I like that Nagra toy too. It was sitting on the shelf gathering dust for too long so I hooked it up. I did a lot of small repair work for a local audio dealer (you guessed ,.. of Magnepan and Audio Research among others ) over the years. Mostly burned out screen resistors , blown traces , new tubes and bias. Simple stuff but the dealer was approaching retirement and handling those ARC behemoths is just back wrecking. I didn't charge him much , considering it to be an exchange of favors to be able to play with all that expensive glitter . Once we started to talk about watches and I semi joked that my immigrant friends are buying Rolexes to compensate for their low social status and janitorial jobs and I still have a recycled "Frankenstein" Omega and drive 15 years old car.
He had Nagra set ,VPA 845 amps and PLP preamp . He said , "you know , I promised VPA amps to my old friends but they want a preamp with the remote so how about that little Swiss PLP for the lack of Rolex ? The price he named was simply too good to pass so I said , what a heck , I can drive my Toyota another 5 years and emptied my modest saving account again...There was a string attached to a deal that I won't sell it for profit as long as the dealer is alive. I'm OK with that.
Btw I had a look at Abbas site and behind the esoteric blah it seems that guys made a lot of experiments, voice his dac with care, use MIT cable technic with a core wire in the cables. And damned good tube like the 5687...
I wish I could find one tube like this but in the mean time a good E188CC is not too bad.
Caps chosen with care and with the understanding caps have not an esoteric ranking but often must be mixed in a circuit as far the listening tests matter.
I am sure we can make as good or better with the tda 1541A but not necessarily less expensive.I have a big doubt about the quality of the Abbas digital frontend however. But at the same time proof is in the pudding and I would not surprised it sounds better than a 1000 euros RME dac with an ak or ess chip and a bunch of of opa1602 and opa1656...those'modern dacs sounds clean but borring. At tge same time my 500 (maybe 700 as it is difficult to know on several years) euros parts cost tda1541A Dac made some ess dac (expensive) to jump from the windows pushed by their owners at home (rip)
I wish I could find one tube like this but in the mean time a good E188CC is not too bad.
Caps chosen with care and with the understanding caps have not an esoteric ranking but often must be mixed in a circuit as far the listening tests matter.
I am sure we can make as good or better with the tda 1541A but not necessarily less expensive.I have a big doubt about the quality of the Abbas digital frontend however. But at the same time proof is in the pudding and I would not surprised it sounds better than a 1000 euros RME dac with an ak or ess chip and a bunch of of opa1602 and opa1656...those'modern dacs sounds clean but borring. At tge same time my 500 (maybe 700 as it is difficult to know on several years) euros parts cost tda1541A Dac made some ess dac (expensive) to jump from the windows pushed by their owners at home (rip)
That is why the test should be done. With a RME for instance. Otherwise that recent technology will not be evaluated properly. It simply can not be that all new stuff is worse, well I am sure it isn't.
I had my share of square meters of DAC with old stuff often more effect generator than DAC. As said, a better receiver works the wrong way in such devices contrary to recent DACs that benefit from lower jitter.
And eh... add a tube output stage to a ΔΣ DAC and things are then accepted too.
I had my share of square meters of DAC with old stuff often more effect generator than DAC. As said, a better receiver works the wrong way in such devices contrary to recent DACs that benefit from lower jitter.
And eh... add a tube output stage to a ΔΣ DAC and things are then accepted too.
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There is no reason it can not work. But maybe the more difficult efforts due to higher speeds clock, as far the layout is ruled as the powersupplies quality, it should be ok !
But at the opposit i think that HF things limit it to educated diyers with expensive tools (think EMC and all), so very few of us can play the game.
The old pcm ic are like old V8, reliable to vacum miles and music. It is harder for the beta human to tweak his Tesla !
But at the opposit i think that HF things limit it to educated diyers with expensive tools (think EMC and all), so very few of us can play the game.
The old pcm ic are like old V8, reliable to vacum miles and music. It is harder for the beta human to tweak his Tesla !
True , Tesla can only be abandoned..
