Check This Out!

I am keeping my hopes alive for someone to chime with actual experience with the DAC. 

@steinedm1 

I really appreciate you for taking the time to chime in. I have heard nothing but positive feedback from folks that were fortunate to audition this DAC and end up buying it. BTW, you have a beautiful system, ever since I’ve heard Alsyvox they have been on my wish list. Back to Gallo, it will make its debut at Capitol Audio. 

Cheers!

@grannyring 

Thanks for taking the time to share your impressions. Your feedback comes as no surprise knowing your fine taste in gear and keen sense of musicality. Colin @gestalt knows how to pick his gear which makes it harder to stick around with our existing system long term…LOL!  

When he mentioned about Galle DAC, all I said, bring it on and let’s see if it can dethrone my superb Merging stack of DAC +PS +Clock. Not that I’m looking to buy another DAC but I am always open to hear the latest gear. Musicality is a constant in my choice of audio gear. If a specific audio component cannot convey music with its natural emotions, then it simply failed in its purpose regardless of its price of admission. I would like to point out, your rest of your system should be equally complimentary to take full advantage of a DAC like Galle or Merging. 

I remain interested in knowing if you’re going to make a switch to Galle 😊

+2, @grannyring 

No dealer or distributor I know of in my 20+ of buying new and used gear would be open to loaning high dollar item without any financial security if you didn’t have any prior dealings. So @ricred1, have you bought anything from @gestalt before? 

I would like to learn if Precision Audio, 3ma Audio and Antipodes allows home audition to new customers without any financial security. 

Thanks @ricred1 ….we can read between the lines. Cheers!

@kennyc 

The DAC being demoed at Capital Audio Fest, if you can, have a listen. 

@kennyc 

I hope to catch up with you at AXPONA 2025. 

@grannyring 

Thanks for posting your impressions! 

“2 BILLION farads...?”

That’s an extraordinary amount of filter capacitance for a DAC—2,000 farads. Such a massive power reserve would have a significant impact on the DAC’s ability to maintain stable performance under varying load conditions. Massive power reserves ensures ultra-clean power delivery to the critical digital and analog sections, minimizing noise and ripple while improving dynamics, transient response and overall sound quality.

Typically this level of capacitance is found in high-end power amplifiers rather than DACs, making the Galle II design quite unconventional. How does this sheer overkill in capacitance translate to real-world performance…only time will tell!

@grannyring

I completely understand Galle II DAC’s design philosophy extends far beyond mere capacitance into a holistic approach to noise elimination and sound purity. When I auditioned 3 chassis stack of Merging Technologies which included a DAC, Power Supply and Clock; I couldn’t believe the impact of a separate power supply and a master clock. I have yet to hear another DAC that can rival Merging’s transparency, realism and natural sound.

With Galle Model II, the separation of power feeds with individual shielded transformers and dedicated umbilicals is particularly noteworthy and this kind of approach further minimizes cross-contamination between circuits, allowing the digital and analog sections to operate independently at their peak performance. This is a design clearly reserved for only the most uncompromising audio equipment.

Good luck with the audition!

@grannyring

The retail on Merging stack was $45K. They are no longer available as Merging went back to its Pro Audio roots and the original NADAC and Clock pieces are now further enhanced and being available through new parent company called Master Fidelity.

https://www.master-fidelity.com

I own a Merging +player version that employs Ravenna protocol. This approach is particularly impressive as it ensures low-latency, high-bandwidth audio streaming, which is rare even among high-end consumer audio gear. Pairing that with support for DSD256 files and its onboard Roon endpoint/server makes it an elegant and straightforward solution for digital streaming. Merging +player perfectly aligns with my preferences and listening priorities. 

When everything in the system clicks, both technically and musically—it creates a connection to the music that’s hard to replicate. Finding that balance where speed, transparency and synergy come together is no small feat. 

“I traded the Circle Labs amp/pre for the New Audio Frontiers 211 SE amp and Stradavari pre and they sound wonderful with the SONs.”
@hchilcoat 

Congratulations! To my ears, this was indeed the most beautiful pairing when I last visited @gestalt. And you got HIJIRI cables…I bet you are in musical heaven :-) 

@hchilcoat

I can totally relate to what you’re saying. Achieving that level of satisfaction, especially with room treatments in place, is a milestone many audiophiles strive for but don’t always reach. As impressive your existing system is, I can understand your curiosity about Galle might bring to the table. That curiosity is the hallmark of a true audiophile—always exploring the potential for even greater refinement and connection to the music.

I can’t praise HIJIRI cables enough, they were one of the best purchases in my audiophile journey. Cables can make a surprising difference, revealing subtleties and enhancing the synergy between components.

It’s also worth noting how important room treatments are in getting the most out of high-end gear. They often make as much, if not more of a difference than a component upgrade. With that foundation already in place, you’re perfectly positioned to hear every nuance a new addition like the Galle might bring.

Looking forward to hearing how it turns out if you decide to take the plunge!

@grannyring 

Congratulations on your new home (room) setup. If I can be completely candid…what an incredible setup! I am somewhat envious of those folks who can get away with fewer pieces and still manage to get a great sound; something I have not able to achieve yet.

The Cinnamon Audio Galle DAC is a seriously refined piece, and pairing it with the WVL Sons and eXemplar Audio amp must create a beautifully natural and dynamic sound. It’s inspiring to hear that this is the most enjoyable system you’ve put together. Isn’t it always extraordinary when everything just clicks. 

I see you went full Monty on SDFB :-) 

@mclinnguy

I am sure Galle Network Transport is optimized to deliver optimal performance when paired with their DAC. Personally, Galle Network Transport wouldn’t be my 1st choice if I am using a Roon app. I don’t want another ‘box’ on my network to run core. Interestingly, Galle Transport supports Qobuz streaming through UPnP which could provide a sublime experience with JPLAY app. During my two weeks trial, JPLAY app provided seamless integration of my Qobuz playlist and a very user friendly interface. The sound quality is among the very best and comparable to Innuos Sense App. IMHO, JPLAY probably the best app outside Roon.

I already spoken with Colin about auditioning Galle Model II with their Transport in near future. 

And yeah, the phono stage temptation is real if you’re into vinyl, but luckily that’s one rabbit hole you don’t have to go down. I just purchased my 3rd phono stage to try it out…lol!

What’s drawing you to the Galle transport, just curiosity or are you thinking it could bring something extra to your setup?

@grannyring

Looking forward to your impressions on Galle Transport. Also, would like to hear your thoughts on Paul Pang Audio PLATINUM M LAN CABLE. This cable reminds me of braided construction of Pink Faun Interlink LAN. I just added a pair of FTA Metis and loving the organic and detailed sound.

@grannyring

That’s an interesting shift in your setup. It sounds like the Innuos Pulsar changed how your network components interact, making some of the previous tweaks less necessary. And, to your preference Paul Pang cables appears to have a natural presentation.

I can understand the temptation of trying Tempus switch but I think your system is in that “Don’t mess with it” sweet spot.