Hi Quanghao,
this is to report that we have successfully (well, my friend smanz indeed 🙂 ) tested your dac with a pair of your lundahl boards and their corresponding trafos.
The test was made comparing that setup against a buffalo DAC with a super modded IVY output stage (best quality in capacitors and resistors that you can imagine). No blind test, just a simple listening session over a couple of songs that we know well.
The result was, and we both agree on that front, that your DAC is much better in every single corner. Better timbre, better sound stage, very well articulated and capable of showing all nuances with a big orchesta, and in summary... a better DAC. I find it very musical and dynamic.
We (my friend and I) disagreed nevertheless on how voices are presented. In my opinion, the ES9038 is darker .... maybe the trafos ? maybe the filter we used (brickwall) ?. Now we have a battery for the remote, we will make the test again (perhaps with an apodizing filter?) but for this occasion we´ll use a bigger contender: quadruple Buffalo ES9018 DAC with tubes output stage.
I will get back here with our conclusions. In any case, thank you and congratulations for the DAC. It is a great product, no question about it.
Cheers
Pepe
this is to report that we have successfully (well, my friend smanz indeed 🙂 ) tested your dac with a pair of your lundahl boards and their corresponding trafos.
The test was made comparing that setup against a buffalo DAC with a super modded IVY output stage (best quality in capacitors and resistors that you can imagine). No blind test, just a simple listening session over a couple of songs that we know well.
The result was, and we both agree on that front, that your DAC is much better in every single corner. Better timbre, better sound stage, very well articulated and capable of showing all nuances with a big orchesta, and in summary... a better DAC. I find it very musical and dynamic.
We (my friend and I) disagreed nevertheless on how voices are presented. In my opinion, the ES9038 is darker .... maybe the trafos ? maybe the filter we used (brickwall) ?. Now we have a battery for the remote, we will make the test again (perhaps with an apodizing filter?) but for this occasion we´ll use a bigger contender: quadruple Buffalo ES9018 DAC with tubes output stage.
I will get back here with our conclusions. In any case, thank you and congratulations for the DAC. It is a great product, no question about it.
Cheers
Pepe
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Hi all!
all image about DAC in this link:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=MFVQZ2VrMktDTnI4OG9iQlJvazh5Y2Q4VHUydnVR
thanks
all image about DAC in this link:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=MFVQZ2VrMktDTnI4OG9iQlJvazh5Y2Q4VHUydnVR
thanks
Is it too hard to listen to both dacs using an identical i/v stage?
Neither the Ivy nor the Lundahls are very good, but sticking to one will at least provide some meaningful comparison results.
It is not difficult at all to listen to both dacs using the same output stage. We did not want to do that though.
you don´t like Ivy/Lundahls ?, ok. It is your opinion and point taken at face value. It is a fact that you can compare two different dacs in a meaningful way, whatever the dacs and corresponding output stages are. At least meaningful for us, or maybe you are referring to a specific meaning that I am not seeing ?
Cheers
Pepe
you don´t like Ivy/Lundahls ?, ok. It is your opinion and point taken at face value. It is a fact that you can compare two different dacs in a meaningful way, whatever the dacs and corresponding output stages are. At least meaningful for us, or maybe you are referring to a specific meaning that I am not seeing ?
Cheers
Pepe
Unavoidably there will be variables in such a comparison you cannot eliminate. But the i/v stage is too profound a variable to ignore. It wouldn't surprise me if there is a larger difference between these two i/v stages than between the dac chips. This is certainly true as far as the objective measurements go.
Again stating opinions as (true) facts. I don't comment on that, and that is true an a fact.
The only thing I am aware of being unavoidable is death, and on face of that nothing is so profound to not being ignored.
Cheers
Pepe
The only thing I am aware of being unavoidable is death, and on face of that nothing is so profound to not being ignored.
Cheers
Pepe
I have tried a lot of output for DAC 9018 - ES9038PR- ES9028PRO, and the version below has won! LL1684 and 12Au7.
You should try . thank you
Quanghao
You should try . thank you
Quanghao
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
IV for ES9038PRO
Ok, now. New IV
I have tried to test a lot of IV for ES9038.
And finally I'm very happy with this design, that's my choice,
Combination LL1684 and electronic lights.
You please take a look at it and test!
thanks
quanghao
Ok, now. New IV
I have tried to test a lot of IV for ES9038.
And finally I'm very happy with this design, that's my choice,
Combination LL1684 and electronic lights.
You please take a look at it and test!
thanks
quanghao
Attachments
Ok, now. New IV
I have tried to test a lot of IV for ES9038.
And finally I'm very happy with this design, that's my choice,
Combination LL1684 and electronic lights.
Yes, I specifically use Duelund output capacitors!
OHA ! Yes ! And great sound effects!
Thank you Mr. Duelund!
quanghao
I have tried to test a lot of IV for ES9038.
And finally I'm very happy with this design, that's my choice,
Combination LL1684 and electronic lights.
Yes, I specifically use Duelund output capacitors!
OHA ! Yes ! And great sound effects!
Thank you Mr. Duelund!
quanghao
Attachments
Balanced output
Hello Quanghao, how would the schematic look like for balanced output? Thank you!
Hello Quanghao, how would the schematic look like for balanced output? Thank you!
Hi Quanghao,
Is the 12AU7 of the right channel and the left channel sharing the same B+ power ? I would suggest you at least give each channel a separate RC power supply.
Separate Choke power supply with separate power transformer will be even better. But it seems that there is not enough space in the chassis.
Is the 12AU7 of the right channel and the left channel sharing the same B+ power ? I would suggest you at least give each channel a separate RC power supply.
Separate Choke power supply with separate power transformer will be even better. But it seems that there is not enough space in the chassis.
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i like use one +B.
you can use your like! and can use 6DJ8 or 12Au7 curent 3-5mA
thanks