Zhaolu DAC - a good value DAC?

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#42
The stock Zhaolu 2.5A is already very nice, but with the Zapfilter output stage installed, it's on a whole new level. I've never heard the $2000+ DACs, but it's far better than any DAC I've ever heard including the Benchmark and Apogee. It's like a night and day difference.
 
#46
I picked up my Zhaolu 2.5A at the post office this morning. I would have had it Saturday if I had a front door doorbell.. 😀 I think it took no more than 3 days to get here.

I've been listening to it for a couple of hours now, and have listened to both the headphone output and the analog output into my system. I have used a nec scsi drive as a source as well as the media server.

Mine has the entry level headphone amplifier and the AD1852 option. I basically bought the cheapest option.. 😉

It came bundled with some accessories, a spdif rca cable, spdif optical cable, and a north american iec line cord. Mine was set up for 120V operation.

The unit has LT1570 op-amps installed, included was a set of BB2604 which I thought sounded rather laid back in a short evaluation. IMO the LT1570 is much better. I do plan to lavish some cash on some better op-amps, and some black gate coupling caps.

Build quality is better than good, and far more than I expected for $129.00 This dac was obviously intended to be a serious piece of hardware. The engineering that went into this design is of high caliber. (I've done this stuff for a living.) I opened it up and had a good look around - this is a serious effort. I'd put it on a par with the old Assemblage Dacs for build quality and for about 1/4 what the original DAC-1 cost..

My reference dac is a PS Audio Ultralink II with HDCD capability. The Zhaolu is not embarrassed by the comparison although there are some significant differences.

Umm, the Zhaolu's bass might be a little better than the ULII.. It is really GOOD.. Other than that I won't make too many direct comparisons as I am not doing an A/B test between the two at this point.

I have configured the media server for both 16bit/44.1kHz and software resampling to 24 bit/96kHz. Obviously there is no more information available in the resampled data than was present in the original, however there does seem to be a very slight difference. I think the edge would go to the resampled signal and in this mode on some material it is clearly giving the ULII a run for the money.

Overall the bottom end is powerful and extended, the mids smooth and well balanced, and the highs very clean and distortion free if just a smidge recessed. (The highs are much cleaner than the ULII.)
Imaging and ambience recovery on first listen seem fine.

I would say this unit has an involving sound, no blatantly obvious deficits. Cables might make a difference, no flames please.

The sound continues to get better as the unit warms up.

I'm quite pleased, and to think this thing cost me less than $200 delivered. I might try a Chinese transport next..

One comment: These units are not made for Western markets, the only English is on the front and rear panels and pcbs. The manual is entirely in Chinese.

I'm pretty d*mn happy with the unit, and delighted at the excellent service Wai Wai provided. (diykits)
 
#47
Hi there,

Thanks for all your replies.

Has anybody ordered from buyoyo.com? (Stumpled upon them
while looking for some CDs.)

http://www.buyoyo.com/cgi-bin/ncomm...&prmenbr=152&CGRY_NUM=251&LANGUAGE=1&curr=USD

They seem to carry the D2.5 dac as well. Looks like it's
a stock unit.

Question for those who have ordered from diykits. I'm
a bit confused about their 'Free Upgrade'. Are they
saying they've replaced the OPA2604s in the power supply
AND output stages with different opamps? Kevin's message
seems to indicate you get the OPA2604s as well.

I'll probably send off an order to diykits soon. Too bad I didn't
know about these wonderful DACs when I was in HK last
year.

Cheers,
Dennis
 
#48
Yes diykits upgrades the stock Burr Brown 2604 to Linear Tech LT1570 as part of the basic purchase. The difference isn't too subtle. I won't be using the 2604 at all.

This thing just sounds better the more I listen to it.

Based on my experience with diykits, I unhesitatingly recommend them - also this seems to be the place where most Westerners are getting theirs. I have seen the 2.5 on eBay for a LOT more money incidentally.

