Holographic DAC With Air And Decay

@fsonicsmith wrote:

The truth; it is not the role of a DAC, nor is it realistic to expect any DAC to provide holography, air, or decay. Those attributes come from two things-the recording and the loudspeakers. Everything in between can only screw it up. But add it? Nope. 

The truth, you say? Why would a DAC that contributed notably to holography, air, etc. do so as an "addition" rather than expose what other DAC's might not be able to, and by doing so more readily reveal what's actually in the recording? Moreover, from my chair removing the passive crossover of a speaker and replacing it with a high quality digital crossover/DSP situated prior to quality outboard amps actively will most surely aid the resolving and micro/macro dynamic capabilities of such a speaker, and thus make for a more transparent solution to reveal what goes on on the DAC side of things (and prior to it with the source delivery).

A specific recording statically is what it is, and the source delivery --> DAC (+ amp to speaker interface) can definitely more or less "conceal" what's entailed in it; opening up that potential isn't an addition to what a recording is but rather unfolding it into something more uninhibited/less concealed. 

Having said that: personally I wouldn't hunt down a DAC that über excelled in the areas mentioned, as I find it can be at the expense of tonal authenticity, texture and density of presentation (say, rather than a Mola Mola Tambaqui perhaps I'd go with a Weiss DAC1). Preference and all that jazz. 

Btw, most DAC's do screw up decay due to the necessary time domain filtering. So if you don't want to SCREW UP decay, look for a non-filtering DAC. 

That seems presumptive. Do you know that as a fact? 

+2 for Lab 12. 

Border Patrol. Just great sound. 

The Abbas Audio DAC 3.1 stands out as the most captivating holographic DAC I’ve encountered, renowned for its exceptional air and decay characteristics. This DAC exudes a romantic quality that’s truly unparalleled. To paint a picture: imagine if Claude Debussy had pursued engineering instead of music - the Abbas DAC 3.1 would likely be his masterpiece.

Crafted in Ukraine by Mr. Abbas, this DAC is a harmonious blend of vintage components and modern technology. Its gold circuit board, hand-crafted transformers, and unique wiring - utilizing air isolation and copper strands sourced from vintage radios - all contribute to its distinctive sound signature.

In my experience, the Abbas DAC 3.1 has outperformed several high-end contenders, including my previous Lampizator Big7 and Ear Yoshino DAC4, as well as the Audio Note 4.1. I’ve had the opportunity to compare it against renowned references such as DCS Vivaldi, MSB, Aries Cerat Cassandra, Totaldac, and Playback Design. While these are all exceptional DACs in their own right, none quite capture the imagination like the Abbas.

Listening to music through the DAC 3.1 is a transcendent experience, often inducing a trance-like state. It reminds me of Lucasz’s comment about Tim de Paravicini’s DAC 4, which he dismissed as "just a toy." Interestingly, I still prefer the DAC4 over any LampizatOr, but the Abbas DAC 3.1 surpasses them both in my estimation.

I’ve recently acquired the DAC 3.2 as well, which shares many similarities with the 3.1 but presents a slightly less romantic and more analytical sound. However, it’s worth noting that it’s still new and may evolve after a proper burn-in period, potentially matching the dreamy qualities of its predecessor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSfWI0waKuM

+1 fsonicsmith. In my experience, the non-oversampling, non-filtering DACs have sounded more like real music to me with fewer digital artifacts. I'd consider LTA, Border Patrol, and Aqua DACs.