Just few left to try for final decision:
Wadia 9, APL and StahlTek :) |
Perrew, I believe it was not Scarlatti dCS.
Scarlatti is very gentle, analogue like.
But I found that resolution and dynamic can be higher! |
Kennyt, I had Emmlabs DAC2.
It is much lower level than Scarlatti.
Timbers are very far from real and resoluion is low with Emmlabs, but this you understand after listening to Scarlatti.
SACD is almost impossible to listen also.
As for Playback Design, I don't trust reviewers, but I trust owners.
Someone had Scarlatti and changed to better dac? |
I also got suggestion to audition latest MSB PlatinumIII DAC! |
So, no one heard Scarlatti and preferred another DAC?
Actually I found what was the problem with my DAC.
It has 2 options in conguration of output signal: 2V and 6V.
Now I switch to 6V and very happy!
Can't imagine anything better now:) |
Perrew, can you describe system where you compared Scarlatti?
I'm very sceptical when much lower price device can perform better that higher price one. I think this means that it was not properly setup.
My Scarlatti start to work well after good power and cabling. |
Rainer, do you also have or had dSC Scarlatti in your room?
Have you bought GTE or have it for demo?
I'm considering this DAC as it uses 16 multibit DACs per channel and must be something really different from all other DACs on the market!
I'll have it for audition next week and will share my impressions! |
Chadeffect, I use Filter1, is it right?
Don't understand me wrong.
dCS has better highs than Berkely or MSB or any other DAC I heard except GTE, Lavry Gold and my TT.
So, I say soft in compare with this 3 sources! |
Rainer, I'll fly from Russia for this comparision!!!
Let me know the date!
From me best vodka in the world and caviar:))) |
Perrew, Scarlatti can't be harsh/edged.
It is totally different from harsh/edged.
May be ASR or Focals are harsh/edged, but not dCS.
In some cases dCS can be too warm and too soft, which is opposite to harsh/edged.
That is why I can't trust to your comparision.
I never heard anything about APL before, so can't comment it.
Do you mean that they sell directly?
So, no way to get it for audition in another country? |
Perrew, I checked the price and you was right! It is very expensive!
Compareable with Scarlatti. |
Great system!
I can bring also LynxAES16 system to compare with USB and FireWire interface system. I have very special setup with separate power and optical PCI connection for card which outperforms any other source I've ever heard.
Quality of source is so much important to compare great DACs!!! |
Sure, Alex.
Today is first day of Russian HighEnd Show in Akvarium Hotel.
We have GTE Audio here with YG Acoustics.
May be YG+room doesn't work well, but sound was far from my home system.
Next week I'll have GTE for audition in my home.
And comparision in Reiner's room with APL will be really interesting.
BTW, best room here is ContinuumCaliburn with Tidal electronics and speakers! Really impressive system! Digital is far from it:) |
I've just compared GTE Audio and MSB latest DAC with my Scarlatti.
MSB is great DAC. But can't say that it is better then Scarlatti.
They are very different and I definately prefer Scarlatti.
But GTE is something just unbelievable!!!
It is absolutely another class!!! After hearing what you can have with GTE, the rest sounds like hifi. It is like all your redbook recording become highres. Or like you are hearing them on LP with zero background noise.
Totally transparent window to the music...like on live concert.
I expected some minor improvements, but got dramatic changes!
My congratulations to GTE team! They did something very unique! |
Interesting that GTE was also very sensitive for power cable.
Tomorrow I'll install DAC modules on the rack and expect to get even better result (although can't imagine what can be better:)) |
Yes. Unfortunately price is very high.
Here is the link: http://www.gte-audio.com/en/index.htm |
GTE has 2 outputs. One standart and one special.
To use this special output you need cable with 120ohm resistor termination. This output sounds stunning!!!
The standart output sounds usual in compare with special one.
Reiner, are you using this special output?
What cable you use? |
Kamil, where it is available for audition? |
One week without GTE listening to my Scarlatti and now I think that Scarlatti is muddy in compare.
3 rest to compare: Vekian, Wadia 922 and APL |
Rainer, August is ok for me!
Let us know the date as soon as it will be possible. |
Yes, for my ears and in my system AA DAC is also impossible to listen.
Emmlabs DAC2 is much better, but not TSD1 transport.
I had in my system many DACs and still looking for better.
I still own now Berkeley, Linn Klimax and dCS Scrlatti.
Today my new DAC arrived - Lavry Gold.
After one hour of listening looks like it will be my new reference!
May be not better than GTE, but definately better than all I have. |
Rtn1, do you say that Wadia 9 is not the best DAC?
I'll love to hear it once. Unfortunately dealer in Russia doesn't have it.
I feel difference very much! And this difference is in resolution of the whole system! And with higher resolution and right tonal balance you got better DAC. It is not about taste! So, I believe that there is best DAC.
With highest resolution and still right balance.