I am currently listening to music by Fiona Apple (Extraordinary Machine), Toby Keith (Pull My Chain), Dead Can Dance (Aion), Depeche Mode (misc) and some other stuff as a point of reference for my previous post.

The highs are much cleaner than the ULII, has me thinking..

I'm amazed.. 😀 😀 😀

Edit:

Now listening to Jazz at the Pawn Shop I - does jazz well too. There is more detail, ambience, and I am hearing things I haven't heretofore. I guess I would attach the label transparent to this dac.

I'm starting to consider the possibility that it is actually better than my old PS Audio Ultralink II.

I will certainly recommend this dac over any used dac at any price that is more than a few years old.
 
#49
Hi Kevinkr,
I think the dac is very good too though I have only a Marantz CD-17-II to compare it with. I have access to a Benchmark DAC1 but that will take some time.

I hear some people have changed the analog section with a discrete Zap filter with very good results. I am planning to change the analog section also. However I will be using a combination of discrete transistors and opamps.

I noticed the AD1852 spec sheet mentions a load of 47K ohms and 100pF as the load for all their tests. The filter shown in the data sheet doesn't seem to have such a high input impedance ?

Would anybody have the circuit diagram of the Zhaolu filter? I'll have to trace out the circuit though I think it might be very similar to the Analog Devices suggested filter.

The LT1057 opamp does sound better than the 2604. Anyone tried the OPA2134 ? I've used that and prefer it over the OPA1057 though I didn't find any remarkable differences in the few hours that I have listened to it.
Cheers.
 
#50
Kevin and Ashok,

Thank you first on your comments and impressions.

Well...I just sent off an email to diykit for a quote
with shipping. 🙂

I guess there are opamp sockets? (Either that or
you guys are really quick with the soldering iron.)
Do you think it's possible to use the Pass D1
analog in the zhaolu?

Has anyone tried the headphone output?

Cheers,
Dennis
 
#51
Hi Dennis,
Yes the DAC has sockets for the opamps.
The headphone amp is considered to be basic stuff by many users.
On my unit the headphone amp is acceptable ... good ... over my headphones . A Philips HP800 and Sennheiser HD580 . It has an opamp in it with four discrete TO126 power transistors mounted on individual heat sinks. The "upgrade" headphone amp has single huge heat sink.

I never listened to the headphone amp too closely but the basic one is pretty good. I'm sure you can improve on it , but it is good .

The DAC and all parts of it is worth every cent you pay for it.
Cheers.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I did short out the red electrolytic capacitors at the input to the opamps on the analog filter board. I think it does clean up the sound . The DAC does sound very good now compared to when I just received it. I am not sure how much of it is due to burn in , change of filter opamp to OPA2134 or shorting out the four input electrolytic capacitors.
A word of caution when shorting out the capacitors. I get over 80mV dc offset at the DAC output. It's OK for me as it is capacitor coupled to the power amp. A direct dc connection to a power amp will surely cause a big problem.
 
#52
ashok said:
Has anyone bought or heard a Zhaolu V 2.5 dac ? There are two versions. The A version with an AD1852 and a C version with the CS4398 .

I was wondering if anyone has been able to compare the A with the C version.
Click to expand...

I just came across your post asking about AD1852 v.s. CS4398. I compared these two before I decided which Zhaolu D-2.0 to get. The differences should be the same in D-2.5.

The CS chip is very good for vocals and hard/fast music. It makes deeper and tighter bass. Music sounds warmer, more focused and good image, with a bit "large" or "thicker" sounds. Highs are cripse. I think it is very good for a solid state system. The AD chip brings you the atmosphere at your listening room. Music is more airy and you feel the ambience. This chip may give you more relaxing experience. Some say this is neutral, better timing i.e. more musical. This is subject to arguments. 😀

For me, I prefer the CS4398. I have 2604s and JM128 (DIY2000 ?) in my Zhaolu. Also removed the DC-blocking capacitors on the output stage.
 
