Is this the DAC you have?
http://www.audioxpress.com/article/Fresh-from-the-Bench-Benchmark-DAC2-DX-Stereo-D-A-Converter
Looks like it uses a couple sets of LME49860's to drive the XLR outputs, and has a 60 ohm output impedance. It should be able to drive them. Although the headphone output with 0 ohm impedance would be better.
I'm using the Benchmark DAC2 L, with identical output stage to the one you showed.
It also has internal jumpers to set the output impedence. Do you have it on the 60 ohm setting?
I have it with 20 dB attenuation, 135 Ohm output impedance. I need this because my Anaview AMS1000-2600 class D output modules have 34 dB gain (I have a pair in BTL mode), so as to allow the volume control of the DAC to operate in the minimum recommended zone.
Sebastian
Yeah if you get the NC-500's with OEM board and bypass the opamp, I would change the jumper to the 0 DB position. I would also swap the cheap LM 7815 voltage regulators to the Hypex HxR's.
Being short... Anaview amps were never been close in distortion performance to the nCores. Especially for high frequencies.
nCores and UcDs
Ahh... and JL Audio HD in my car... But how is this related to their performance?nCores and UcDs
I asked because your comment was typical of an Ncore fanboy... sorry.
Yes, NC400 has 10 or more times better THD % figures than my Anaview AMS1000-2600 power module.
Do you think you can hear a difference @6.67 Khz in THD between 0.01 % and 0.001 %? Come on!!!
For most practical uses, both modules have extremely low distortion, especially compared to an OTL Tube amplifier!!! That was my point Igor!
I'm not interested in further discussing specs differences between Anaview and Ncore power modules. For all my practical uses, they are both excellent options.
I'm highly interested in how you "colour" these power modules in a controlled way, for example with Colin's input buffers. That could probably apply to Anaview and Pascal amplifiers, not only Ncore.
Sebastian
I asked because your comment was typical of an Ncore fanboy... sorry.
Yes, NC400 has 10 or more times better THD % figures than my Anaview AMS1000-2600 power module.
Do you think you can hear a difference @6.67 Khz in THD between 0.01 % and 0.001 %? Come on!!!
For most practical uses, both modules have extremely low distortion, especially compared to an OTL Tube amplifier!!! That was my point Igor!
I'm not interested in further discussing specs differences between Anaview and Ncore power modules. For all my practical uses, they are both excellent options.
I'm highly interested in how you "colour" these power modules in a controlled way, for example with Colin's input buffers. That could probably apply to Anaview and Pascal amplifiers, not only Ncore.
Sebastian
The big bonus with the NC500's besides performance is the lack of input buffer. On the Anaview and Pascal amps, there's no option to bypass the onboard buffers.
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Mike I'm afraid that's not correct. Neither of these brands include input buffers. They do include the power supplies within the power module, however.
Pascal strongly recommends building an input buffer for their modules due to the very low input impedance. I think they offer a solution like Hypex buffer.
Anaview suggests the use of a buffer for certain applications, their power module has a bit higher input impedance.
What's the input impedance? I suppose you could say all the Hypex amps with built on buffers have no buffers as well. But they all have more circuitry in the signal path before the output stage. Hypex has new Ncore modules with power supply all in 1 too. They also have no option to bypass the on board buffer.
Pascal for example, specifies typical 1.88 kohms input impedance. There's clearly no input buffer in the module, in fact they recommend and offer one similar to the one Hypex does with NC500 and NC1200.
Compare this with NC400, which does has an input buffer, 104 kohms input impedance.
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Most of the commercial amps I see using those modules seem to just have the XLR inputs connected directly to the inputs on the amp:
My 994 op amps and new boards arrived yesterday am. I was able to swap everything out before work and listened for a little while. After work I listened more and now all I have to say is holy cr@p these are great. More lit up from within, feels like more air and 3D. One thing I love is that while I get that more open and slightly lighter feel, vocals are outstanding. Zero bite and totally non aggressive with more clarity. I normally prefer a warm/sweeter presentation and I that is why I like the Sparkos op amps. These 994's give me a clearer window with a smaller than the Sparkos touch of warmth, but tremendously better vocals to my ear. This is all with the Ayre KX-5/20 preamp on the JBL's. It will be interesting to try the Sparkos on the new input buffers.
Colin,
Thank you so much for getting these in my hands so quickly and making these amps even better. I absolutely love these amps more now, if that's even possible.
Joe
Colin,
Thank you so much for getting these in my hands so quickly and making these amps even better. I absolutely love these amps more now, if that's even possible.
Joe
The question is whether your theory of "distortion" can explain the acoustic differences between two opamps with .0003% THD and .00003% THD.
I think you must upgrade your theory.
Wait till they burn in! It's the discrete opamp's that benefit most from the burn in. It took me around the clock for over a week before I really started appreciating the 994's. I find NC-500 modules themselves barely change with burn in with my experience. But do sound better when warmed up for a long time.
No problem! Now should I share the circuit for a possible revision D board........ Maybe next year
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