Hi Richard, you are correct the AA Tube Hybrid does not have a built in master clock. The price of the AA Tube Hybrid is $10000.00. |
Your more then welcome Hamburg. It's been a pleasure to talk to you regarding the AA Tube Hybrid DAC and the rest of your system. I'm sure it sounds great now, but watch what happens when you put in the new fuses and the Amperex Bugle Boy tubes! Keep in touch. |
Ben, I have tied three different cords with my Accustic Arts gear and always come back to Harmonix Studio Master power cords.
I also have found that the Ensemble Duo Isolink transformer, that was developed for transports and dacs, brings out the best performance of the Accustic Arts pieces better then any other power conditioners in my system. |
Hi, Analogkid, I'll answer your questions in the order you asked them:
1) I have heard both the Reimyo CDP and the first generation DAC. I would put them into the type 2 flavor without having the microdynamics/clarity of the AA Tube Hybrid, which has great extension/dynamics and very natural timbres without the loss of dynamics of other tube DACS. Remember the AA does not use the tubes in the analog conversion stage, but upstream in the digital process.
2) I have never heard the Ref7 in my system, but have heard it in a system I was not very pleased with, so I really can't give you a very objective viewpoint regarding it's performance compared with the AA DAC.
3) The Accustic Arts DAC MK3 does not use tubes, and when I auditioned the Reimyo vs the MK3 I purchased the AA, still liking its overall sonics compared with the Reimyo DAC.
Hope this helps. |
I had the pleasure of being asked to bring my Accustic Arts Tube Hybrid DAC to a fellow audiofile's home so we could compare his new Reimyo DAP-777 DAC to the Tube Hybrid. Everything stayed the same, including using his Reimyo CDT-777, the new companion to the new Reimyo DAC.
Well, it was very apparent to all involved that the Reimyo was a very good DAC, but fell significantly below the Tube Hybrid in the following areas:
1) Less organic timbres 2) Did not throw as large and as deep soundstage and also lacked 3D imaging in the soundstage 3) Lacked the pure liquiity and ease of the Accustic Arts DAC
The Reimyo was a very good type 1 flavor, but was not on the same level as the AA Tube Hybrid which seems to offer the best combination of type 1 and 2 flavors that I ave heard so far on redbook cds. |
Branimir, thanks for responding to my E-mail concerning your opinion regarding the AA Tube hybrid DAC. I have found, the details are on my review thread regarding this DAC, that I got a significant and dramatic improvement in the sonic performance across the board when I put in a pair of NOS Amperex 1950's Long plate tubes in the AA DAC.
So, my question is, have you listened to the AA DAC with its stock tubes to this point or tried some NOS replacements? I believe you might be somewhat surprised how much closer in performance the AA DAC might come to the performance level of the Eosteric D-03. I also believe you might like using NOS smooth plate Telefunkins, which to my ears, produced a very a "Eosteric Sound" when used in the AA DAC, that was alittle to much of a good thing with Macrodynamics and punch in my system, but you might found it just right in your system setup. |
If Pubul57, had not beat me to the punch, I was going to add to this thread way I still find the Accustic Arts Tube DAC to be a keeper in my system.
I have spent a considerable amount of time listening/auditioning the following new crop of either DACS or CD players: 1) Berkeley Alpha DAC 2) Weiss Medea DAC 3) PS Audio Perfact Wave combo 4) Meridian 808i2 5) DCS Puccini 5) EMM reference player
All of the above were used for red book, I don't care about SACD or other high rev formats, and I did not find any of them to be better to my ears then the AA Tube DAC. They are all quite good and offer different sonic signatures, my favorite among them was the Weiss and Berkeley, I would put them in the type one sonic category, and was surprized at the performance of the Meridian 808i2, it just was ok, yet John Atkinson of Stereophile thiks its the best on redbook he has ever heard. But then at the end of the sonic day, I did not find any of them surpassing the musicality or over all performance of the AA Tube DAC in my system. |
Hi Muralman1, the reason I still like the AA Tube DAC in my system is that it comes the closest for me to blending the best sonic traits of type one and type two that I have heard so far on redbook CD. I know that it sounds sick to call a piece that retails for over $11000.00 a "bargain", but it competes with much more expensive DACS that I have heard.
