My dac has a potent I/V stage, so gain is not required. I would prefer to use a tube rectifier.
I am not looking for a transparent buffer. Warm, smooth and lush is what I require. Can this not be gained with the warmest parts?
The amp I currently use the dac with is a Sony GX900ES reciever. My speakers are a pair of Acoustat Spectral 11's.
Will I need something more to achieve my goal? A tube amp perhaps?
BTW, I do have a turntable for serious listening. The dac is for my computer.
First, a question. Is it possible for you to reduce the gain of your I/V stage, so that output stage doesn’t have to be unity gain? I think you’ll find that the majority of circuits which feature the sort of subjective characteristics you are looking for are above unity gain. Probably having something to do with the distortion character via a unity gain buffer, versus that of an otherwise similar stage with gain.
The H2 generator project might be what you’re after. The diy audio store even sells kits https://www.firstwatt.com/pdf/art_h2.pdf
1. It would be possible to attenuate the output with resistors, yes.
2. Adding harmonic distortion would do nothing to alleviate the fatigue of digital.
I am looking for a cost effective, and hopefully simple solution. But building amps and preamps is certainly something I can do.
I have been thinking about building a tube preamp (Marantz 7 clone?), and Class A solid state amp (Accuphase A60 clone?). Or maybe an integrate tube amp? I just need the funds.
2. Adding harmonic distortion would do nothing to alleviate the fatigue of digital.
I am looking for a cost effective, and hopefully simple solution. But building amps and preamps is certainly something I can do.
I have been thinking about building a tube preamp (Marantz 7 clone?), and Class A solid state amp (Accuphase A60 clone?). Or maybe an integrate tube amp? I just need the funds.
You may want to check out the WOTS-LeGrande diy pre-amp by ‘marigno’. WOTS = (Warmth Of The Sound). I have NOT heard it myself, but his design goals seem to well align with your own. As designed, marigno (Fabrizio) says the gain is +20dB, which is why I had asked about that. The design is a relatively simple TRIODE-MOSFET hybrid, and shouldn’t be too challenging to build. In his thread you’ll also find the schematic for a solid-state version of the LeGrand, a JFET-MOSFET hybrid. Fabrizio’s subjective description of the sound character speaks for itself, and can be found within his starting post. Link below.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/warmth-of-the-sound-wots.380373/#post-6873366
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/warmth-of-the-sound-wots.380373/#post-6873366
This is a common modern fallacy. Any change to a signal that's not a linear multiple is a distortion. There is no such critter as "warmth" or "tone" - these good qualities come from the lack of flaws, and are not something that can be added in, or that the lack of can be corrected by more manipulation (distortion). Simple entropy.
All good fortune,
Chris
Cool.
Problem is that in principle Buffers "are" quite flat and clean.definitely flatter and cleaner than any normal Tube amp.
There is not such a thing as a "warm sounding part", unless grossly defective.
Parts by themselves have no "sound" and in any case do not even work on their own, but as part of a circuit.
Claims that a single part, such as a capacitor or resistor, just because of being present, and with no further calculations can make sound warm - smooth - sharp - defined - cold - clinical - whatever are ludicrous to put it mildly.
Yes, unscrupulous sellers make those claims all the time (or even wilder ones), what else can they say about something that otherwise performs like a million others?
Problem is that those siren songs are attractive to many.
Well, I have decided that instead of putting anymore time, money and effort into improving a fatally flawed format, I am here to declare that I am really and officially done with digital playback for good.
I instead want to concentrate my efforts into building a warmer, more musical phonostage (with tubes of course). Any projects I should look at?
I instead want to concentrate my efforts into building a warmer, more musical phonostage (with tubes of course). Any projects I should look at?
What is the warmest, smoothest and most lush phono stage projects that you have encountered? Good air and space with no fatigue is essential.
What is the warmest, smoothest and most lush phono stage projects that you have encountered? Good air and space with no fatigue is essential.
Will an EAR 834 clone satisfy my requirements?
Will an EAR 834 clone satisfy my requirements?
In my amateur experience, system synergy, including cart, is most important for non-fatiguing sound. You might just have to build it and see how it turns out.
To answer your original question and hopefully be helpful, the most non-fatiguing phono stage I've built was http://www.hagtech.com/pdf/cornet2.pdf. I would personally call it "smooth". I wouldn't personally call it "lush". I find it non-fatiguing. The designer has released later versions (v3) without the original tube rectified high-V power supply. I think you'd have to p2p if you wanted to make V2.
Sorry, I'm not directly familiar with the EAR.
To answer your original question and hopefully be helpful, the most non-fatiguing phono stage I've built was http://www.hagtech.com/pdf/cornet2.pdf. I would personally call it "smooth". I wouldn't personally call it "lush". I find it non-fatiguing. The designer has released later versions (v3) without the original tube rectified high-V power supply. I think you'd have to p2p if you wanted to make V2.
Sorry, I'm not directly familiar with the EAR.
Lots of people crave such a sound. Music should be rendered inoffensive, right?
Passive parts are often sufficient. Carbon comp resistors, Pio caps, NOS electrolytics, old PS chokes. Tube/Germanium/Selenium rectification. Lack of active regulation. And of course, a Denon 103 🙂
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