Tekton Double Impacts

Hi all, 'been watching this forum for awhile and can't hold back any longer. Seen quite a bit of Directstream references and wanted to share what I think is THE FIND regarding DACs.  I've been putting "MY" end game system together recently 'cause I'm retiring and honestly just unwilling to compromise any further. I've been researching DACs, preamps, amps, and speakers for the last three years. I looked at 21 DACs (sigma-delta, R2R, FPGA), 43 speaker companies, amps and preamps galore... I settled on the PS Audio Directstream because all of the rave reviews. I took advantage of the 30 day home audition. While I thought it was better than my OPPO BDP-95's internal DAC, it wasn't much better. I ended up returning it. (put over 400 hours on it and was out of time, but was still too dark sounding, perhaps not fully burned in yet?) I tried the Yggy and thought it was better, but still wasn't happy. Thought about other R2R's, but eventually came across Playback Designs and Andreas Koch (owner and designer). After much research, I bought the Merlot and never looked back. It sounded great out of the box, but did take an extremely long time to fully burn in. Fully cooked by 500 hours. This DAC presents the most "real" sounding music I've ever heard from a stereo system. It doesn't get better than "real sounding". Makes 16/44.1 digital sound unbelievably good. Pick your adjectives, transparent, detailed but natural, dynamic, correct timbre & tone(IMO), aliveness, etc... it does it all. FYI, I was/am a musician, play the trumpet. Had a band when young. At retirement age now. But I know what "real" music sounds like and that's my goal in my system. Just wanted to share about this DAC. Please do your due diligence and research Andreas. For example, he was the lead engineer that designed the DSD recording Sonoma workstation. The rest of my system is a MicroZOTL as preamp, Pass Labs XA30.8 amp, and just purchased Vaughn Barbera II speakers with the Dukane Plasma tweeters. Can't wait to get home and hook those up! Might also acquire a single ended class A amp as well. I have purchased a ZOTL40 but haven't received it yet. Anyway, just wanted to share.

P.S. I was looking at the Double Impacts, but had a bad experience with Eric, (Don't ask, I'll leave it at that) so now disregard them.

Thanks for listening.

I agree wholeheartedly! But without an interchange of experience, those looking may not find something that would in fact interest them. Isn't that what this forum is for, an interchange of ideas and experience? One can choose to investigate for themselves or not.

Charles,
Thank you for the confirmation. I certainly am impressed with your experience on these forums. I see your posts all over the place, 6,158 posts and counting. Wow! I am also impressed with your politeness. It's refreshing. And then there's your system. That's really nice. I saw the photos of it. The Frankenstein's were the first amp I was interested in a few years ago but my speakers were not efficient enough. But with the new Vaughn speakers, I may investigate that possibility anew. I have some auditioning to do with the LTA ZOTL amp first.

I have enjoyed perusing this forum and have been impressed and even amazed at the level of gentlemenliness on this thread compared to what I have seen elsewhere. Keep it up gentlemen.

Perhaps I do not belong here due to the fact that I no longer have any interest in the DI's. But I have genuine respect for many of you, have enjoyed your conversing, and just wanted to share my experience.

Take Care,
Michael

Thanks Kenny,

BTW, You are one of the "you's" I referred to above.  You also have some amazing equipment and I am aware you like the Directstream. I encourage you to listen to a fully burned in Merlot if you get an opportunity. I think you would be surprised as I was. I recall I think that you play the piano? You will know immediately if you and I agree on the Merlot.

I love music so much. My pit bull, Bear, and I sit on the couch and listen to music for hours when we're home. I don't know if he likes it or not, but it certainly doesn't bother him since most often he's dreaming and snoring at 80-95 dB levels. I too fall asleep sometimes listening to music like that. I get a genuine high. (no wine or other substance induced, just the music). 

As I've heard it here also, it's all about the music. I concur.

Well, I have more to say but will have to come back tomorrow. I'm an owner/operator (specializing in experimental aircraft transportation, irrelevant I know) and am headed for the pillow right now.

Michael

david_ten,
Thanks for the encouraging words. I have high hopes for the Vaughn speakers. And yes, Jim Jordan was a pleasure to work with. His place was only 50 miles out of route for me so I went by to pick them up. He brought them out to me at a spot by the freeway so I wouldn’t have to bring my rig into his neighborhood.

Charles,
Thanks for the welcome. I hope my comment about your posting didn’t come across as a negative and I apologize if it did. I meant it as a positive. I think others would agree that your presence and activity on this and other forums is interesting and helpful. This is a very interesting hobby we share in and it’s entertaining to engage with others in the forums. You and others have even been able to arrange listening sessions sharing your equipment. I think that’s great. I live out west in southwest Washington. Any chance I could hear your amps? Just kidding...kind of. Would love to hear them but fat chance you live anywhere nearby.

I would also love to see some of you who seem to know each other get together and do a Single Ended Class A SET Amp shootout with the Frankenstein’s, Aric Audio offerings, and I think Terry mentioned some others. That would be very interesting!

Micheal

vitop,

When you asked me, I didn’t think you were serious because I stated I don’t have the DI’s. So, I can’t compare. After I get the Vaughn’s broken in I can comment on them if you or others desire. On paper, to me they look like what I’m looking for which is, besides all the HiFi qualities, that aliveness that you get only with full range drivers, speakers without crossovers. They are three way, but the midrange is a full range driver with only a Jantzen inductor as a first order rolloff before the full range upper midrange "shout". The Dukane plasma tweeter is rolled in with a high quality cap. That’s the only two parts in the "crossover". So, high hopes. You can find out more on his website if you wish.

mofojo,
I have the Lyngdorf TDAI- 2170 with all three modules. I would perhaps consider parting with it depending on how my auditions go with the Vaughn speakers being driven with it vs. the Pass XA30.8 vs the ZOTL40. The Lyngdorf is an incredible sounding integrated. Sound Science posts my review in his ads on Audiogon.

I think with these speakers though, the Lyngdorf may surpass both the Pass and the ZOTL gear and they will be up for sale instead. We'll see. Then perhaps I'll compare the winner (to my ears) to an SET.

I would also like to hear Kenny's thoughts on the Lyngdorf since he has SET's as well as an XA30.8 if I'm not mistaken.

Michael