Ross Martin DAC?

wrenchone · 23rd October 2011, 05:25 AM

A chap named Ross Martin out of Nebraska has been selling a low-priced DAC on E-pay based on one of the TI DAC chips. I've been too indolent and unobservant to get into the scrum to pick up one of the Twisted Pear DACs, and am kinda suspicious of the cheaper Chinese gear, so I picked up one of these on spec with SPDIF and optical inputs (he customizes). It arrived just before Burning Amp this year, but I didn't bring it along, as I was loaded down with a lot of other stuff. Now I'm wishing I had, as it would have been interesting to compare it with a Twisted Pear DAC. I've run the Ross Martin DAC from the SPDIF output of my Cal Audio Labs Ikon MkII player, and the optical output from my Oppo DVD player. The sound is pretty clean and distinct in character from the usual analog output signal from either player. I'm still evaluating, and may not come to a definitive conclusion until I play it some more and/or compare it to another outboard DAC - this is my first one. Has anyone else here had any experience with this product? My first impression is that it's pretty good considering the asking price. It's a bit rough-hewn looking compared to other DACs in its price range, but considering that most of the equipment in my living room is home-built, I don't have a lot of grounds for complaint.

wrenchone · 25th October 2011, 04:35 AM

I can't believe I'm the first one on this list that's bought this DAC, but you never know. Overall impression is still pretty positive, but I have no standard for comparison.

theAnonymous1 · 25th October 2011, 05:57 AM

I have no first hand experience with the product, but Ross is good guy. I sold him a bunch of PCM1794A recently.

Hand built in the USA if that still means anything positive to anyone; but the build quality does have a mid-grade "DIY" look to it. That's reflected in the price I think though. Go price something pretty with the same specs.

wrenchone · 25th October 2011, 06:59 AM

The only down side I've seen so far is pops between tracks, especially if you jump around. Having said that, a lot of folks remove or disable the muting transistors in their CD players as part of the POOGE, and they may end up with pops between tracks too, as far as I know.

Artemkv · 28th October 2011, 06:39 PM

[QUOTE=theAnonymous1;2757688] I sold him a bunch of PCM1794A recently.
[QUOTE]
Q : not reltated to this dac -
I was told that there are fake pcm chips , especially in chinese cheap dacs from ebay. Do you know if that's true? Because i was tempting to buy good looking and cheap one from ebay the other day but had my doubts to stay away. thanks

btw there is thread about this dac on headfi

theAnonymous1 · 28th October 2011, 08:02 PM

Sorry, I haven't heard anything about fake PCM1974A's. It wouldn't surprise me if there were such a thing though.

wrenchone · 28th October 2011, 09:37 PM

I viewed whatever threads were available on the dac before buying. Overall comments were positive - I believe the head fi site was one of the ones turned up by my Google search.

AWaudio · 29th October 2011, 02:42 AM

You are right, there might be chips of infeterior of quaility. So I usally placed order for verified vendors, or just get samples from friends in TI, or their official dealer/retailer..

[QUOTE=Artemkv;2762008][QUOTE=theAnonymous1;2757688] I sold him a bunch of PCM1794A recently.

Quote:

Q : not reltated to this dac -
I was told that there are fake pcm chips , especially in chinese cheap dacs from ebay. Do you know if that's true? Because i was tempting to buy good looking and cheap one from ebay the other day but had my doubts to stay away. thanks

btw there is thread about this dac on headfi

23rd October 2011, 05:25 AM	#1
wrenchone diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	Ross Martin DAC? A chap named Ross Martin out of Nebraska has been selling a low-priced DAC on E-pay based on one of the TI DAC chips. I've been too indolent and unobservant to get into the scrum to pick up one of the Twisted Pear DACs, and am kinda suspicious of the cheaper Chinese gear, so I picked up one of these on spec with SPDIF and optical inputs (he customizes). It arrived just before Burning Amp this year, but I didn't bring it along, as I was loaded down with a lot of other stuff. Now I'm wishing I had, as it would have been interesting to compare it with a Twisted Pear DAC. I've run the Ross Martin DAC from the SPDIF output of my Cal Audio Labs Ikon MkII player, and the optical output from my Oppo DVD player. The sound is pretty clean and distinct in character from the usual analog output signal from either player. I'm still evaluating, and may not come to a definitive conclusion until I play it some more and/or compare it to another outboard DAC - this is my first one. Has anyone else here had any experience with this product? My first impression is that it's pretty good considering the asking price. It's a bit rough-hewn looking compared to other DACs in its price range, but considering that most of the equipment in my living room is home-built, I don't have a lot of grounds for complaint.

25th October 2011, 05:57 AM	#3
theAnonymous1 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Anonymityville	I have no first hand experience with the product, but Ross is good guy. I sold him a bunch of PCM1794A recently. Hand built in the USA if that still means anything positive to anyone; but the build quality does have a mid-grade "DIY" look to it. That's reflected in the price I think though. Go price something pretty with the same specs. __________________ "If you don't like funerals don't kick sand in Ninja's face." - Ninja

28th October 2011, 08:02 PM	#6
theAnonymous1 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Anonymityville	Sorry, I haven't heard anything about fake PCM1974A's. It wouldn't surprise me if there were such a thing though. __________________ "If you don't like funerals don't kick sand in Ninja's face." - Ninja

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25th October 2011, 04:35 AM	#2
wrenchone diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	I can't believe I'm the first one on this list that's bought this DAC, but you never know. Overall impression is still pretty positive, but I have no standard for comparison.

25th October 2011, 06:59 AM	#4
wrenchone diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	The only down side I've seen so far is pops between tracks, especially if you jump around. Having said that, a lot of folks remove or disable the muting transistors in their CD players as part of the POOGE, and they may end up with pops between tracks too, as far as I know.

28th October 2011, 06:39 PM	#5
Artemkv diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2010	[QUOTE=theAnonymous1;2757688] I sold him a bunch of PCM1794A recently. [QUOTE] Q : not reltated to this dac - I was told that there are fake pcm chips , especially in chinese cheap dacs from ebay. Do you know if that's true? Because i was tempting to buy good looking and cheap one from ebay the other day but had my doubts to stay away. thanks btw there is thread about this dac on headfi

28th October 2011, 09:37 PM	#7
wrenchone diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	I viewed whatever threads were available on the dac before buying. Overall comments were positive - I believe the head fi site was one of the ones turned up by my Google search.

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