Just when I thought digital could not match analog

I have used the Tranquility DAC for about a month now and while I cannot compare to analog as I have never used it, it transformed my system from a lifeless rendering of music to playing emotionally involving music. Granted my previous DAC was a Peachtree Nova (used exclusively as DAC), it is a different kind of comparison. Nonetheless, The Tranquility DAC is clearly more liquid, has better frequency extension and just sounds more real.

Like many others, I had to take a chance on an unknown product, but a few phone calls to Eric Heider made me understand that this company knows what it is doing. That I have not been dissappointed is clearly an understatement.

Jwglista; Thank you for the feedback regarding our return policy. We have now extended our trial policy period to 30 days so audiophiles don't feel "rushed" to make a final judgement about the Tranquility's performance. As far as charging a 15% restocking fee, we will revisit that policy once we now longer offer the $500 off introductory promotion and are selling the DAC for the full $1,500 retail price. Thanks to all here for the constructive feedback and the accolades too!

db Audio Labs staff

What does this DAC handle? Only 16/44? No info anywhere about sample rates, etc. Seems weird for a DAC mfg'er not to tout it's capabilities. I might be missing something. I'd love to tout it as a new HiREz (24/96+) DAC (on my forum) but so far no news is no news.

Ted

There is nothing but fluff on their website, no information at all.... with statements like "Cryogenically Treated Integrated Circuits", "Proprietary Multiple Tuned Regulation".

There is also another rave post on audiocircle that looks a lot like this one?!?

How a manufacture could choose USB over toslink is beyond me. I use a Mac mini and have tried several DACs over the last few months. All Macs have built in toslink outs. I have tried the USB and toslink back to back on a number of DACs and for the life of me I can not understand why anyone would choose USB when they have a toslink option.

I ended up going with a Benchmark DAC1-HDR fed by a Mac mini. Through the toslink it is pretty balance and seems to just get out of the way. But on USB it sucks, lots of midrange glare and brightness (probably why the unit gets a bad rap). I also found Peachtree's Nova to sound better on toslink but did not get into the details of it...

I would take this whole thread with a grain of salt until more review come out... and information about the unit.

On the Mac comments above. I have found the mac to be a much better music source than most PCs. It is just easy to use the toslink out. Set the output to 24/96, turn iTunes all the way up and forget about it. Also for anyone using iTunes you have to try an iPhone or iPod touch as your remote. The remote app is free and works great. You can browse your computer just like an ipod and you can also search (works on Mac or PC).

Ted, I've posted direct answers to your questions to the "whats and whys" about how the Tranquility DAC can playback higher rez files on the AudioCircle post you have participated in. Please read our responses there when you get a chance.

James, the whole purpose we attempted to convey on our website outlining the cryo and regulation trademarks was to show audiophiles the depth of our care for the even the smallest details that other digital manufacturers don't even consider. Basically trying to say; "Hey guys, we've turned over so many new rocks with this Tranquility design, have you ever seen 'chipset cryo' or 'multiple tuned regulation' in another digital product?". Unfortunately, some audiophiles seem to be turned off to the fact we are trying to give them much more than other companies by trademarking these processes.

As far as your USB listening results on your particular dac, we totally agree with your assessments. A little known fact about USB implementation is that there are many dacs where the USB will not be the best sounding input. The Peachtree unit also suffers with its poor sounding implementation too. However, when done correctly, USB is showing up again and again as a superior input scheme sonically compared to the other inputs (when done right of course), That's why we use it! And, we are anything but alone with the finding that USB can be superior sounding compared to the other input choices. A DAC was just named digital playback of the year by Stereophile and it also uses USB. Other DACs are just starting to show up that did careful design with their USB inputs and sound way superior via USB. PLEASE BE PATIENT for this next year to prove out what some of us already know about USB's sonic superiority in certain dac designs.

BTW: We also love great how the iTunes on a Mac is so easily controllable from the iPhone and ITouch. Everyone who has this says they seem to be discovering more music than every before. More music, more enjoyment. Isn't this what it should be about? And it makes music playback more fun too ;-)