As far as were I would rate the PS Audio combo compared to the rest of the DACS I have heard, it would be some were in the middle of the pack. I think its quite good for the money, but it's from the best I have experienced and found it amazing that some think it's the "best" in the world at the moment. The website Stereomojo did the first major review on it, gave it a postive recommendation and then decided that the digital piece of the year is the Aryon 2 player. I always remind my self it really comes down to personnal taste and system synergy. |
Hi Pubul57 and Karl, you both have had me thinking about the issues of what Pubul57 refers to as "warmth" vs less resolution/detail. I totally agree with what Pubul57 says about system matching/context, I have heard very good pieces of gear not shine in different systems.
Karl, your concern regarding having to switch the standby/tubeon, I leave my DAC on all the time. The type of tubes, 12AX7's, and how this DAC uses them means that they should last about 3 to 4 years before you have to retube.
Since, I have had the AA tube DAC, and recently hearing/auditioning some of the most highly regarded CDPs and DACs, I still struggle to put in words the difference between the AA tube DAC and what I hear when listening to the other digital front ends. I believe that it has much resolution and details as anything out there on redbook CD, however, it also offers an "ease" and "fluidity" that is not euphonically tube-like in its sonic signature. So, I don't know if it would be to much of a good thing in an all tube system or better matched in a SS system. I also still find that it offers the most natural/beautful timbres of all the DACs I have listened to.
Pubul57, I see that you replaced your AA combo with the EMM Labs CDSA SE player. I'm quite interested in what you heard in your system that lead you to make the move. Please share some details regarding the sonic differences between them. I do know that when a friend auditioned a totally broken in EMM Labs SE in my system in comparsion with the AA Tube DAC, he returned the EMM to the dealer and then purchased the AA Tube DAC. In my system the AA DAC was much more musical/natural, all on redbook CDs, and that's way my friend chose to purchase the AA Tube DAC. I realize your AA DAC was not the Tube reference, however, it is a terrific sounding piece, so what did you hear that lead to making the move?
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Hi Dev, I have not changed the tubes in the AA DAC because I still find the long plate Bugle Boys still sound best to me. I also have read what you posted on the thread regarding the "BEST" DAC in the world, which is so silly of question to begin with, and found your responses right on target. If any would find the AA Tube DAC shrill or disorganized regardless of what there system gear is, something very strange indeed had taken place some were along the line. That is not negating that based on personnal taste/synergy someone else could like the performance of other DACS better, but I find it hard to believe that the above descripters coming from the AA tube DAC regardless of what it's being compared to. As I stated on this thread I have listened recently to some of the highest regarded DACS/CDPS and none sounded better to me then the AA tube DAC, different yes, very good sound, but not to the point when you know you have heard something which is better then your present reference. And as Hamberg stated on the other thread if you want to customize the sound of the AA tube DAC you can roll the right tubes to get what you want. |
Hi Bryan, here's the answers to your questions:
1)I do not use any room treatments except an Acoustic Revive wave generator tweek. My house is a post and beam home and was built to allow my MG-20's to really "sing" in this very large open space with the posts and beams being great to absorb/reflect the sound.
2) The acoustic space that my system projects into is 40 feet wide, about 60 feet long and the height of the totally open ceiling is about 30 feet.
3) The MG-20's are six feet off the front wall, have no side wall reflections and I sit about 12 feet away with no back wall for another 15 feet. |
Dcgraves, congrats on your Berkeley DAC I'm glad you are enjoying it. Take a look at my comments on my system regarding the reference MBL transport that just replaced its baby brother in my system. I can honestly say, and I have heard virtually all of the most highly regarded red book transports there are, that the reference MBL is the best I have ever heard. The sonic concerns you stated would all but be gone, and other virtues would be added by this transport. |
Hi Doggrell3000, here's the answers to your questions:
1) I just recently listened to a very highend analogue front end, I know this is heresy to some, I liked my digital front end better.
2) Nope never tried a hard drive in my system. |
Hi Paul, I will admit my ignorance regarding the BDAC. I'm curious and would be interested in this DAC that you are asking about, please share some details regarding it. Thanks in advance. |
Paul, now that I know you were talking about the Berkeley DAC, the answer is yes I auditioned it. I thought it was good, to me it was a type one DAC, and I still liked my AA Tube Hybrid much better and found it to be much more musical. Since all I really care about red book Cd's I still find this DAC terrific in my system. Now that I have added the Reference MBL transport to drive this DAC it even performs at a higher level. |
Hi Paul, your right on the mark regarding the enjoyment of my system. I have heard/auditioned about another four DACs and found them to good, maybe different then the AA DAC, but not more musical or overall more pleasing to my tastes.
