Anyone have experience with the new ELAC DDP-2?

I’m getting close to just trying one out from a place with a good return policy. Waiting for a job offer to either happen or not happen. If it does, I’ll have some extra disposable income. 

I recently purchased the matching phono preamp PPA-2.  The styling is a little utilitarian, but it is a phono preamp after all. The performance and sound quality is excellent so far.  Sound quality is what I was after, so the styling of the casework was not a big deal.  It's a phono preamp after all, not the centerpiece of the system. For a system centerpiece, I'm not so sure.  The circuit topology for the PPA-2 phono preamp, and also the DPA-2, employ discrete differential JFET gain stages with servo controlled outputs. The electronics seem to be top notch.  These new Alchemy components would cost quite a bit more with a bunch of expensive casework.  Value-oriented audiophiles should give these Alchemy products serious consideration.

The PPA-2 hits most of my requirements for a phono stage for less than $1K and sounds better than anything else I have had in my system - and not by a small measure. There are a couple of little nits I could talk about that are probably just my own issues. The adjusters for input loading are on the back of the unit and very fiddly to adjust.  But, they work and are very effective.  I can live without a third input and an extra 6 dB of gain for the very low output MCs (I will use an SUT for those) .  

I bit the bullet on trying out a DDP-2 in home.  I'll circle back and let you know how it turns out.

I'm using a Parasound ZDAC right now, which is fine and sounds good, but it's developed a transformer hum which spurred me into jumping on a replacement.  It's only recently become audible in the signal chain that the transformer is humming.

The rest of the system is a Primaluna Dialogue Premium Integrated with Electro-Harmonix KT88s and Mullard NOS 12AU7s feeding Spatial Audio M3 Triode Master open baffle speakers with Zu speaker cabling and Blue Jeans interconnects.

If it performs anything like the AA DDP-1, you'll love it. I made that same move (except to the DDP-1) a year & a half ago & the SQ improvement was anything but subtle. Enjoy!

Hi guys,
After trying many combo Pre/DACs, this is the first one that sounds as good as high end separates that we have found. Its performs like a separate high end analog preamp and a separate high end DAC.. Separate power supplies for analog and digital. Sounds way above its price point. I have compared it to separates totaling $12K and it is right there with them sonically, no compromise. Peter Madnick and Elac offer a crazy value in this line.

Talk is cheap. Don't take my word for it.  You can listen to it for yourself, in your home and system with no risk. Satisfaction Guaranteed. No-Restocking fee if you don't love it. In stock. Ships today from IL..