I really quite liked Weiss DAC202 based on ESS9018 dac chip. My friend owned it and from time to time I check if the price has fallen into dumpster diver category alas no ..Still over $2k from original $8k ( almost )
Splendid dac , anything recent in the $500 category which can compete with now a decade old Weiss Dac?
TDA love? I have played around with a number dacs. Some bought, some DIY. It seems to me that "heard" not measured audio pleasure, is more about power supply and the output stage, than the actual DAC chip.
I think the love for TDA could come from reduced dynamics, helping ones HiFI system become more balanced? Mid range often seems to stand out for better or worse.
Things we build often sound good, as we have some attachment. My current DIY Dac attachment is with USBsolver TDA1387 Tube Clarity Cap, to my ears nicer to listen to than AK4396 or Chord 2Qute. See what happens when I build a distortion generator output stage for AK4396?
I think the love for TDA could come from reduced dynamics, helping ones HiFI system become more balanced? Mid range often seems to stand out for better or worse.
Things we build often sound good, as we have some attachment. My current DIY Dac attachment is with USBsolver TDA1387 Tube Clarity Cap, to my ears nicer to listen to than AK4396 or Chord 2Qute. See what happens when I build a distortion generator output stage for AK4396?
Hello,
I purchased a TDA 1541 based MHDT Orchid a few weeks back and it has the R1 version of the TDA 1541. I am looking for a S1 or S2. I do know they are really getting hard to find. Also the ones on eBay from China are fakes etc....also the prices are really absurd IMO. If anyone has a S1 or S2 that will part with for a decent price etc please sned me a note. I do have a few leads but so far nada...The 1451 in the unit is just fine but my diy brain wants to try the other versions as well....thanks!
Alex
I purchased a TDA 1541 based MHDT Orchid a few weeks back and it has the R1 version of the TDA 1541. I am looking for a S1 or S2. I do know they are really getting hard to find. Also the ones on eBay from China are fakes etc....also the prices are really absurd IMO. If anyone has a S1 or S2 that will part with for a decent price etc please sned me a note. I do have a few leads but so far nada...The 1451 in the unit is just fine but my diy brain wants to try the other versions as well....thanks!
Alex
MHDT Orchid looks interesting. Tube, but after opamp I/V? Does it use the TDA in simultaneous mode? That is where I found benefits with TDA1541/A
I would not buy TDA from ebay or China. Better to buy old machine with a S /S1. How much better an S really is? I have not tried an S. TDA 1541, 1541A , 1541A R1 do sound different to me. But so do two or more of the same grade.
Do you like the sound with the R1?
Yes the sound is really good IMO. I have had several other dacs and presently compared the Orchid to my Soekris 2541 and iFI iDSD dacs.
I like all three and yes they are indeed different. Using a switchbox to compare etc...with several amps as well.
The Orchid seems to uncannily just draw you into the music...and I am an objective person...is it worth the $1300 retail...well ?
I cant find much out there on the Orchid as to the circuit design and operation or a schematic.
If anyone has any details other than the specs at mhdt.com please let us know.
Thanks
I like all three and yes they are indeed different. Using a switchbox to compare etc...with several amps as well.
The Orchid seems to uncannily just draw you into the music...and I am an objective person...is it worth the $1300 retail...well ?
I cant find much out there on the Orchid as to the circuit design and operation or a schematic.
If anyone has any details other than the specs at mhdt.com please let us know.
Thanks
Sorry but if one found tda1541A lacks dynamic it is imho he did not diy enough and something went wrong in the power supplies, ground decoupling, output stage.
Mine beats the first Soekris I owned, A portable Ifi, some ESS based dac... But the PS is tricky on the TDA1541A. Also the latest production seems to sound more dynamic than the earliest european made.
Mine beats the first Soekris I owned, A portable Ifi, some ESS based dac... But the PS is tricky on the TDA1541A. Also the latest production seems to sound more dynamic than the earliest european made.
Ha. I got pretty much the same response from a certain Mr Loesch many years ago when I was less than complimentary about the blessed TDA1541A, peace be upon it.
It seems as objectivists and subjectivists become more extreme they start to merge into the same thing. If you do not like our idol or our numbers then there is something wrong with you or your implementation.
