Valab NOS USB DAC - First impression

I just received the Valab DAC last night. After reading about how great this $200 device performed, I had to try it.

I had been trying to get the music files from my Mac Mini to sound as good as possible. Since the Mini did not have any other built in audio output, I had been limited to using the mini toslink output into a Musical Fidelity TriVista 21 DAC. I had believed that the digital output of 1's and 0's would allow me the present all the original information from the lossless audio files on my hard drive to the MF TriVista, and then up to my Jadis Orchestra Reference. I thought this should have sounded as close to the original as possible, but the results were disapointing. It did not come close to playing the original CD in my CAL Delta transport through the MF.

I experimented with all the formats (wav, Apple Lossless, MP3) I could find, and tried different recording frequencies as well. I set the MF to 192khz and then to 96khz.... still sounded poor. I was thinking that the problem might be either in the hardware ( optical cable, optical output from Mini, or optical input on MF).

While troubleshooting my weakest link, the Valab arrived. I unpacked and examined it. Looked small, but fairly solid and had a serious, no frills demeanor to it. I quickly hooked it up.

OK... cabling was this:

From Mini's USB port I used just a cheap computer grade USB A to B cable about 6 foot long.
I used a pair of 1m StraightWire Serenade IC from the Valab to the Jadis.
I used the same heavy OFC Silver-plated Audiophile Power Cable that had been on the MF. This looked like overkill, but what the heck.

The Jadis then feeds a pair of Dali Helicon 800 speakers via a pair of Synergistic Research Tesla Accelerator cables. And that is my basic system at this point.

OK... the moment that I played my first file I knew that I was on the right track. The range seemed expanded on both the high and low ends, and the air between the instruments was much more definite and some of what I heard people describe as grayness seemed to disapear. The music was clear and crisp. I was smiling and listened to a few different files that I had been experimenting with. Everything sounded terrific.

At this point, I believe my weak point may lie in the optical output of the Mini. I will report back on the later.

As far as comparing the quality of the music delivered by the 2 DACS, I cannot comment on that, as both sound extremely excellent to me, and I don't feel that I have enough experience with writing about audio equipment that I could give you a fair report in this area. But at this point I am thrilled with the sound from both.

I wanted to contribute something back to Audiogon because I really feel that I found a great group of very unselfish music lovers who have already helped me improve my listening pleasure. I hope this may help someone building a system like mine.

Thanks! - Matt