After what I heard from GTE and Lavry Gold, I can say that the rest DACs has much lower resolution. With GTE I didn't get completely right balance, may be cables was not right for GTE. When resolution become higher it is also become much more critical to the rest of the system. Keeping balance with highest resolution is not easy. But result is amazing!!!
I'll check if we have Orpheus available for audition!
For now looks like I'm happy with Lavry Gold. |
Kamil, what power chord and antivibration platform you use?
I also have great impact to the sound from this 2 things. |
Rtn1, I agree that cables and stands are critically important for the great result. I'm also experimenting much with them.
As for the DAC, I have vinyl setup and never was really happy with digital.
Even with dCS Scarlatti, vinyl was much more dynamic and 3D.
I believe Wadia 9 is one of the best. May be better than all the rest.
Looks like multibit architechture works better than deltasigma.
Wadia 9, GTE and Lavry Gold uses multibit DACs. |
Beautiful is good word for girl, not for DAC:)
Do you mean it sounds better than enything you heard before? |
Kennyt, you never heard good vinyl rig?
I never before heard any digital sounded close to vinyl.
Only because I have vinyl I know that must be better DAC.
I bought many of best DACs and selling them not easy.
Do you think I'm spending money for nothing?
I know what I'm looking for. And I always knew it when I change every component in my system. |
Kennyt, may be we have different understanding of dynamic.
I agree with Rtn1, that may be vinyl sometimes is too dynamic.
I have this effect, but hope to fix it by changing tonearm cable.
Rtn1, I heard so much about Troy and someday definately will have it in my system! And I totally agree about importance of the rest of the system.
But DAC is the source, and you can't get better that the source.
Preamp is very important and my next upgrade will be preamp.
I have may the best preamp and phono in the world Tidal Preos, but there is better Tidal Presencio. When I search for preamp I compared it with many very good and expensive ones, but Tidal was so much ahead!
Jwm, Berkeley is great DAC for price, and there are better ones, but for higher price:) |
dCS is great DAC, but I always feel that vinyl is more real.
And I think it is because better resolution and dynamic.
I know that technically dynamic means the speed of changing volume.
So, with higher speed, you have more real picture.
And higher resolution also makes picture more real.
How to differentiate that vinyl sounds better because of resolution or dynamic I can't say. But if vinyl has less dynamic it can't be more real.
I have some classical tracks with big symphonic orchestra and good test is sound of violins. In one case they sound like away. In another case they hook your soul and you dive deep into music. I think it is because dCS highs are softer (less dynamic) than vinyl's.
Chadeffect, can you explain how to differentiate where is dynamic and where is resolution? |
Speakers must be matched with room.
Amp with Speakers. Preamp with amp.
But DAC must be just the best!
This is what I learned:) |
Chadeffect, I agree with you 100%!
Vibration control/clean electricity and good cabling is the key!
I also was very unhappy when first listen to dCS with stock power cords, without any vibration control which is very critical especially for transport.
Key elements of good result was PurePower2000 on top of separate Copulare stand connected with Argento SMR Extream Edition power chord to wall and with Nordost Odin cables to dCS and with special feets on top of AudioMagic stand. Here is photo of this feets: http://soundex.ru/index.php?showtopic=24510&st=950&p=253462&#entry253462
Without this feets, I can't listen to dCS Transport at all, preferring my computer as a source! So, I really did much to get all potential from dCS.
And cost of this tweaks also higher than dCS DAC for example.
But if in the same conditions I have much better result with another DAC, it means that that DAC is just better! |
As for the noise floor. It doesn't disturb at all!
It is completely separated from the instruments and music in general!
May be it is because I have really great phono preamp! |
No, Alex. This speakers will not able to move my sofa and pairing with sub is not my choice.
Hope to see you soon during comparision of NWO with Scarlatti! |
Metralla, this photo is also from my system.
I use this feets everywhere. On the photo is Gryphon Colosseum amp!
Changes in sound was DRAMATIC!
I have 33pcs:) |
Chadeffect, what fuses you use?
Highs are most problem of dCS. They are not dynamic!
Too soft. I don't have this problem with TT.
May be mine even too bright.
GTE is totally impressive DAC!
You'll be shocked by it's performace after dCS! |
I heard latest top MSB. I think they have some problems with HF.
Low dynamic and resolution in highs.
I now think that APL will win this battle, because digital cable is a dramatic problem!
I only worry about tubes inside:)
Swinnindia, If any chance to get Lavry Gold, you'll be impressed!
Pure analogue sound!
What is it KK? You sure it is better than Tidal? |
Hello Schwinnindia!
We have one pair of KK in Russia.
May be I'll ask for audition.
I'm preparing great comparision of best speakers in the world.
Tidal Sunray, Gryphon Trident and will ask to include KK to this list if you think it is comparable. |
John, this is incredible review! Thank you very much!
Can't wait to listen APL player! |