#54
Mine is used in a tube based system with Onken type diy bass cabinets, JBL mid and treble horns 4333, and 2402H. I'll say the highs are much cleaner than the Ultralink II or the old Assemblage Dac-1 I recently traded for other parts.. 😉

I'm going to order some BB2107, and some OPA627 to install on Brown Dog adaptors. Sadly I can't use the plethora of AD8620 op amps I have as the supply voltages are just a bit too high - and I am not planning on reducing them. I will also order some of the better grade black gates from michael percy. I don't think shorting the existing coupling caps is the best idea as it eats some of the op amp input common mode range and subtly degrades some performance parameters of the op amp. In addition it also will put some dc on the output as I doubt the input configuration perfectly balanced for dc.

BTW the LT1057 installed by diykits are far better than the stock 2604 which results in a very soft, laid back and pretty uninvolving sound. This free mod alone is a good enough reason to get yours from them.. Plus they burn in for 48 hrs and reset the line voltage for North American customers. (The power transformer is a very nice r-core.)

The next stage might possibly be to get a zapfilter, as funds permit. It is ironic that it costs more than the entire rest of the dac.. Perhaps there is a Chinese equivalent.. 😀

I'm now wrestling with what to do with the old PSA Ultralink II, a very unexpected outcome to be sure. Maybe I should work on some upgrades to that as well or just sell it.. We'll see. 😕
 
#55
Hi guys,

Thank you all for all this information. I've just placed
an order with diykits. Yippee!!!

I have some OPA2132, 2134 and have purchased
a few other types from ebay. I'll have to try them
out.

Ashok: Thank you for your impressions on the
headphone output. I'll be trying it with Grado SR60s.

Cheers,
Dennis
 
#56
Hi Dennis,
Hope you're as happy with it as I am.

I've ordered some LM4562 and OPA2134 to try.
Still to order some OPA2107 and the caps I talked about.

Parts Connexion appears to have Zapfilters in stock again, but they cost more than twice what a ZL 2.5A costs sans shipping. I'll have to think about that.

(Major) Edit: Removed some comments, changed a couple of others.
 
#57
kevinkr said:
Hi Dennis,
Hope you're as happy with it as I am.

I've ordered some LM4562 and OPA2134 to try.
Still to order some OPA2107 and the caps I talked about.

Parts Connexion appears to have Zapfilters in stock again, but they cost more than twice what a ZL 2.5A costs sans shipping. I'll have to think about that.

(Major) Edit: Removed some comments, changed a couple of others.
Click to expand...

Actually, Parts Connexion has them in stock at the moment. The Zapfilter is a big upgrade for this DAC. The difference is night and day.
 
#58
cotdt said:
Actually, Parts Connexion has them in stock at the moment. The Zapfilter is a big upgrade for this DAC. The difference is night and day.
Click to expand...

To those who believe this - prepare for a disappointment.

IMO/E, differences during modding are rarely, if ever, 'night and day'. 😉


EDIT: this post looks a little harsh on re-examination, my apologies if I have offended anyone with my opinion. To them: sorry!
 
#59
adhoc said:


To those who believe this - prepare for a disappointment.

Differences during modding are rarely, if ever, 'night and day'.
Click to expand...

I agree some might consider the differences small, it's all very subjective and some might not even notice a difference at all. Sorry to mislead some of you. However, those passionate about this audio hobby will NOT be disappointed. To me I get a noticeably nicer musical experience, and the difference is very significant.
 
#60
Thanks DcibeL for the circuit.
I'm going to rig up my own filter as the Zap costs too much for me.
Will post results if it is good.
The circuit is slightly different from the one in Cirrus Logic's application note AN48 .
I mentioned AD's appication note earlier , that was a mistake . It's Cirrus Logic's AN48 app. note.

I am trying to use an inductor also . Lets see what happens.
Cheers.
 
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