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Deep bass response of Audio Note 2.1x Balanced DAC

I've had this DAC for the past month and have been very impressed with it overall except for its seeming (in)ability to reproduce very deep reverberent bass, mostly from an acoustic bass. I hear--oddly not all the time--distortion and smearing from standup bass, in mostly jazz combos. I've changed the stock tubes,and reverse phasing it, but I'm finding it more and more musically unsatisfying when the sonic picture is marred by tubby or smearing of deep bass notes. Since my preamp allows me to switch inputs to hear the output of the CD player near-simultaneously, it is clear the roll-off is pretty pronounced from the AN. A significant flaw (?) in an otherwise fine DAC. I hear it when the transport is either my Sony XA777ES or my cheapo Pioneer DVD player, so don't think it's transport related. By the way, the dealer says this is the trade-off for a tube-based DAC. Is this common with others? Curious as to others experience with AN DACs, especially with deep bass output.
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albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Mama, I don’t necessarily disagree with your assessment of DAC’s in general. All are compromised due to the limitations of the format.

However, the gentleman ask for solutions for a problem with HIS particular Audio Note, for which I assume he paid good money. I am an analog guy with a stock Sony for digital. However, I respect those looking for better digital and make suggestions based on experience.

Unless you have an unlimited budget, experimentation is often the only option available to move the sound where you want it. The tweaks suggested here are fairly powerful in relation to their cost.
rjwood
14 posts
 
Mama,
If what you say has any foundation in reality, then there's something seriously awry with your system. The nature of your response suggests to me that you've never heard an Audio Note DAC 5, let alone owned one.
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krooney OP
4 posts
 
Thanks for all your comments. The dealer has contacted me and it will be arranged so that the DAC is checked out by Audio Note in Canada. By the way, use of points and mass loading the unit did not fundamentally change the problem with the deep bass.
triodeal8f64
1 posts
 
I don't think your dealer can do anything about that.
The 2.1 balanced reproduce a lot less bass than I was used to get from my previous gear.
Its inability to reproduce bass is within its design, especially those small (weak ?) transformer outputs . You must live with it if you want to keep that liquid medium and sweet trebble.
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