Now that I have the reference MBL transport and after having much fun tube rolling in both the DAC and my preamp I really would agree that the system is really,"dialed in", and gives me great musical pleasure. I have finally settled on Mazda 12AX7 chrome plates/gray long plates in the AA DAC and Amperex 12AU7 long plate D getters in my preamp. This combination is just magic in my system. I wish you could come on over and just sit down and enjoy the music. Maybe one day, as you have an open invite anytime your in Chicago. |
I agree that for the price the PS Audio pieces offer a good sonic performance, however they are no were close to the level of AA Tube reference DAC on redbook. I just again heard the latest generation PS Audio combo and fine it OK, but nothing to write home about if we are talking state of the art performance.
I agree with Dev, that the AA Tube DAC and MBL reference transport are still my favorite combo compared to everything I still listen to or audition. |
Rockitman, I'm very glad for you that the PS Audio pieces give you what you are looking for in your system. They also are quite cost effective for how they perform to what they cost.
However, they don't compete sonicly on redbook when compared to DACS like the AA Tube Reference or the Concert Fidelity, which both happen to be tube based. Does that mean I like the sound of "tubes" or that if the right tubes are used correctly it sounds more like real music? I don't like the old euphonic tubey sounding DACS that I have auditioned in the past, however the two DACS mentioned above do not sound that way and perform much better sonicly, for me, then the best SS based DACS.
And your (wink) I find someone silly, the best analog sounds different then the best digital, which I don't think you have heard in your system with the PS Audio pieces, different yes but better, that's just a matter of taste. I have recently tried a couple more auditions with very highly regarded analog front ends to see if the magic of LP's would make my digital front end sound broke and the answer was no. Both are quite good, but different for me and the hassle of LP's makes what ever difference their is even less important compared to listening to alot more music every day. |
Hi Dev, yes I know that you are waiting for your Vac monoblocks, congrats! Sounds like you finally found what you were looking for in these monoblocks.
Dear friend, this time we will just have to agree to disagree. I have auditioned to very highly regarded analog front ends, each one was around 15k to 20K retail, and I'm sorry I found no magic in their sonics compared to my digital front end. For a matter of fact besides surface noise off the records I found them somewhat lacking in microdetails and did not find them to have more liquidity or ease then what I'm use to in my digital front end. I listened to the same recordings, mainly Blue Note 50's or early 60's, my records that were clean and pristine compared with my redbook cds and liked the cd as much as the records. So, no great magic for me, however maybe with the right analog rig, just the right recordings nice and clean and everything working perfactly that magic still might be in those grooves, however, call me lazy, I like just putting in the CD and listening to music. I have not found the hassles of playing records to be worth it based on sonics alone. I still have over 400 albums that I keep giving away to good homes of friends with turntables who will use them and enjoy them. |
Tab110s, the answer is no for the following reasons:
1) For the increase of about $500.00 you get what AA calls hand selected NOS tubes. Well, I have some of the finest NOS 12AX7's and 5751's, about ten different brands, to tailor the sound of my system. So, this part of the upgrade is not worth it to me.
2) Yes, for the $500.00 AA put some were in the DAC higher tolerance parts, however, it was not proven to me this would make a sonic difference that would be a difference in a blind fold test.
I have talked to a couple of friends who ears' I trust that have heard both versions of this DAC and there conclusion was what tubes you use make more of a difference then anything else and there is really no clear difference between the orginal and SE version of this great sounding piece. |
Hi Rokka,
I had the AA DAC-1MK3 and wrote a review of it here on the GON. It was quite good, however, it is not as musical and as natural sounding as the AA Tube Hybrid reference DAC that still is my reference in my system. |
Well Parkmoonsoo,
I'm glad if you love, assuming you purchased it, the Bakoon DAC-9730. However it might be the best you heard, however you did not include the CF reference DAC, either the first generation or the new battery powered one. This DAC is quite better then the ones you mentioned, so if you have a chance to listen to it you might come to a different conclusion. |
