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Border Patrol Se-i vs Audio Mirror Troubadour MK III

Happy Thanksgiving all.
I am looking to transition from my Heed Abacus DAC; used with my vintage California Audio Labs CD player to a more analogue sounding DAC.  The Heed has improved my CD sound, but still is a bit harsh and a tad light weighted.
I am looking into Border Patrol and Audio Mirror as options (  budget constrains me to 1500 price point ).
Anyone have any experience with these two products?
Thanks and stay well.
MP
mpomerantz

Showing 3 responses by jjss49

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jjss49
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tubadour 3 se
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jjss49
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i have had both -- still have the tubador, sold the bp

to me, while both sound nice, the tubador is more analog-sounding, more relaxed and full sounding... felt the bp still had a teeny bit of unwanted digital edge, and did not portray soundstaging/imaging as convincingly in comparison
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jjss49
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mesch mentions an important distinction on the bp... the choice of putting a tube in the power supply stage and NOT in the output stage always struck me as an odd design choice

also -- other very natural sounding dacs in the same league (and cost) to what have been mentioned are:

metrum jade/amethyst/octave
mhdt (various models) all very lovely
ayre codex
van alstine tube dacs
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