are the first things the other guys do...
Just thinking out loud. |
AOL - the Diamond SX is significantly better than the SE. Better focus, more 3-D, better imaging. Literally everything going on in the music track is crystal clear and pinpoint image.
The Diamond is some bling to insure that the customer feels that his investment is worth it and also to distinguish my top DAC from the Overdrive SE. Its also nice to point out that even the dCS at 5-10X the price does not have any diamonds on it. This definitely beats it.
There is literally nothing I can think of that would make this DAC have better SQ, at any price. I'm already using the best capacitors on the planet.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Audioengr,quick question.
Does the diamond add any type of improvement to sound quality? If not,may I ask,why add unnecessary cost to the dac when I'm sure the money could be better utilized elsewhere.Or,maybe I'm not getting the diamond thing.
Or could the diamond be of such low quality that its value is moot to the cost of the unit? |
I too think Diamond SX would be good branding, reflecting a stellar audio product. |
Audioengr, That model name is catchy, I believe it would go over well, that would be a name most would not forget, that name can promote sales, I am glad I could recommend something that I believe would work, ask others here, I bet they would agree. |
Al - I believe SX will be in the $10K range. I'll think about the diamond name. Maybe Diamond SX.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Hi audioengr, have you come to terms with a price for this diamond sx dac?, maybe you can include the word diamond into the model name, would not hurt, many other audio company's do. |
Ketcham - I only use the very best D-color excellent-cut diamonds. I know my diamonds.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
The diamond is the pointer. This pointer has magical powers.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
I was kidding. I have no idea.
The ODSE has a very attractive industrial appearance. And it's sound is sublime. No bling necessary. Lol
Maybe it absorbs high frequency vibration in the chassis or something equally tweaky. :) |