This is you that gives personal judgment to others. Mine have dynamics to die for so if someone has not listened to it then it has not listening to it yet...logic.
And btw who you are to give lessons to others like Loesch. What is your system and dac and what did you share with others...I would like to know instead to read your moral lessons that sound more like personal attacks...here and elswhere.
I would like to know if you have some personal financial interests for instance ? So please describe your system and invint others to verify your claims. I will be happy to have advices instead of critics if you have better proposals and if I can affoard it.
And btw who you are to give lessons to others like Loesch. What is your system and dac and what did you share with others...I would like to know instead to read your moral lessons that sound more like personal attacks...here and elswhere.
I would like to know if you have some personal financial interests for instance ? So please describe your system and invint others to verify your claims. I will be happy to have advices instead of critics if you have better proposals and if I can affoard it.
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No need to go there ...
Of the dacs I owned old Theta generation V was a cannon . I burned my balls from the coffee I spilled first time I listened to that dac. It wasn't the smoothest sounding but it had a kick like a horse .
Of the dacs I owned old Theta generation V was a cannon . I burned my balls from the coffee I spilled first time I listened to that dac. It wasn't the smoothest sounding but it had a kick like a horse .
I would buy the Orchid again....but would hope for a $799 price...but the times being what they are as Bruce Hornsby and the Range said " It Is What It Is!!"..
Now where can i get a TDA S1 or S2 without a second mortgage !
:>)
Now where can i get a TDA S1 or S2 without a second mortgage !
:>)
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But to be prosecuted in religion by an old fart here (I could teach epistimological philosophy lessons btw).... you can try Audial Aya5 pcb. It was too much expensivec for me but the populated option is provided with a late tda1541A iirc and you will have a modern itteration with usb and spidf and hdmi i2s input.
Can I take it the fatwa is in the post ?
As it happens I merely pointed out to Mr Loesch that I had a TDA1541A of some kind and didn't think much of it. As this point, if memory serves, he pointed out that I must deaf or something along those lines to which I replied that he must be an Exalted Being to be able to diagnose my dac from afar. No lessons involved. I've got to say you TDA1541A folks are pretty touchy. One can only wonder how you would react if you received a tenth of the rubbish dumped on delta sigma.
As it happens I merely pointed out to Mr Loesch that I had a TDA1541A of some kind and didn't think much of it. As this point, if memory serves, he pointed out that I must deaf or something along those lines to which I replied that he must be an Exalted Being to be able to diagnose my dac from afar. No lessons involved. I've got to say you TDA1541A folks are pretty touchy. One can only wonder how you would react if you received a tenth of the rubbish dumped on delta sigma.
Do you realise this is you that turns in circle putting me in such a church. I do not care about what the technology is as far the sounding is good . Just that in my dac journey for the moment tda1541A gave me the best results...that is not saying I burn sheeps to please Loesch or wear burkas on my ears as I haven't crucified the delta omega chips for eternity.
Now when one having a particular personal event makes it a generalisation, I know what is involved and what it is called. But ok listening music is a personal thing.
Btw always have been intetested by neuroscience and involved likings in the life of people and aesthetic impegnation of young humans...
Behind psychoacoystic we can clearly know why one prefer a RME, another a LP and so on. Many things happen there and mkt dpts are well knowing that. I do not have church but what is saying my bank wallet Lord.
Now when one having a particular personal event makes it a generalisation, I know what is involved and what it is called. But ok listening music is a personal thing.
Btw always have been intetested by neuroscience and involved likings in the life of people and aesthetic impegnation of young humans...
Behind psychoacoystic we can clearly know why one prefer a RME, another a LP and so on. Many things happen there and mkt dpts are well knowing that. I do not have church but what is saying my bank wallet Lord.
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Your best bet is to buy a machine which has that chip , replace the chip , sell the machine for the price you bought it. There is some moral ambiguity in the procedure but frankly those chips do overheat and need to be replaced anyway . Also , buyers of those vintage players often buy them because they are collectors not for any sonic virtues.
Prices will only go up. On everything ...