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CAL Alpha and an Equalizer

Hi all, Hope you can please bear with me through this post to explain my findings, and a possible solution?

About 5-6 months ago, I bought a mint CAL Alpha DAC from another A-goner here, and have posted before, about its characteristics, and sound.

I don't believe there is anything specifically wrong with it per se, just typicaly Alpha sound.

Well, first thing I did notice when replacing my long owned CAL Sigma II DAC, was a very "lean" glassy, analytical, and very hot sound, like the DAC was hitting my Mac Pre-Amp a bit too much on the hot side.

I have bought a pair of Endler's 12 Step Attenuators, and that solved the hot output, but it still sounds a bit lean. Can an EQ be inserted between the DAC, and Pre-Amp? Mark
markd51

Showing 2 responses by mrtennis

mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
perhaps the problem is the transport. i too have a cal alpha and am not thrilled with it. iwas surprised, because the seller described the dac as warm. i changed the tubes several times.

it is possible that the "right" line cord can help.

beware of opinions oregarding warm dacs and cd players. there are very few of them around. i have listened to quite a few. most of them are any thing but warm.

you will have to spend big bucks to get a warm dac. maybe an older sonic frontier will do.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi markd51:

i have a cal alpha and have tried a variety of tubes and have found the dac insensitive to tube changes.

just for the record, have you found any tube which rolls off the treble and shifts the balance to the lower mid range ?

the chinese tubes you mention, i assume are current production easy to find.

i am surprised you like the tubes. i have yet to hear anyone speak well of chinese 12ax7 tubes.
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