What is your opinion on the link to the ps audio stellar gain dac? I really just use the xlr because I had two sets of the kimber hero in my system for so long. I have nothing against the rca hookup at all.
There seems more emphasis on its preamplifier capabilities than as a DAC. Doesn’t mean that the DAC section isn’t good. As has been said, at 2K you have numerous good options.
I definitely agree with above comments about single end vs XLR/balanced connections. Most certainly depends on design focus, optimization and implementation. Don’t just assume that balanced is better by default. Not true, circumstances and specifics matter.
Some of the absolute best sounding audio systems I have heard were single ended (RCA) connected from one end to the other.
Charles
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i don't have an informed opinion on ps audio's gain cell dac
i did have their former top-of-line fpga directstream dac for some time, with windom then sunlight firmware versions, it was a decent dac, but to my ear outperformed by others in its (admittedly high) price category
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I am just wondering and probably should be at a step up from my current 18 year old ps audio digital link iii dac? It’s a free 30 day in home trial before I have to return my older dac or the stellar dac. I just pay for shipping on the return, which ever I decide.
or… I could go a total opposite direction and upgrade my accuphase integrated to a Hegel h590 and have an all in one setup through my 1 year trade up program. Just throwing this out there. It is an option I do have.
I can’t demo it as no one around me has hegel or Accuphase. When I bought the Accuphase integrated, I just took a chance hoping I would like it and luckily I did.
Any of you running the hegel h390 or 590? Every review seems positive.
thanks again everyone
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I am honestly thinking I should try another dac 60 card, possibly something wrong with the one I had. From the few reviews I have read on the dac 50 card are all positive. I mean they make top notch stuff, so it should be an awesome dac. I will talk to the dealer this morning and get his thoughts.
it is just overwhelming for me with all these options out there that makes the dac 60 seem so much easier and simpler.
scratch that post above. I like this integrated to much to exchange it. I was just letting you guys know I had that option.
Thanks
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Well, besides the gain that I know about now and reading on another thread here about it, I believe I found the problem with the testing.
My son and a friend where moving some furniture for me and finally told me they bumped my rack.
found one xlr cable end was messed up at the ps audio output & my coaxial cable from my CD player was screwed up. They got pinched between my stand and the wall and where working intermittently, I believe when the sub was hitting low notes. I was able to finally get down there and shake the cables around and they were definitely causing issues.
I replaced all cables with spares I had and it is sounding better now, back to normal. Stupid coincidence the same time I had the dac 60. I can’t move or check anything because I had rotator cuff surgery three weeks ago. Plus he moved some equipment around for me. So, something happened in that time period.
he’s 17 and I guess was nervous to mention it. So, the dac 60 card will be returning to me by next week. What a mess. It was driving me nuts why everything sounded so off sometimes.
Just thought everyone deserved an update.
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Took me a full day trying to replace cables that should have taken 20 minutes max. All because I was using my non dominant hand and the pain of my shoulder. Yes, I had extra brand new exact same cables.
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Thanks very much for the update!
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Accuphase used AKM chips in the DAC 50, then the chip factory burned down and they ran out of chips. They were forced to switch to other chips and chose ESS chips and by force of chance introduced the new DAC 60 card. In my opinion, AKM is sonically superior to ESS.
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@susurin
from like the only YouTube video where a guy demoed both, you could tell the dac 50 was on the warmer side and the dac 60 was brighter.
not much out there on these dac’s.
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@rhg3
sure, glad it’s fixed.
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True, AKM chips sound warmer, closer to tube.
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"In my opinion, AKM is sonically superior to ESS"
agreed 100%, the best DAC I have is dual AK4499EQ design with class A discrete bal/unbal outputs
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@westcoastaudiophile
thanks, good to know. I wish I had the time, energy and money to try a bunch of dac’s, but I don’t.
just going to stick with the dac 60 when it gets back to me.
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@duketbrd88
glad you found the culprit to the weird behavior!
once your dac 60 card is back and making music like it is supposed to, i am sure you will enjoy the music even more than with the psa d-link...
all the best!
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@jjss49
Thanks, I’m sure I will. Appreciate it!
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@duketbrd88 , glad to hear a found mechanical problem was the root cause of the lower volume.
A venerable E-450 in the office has seen a few add in DACs DAC30, 40, 50... each one's level matches the amp's gain and each one improves the sound. For the older DACx , I move them into the other option slot to add in a coax or optical input, works well, the major change is the USB input/
Not sure if you have PC for playing, be sure to install the ASIO driver that can be downloaded from the Accuphase site, it has a buffer selector to compensate for those players that don't have a buffer. The install is quite finicky, so it helps to follow the instructions correctly.
Like all Accuphase gear, they very rarely breakdown, if in the future something comes amiss, check the computer first. In one case, the DAC-50 didn't work off the bat, tried another computer and worked fine, both were Windows10 installs.
If the USB source is powered off, the signal goes through, but nothing plays. In this case stop the player, disconnect the USB and reinsert again. This 99% of the time works when the player is restarted and music starts to play.
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@rms456
thanks, I don’t have streaming setup yet. Was looking into a MacBook. Cheap as possible, just for music. I guess I could look into a windows based laptop. I basically use my iPhone 12pro for everything now.
The only thing I use besides the iPhone is a chrome book. I don’t think I can use that for music.
What are my cheapest options computer wise with a usb? Was thinking about a bluesound node.. idk, just getting into the streaming thing and not sure which direction to go that isn’t a fortune.
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I was thinking just a bluesound node and use the bluOS app on my phone to control qobuz?
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@duketbrd88 , an iPhone, bluesound is not the choice of source for the DAC60. A laptop is not close either, too much noise in the USB, which needs a lot of clean up hardware, like the ifi micro usb3.
The sound will be shrill, the treble will splash, and bass drum will be like hitting a paper bag if a laptop iPhone or bluesound is used as a source.
I can't offer any other suggestions, as a media server topic is beyond this thread and I'm still experimenting, there's no silver bullet here for now.
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@rms456
Thanks, I decided to not keep the dac 60. I want to get something with more inputs and xlr outputs. I feel like there is a lot to choose from in the $1,000 to $2,000 price range. Now I don't know what to look at. I see the denafrips pontus ii is pretty popular. IDK and there is a lot on the used market. So any suggestions?
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Well guys after looking around and getting sick of looking around at dac's, I decided to give the Accuphase dac 60 card another try and so far sounds great. Just glad I found the original cable problem and everything is fixed and sounding great. After this long thread, just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your help. I also learned how much louder and about voltage of xlr outputs on dac's and level matching at least. Never knew that before. Not sure if this is the case with all xlr outputs, such as preamps etc..
I learned a lot from all of this and hopefully someone else might have. Still waiting on a streamer, haven't decided, but will probably be a bluesound node. So, thanks again to everyone and everyone I might have not responded to for your help.
This was never an accuphase or ps audio problem, just me, user error.
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This was never an accuphase or ps audio problem, just me, user error
As you say, a learning experience (Which are part of the process and worthwhile). Everyone has had these in some manner or another. Bottom line is that you finally sorted things out and the Accuphase DAC 60 is sounding great! I’m happy for your outcome.
Charles
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@duketbrd88
thanks for closing the loop to let us know... now enjoy the tunes with big smiles!
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I have just purchased an Accuphase E4000
Can u give me an update on how your DAC 60 sounds now ?
TY
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@martinl07d sounds great for what it is. I'm sure there are external dacs that sound just as good, but don't have the time or money to mess around with other ones. Congrats on the e4000, awesome integrated!
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