Tube USB: Which is the best?
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Tube USB: Which is the best?
Greetings to all forummers,
I am considering a Tube DAC. The plan is to get a unit to do conversion duties from my BD player, Astro decoder (mid-fi but I prefer it radio. Deejays talk too much) and notebook. Based on googling and local availability, I seems to have only two choices: Music Paradise DAC (RM2K) or Maverick Audio D2 DAC (RM1.2K). Any 'Sifu's out there have better ideas?
Anyone has any experience with these units?
Currently I am using my Linn Klassik DI as my DAC. Good sound but this was made in 1998 and it does not accept USB.
Note: Why tube DAC? Just my ears. I have used many CD/DVD/BD players over the years and I always preferred my tube output CD players (AMC CD6 and Musical Fidelity CDT, both RIP now). Now I am trying to bring tube magic to all my music.
Thank you all in advance.
Cheers
My current system.
Main: Linn Classik Movie DI (All in one system DVD, CD,Tuner, DAC and amp), Accuphase 206 amp, Legacy Audio Studio Bookshelf speakers, Leowe DVD player & Tuner (back-up) & Samsung BD player
Second system: Linn Classik all in one unit, Epos MS bookshelf, Panasonic BD player
I am considering a Tube DAC. The plan is to get a unit to do conversion duties from my BD player, Astro decoder (mid-fi but I prefer it radio. Deejays talk too much) and notebook. Based on googling and local availability, I seems to have only two choices: Music Paradise DAC (RM2K) or Maverick Audio D2 DAC (RM1.2K). Any 'Sifu's out there have better ideas?
Anyone has any experience with these units?
Currently I am using my Linn Klassik DI as my DAC. Good sound but this was made in 1998 and it does not accept USB.
Note: Why tube DAC? Just my ears. I have used many CD/DVD/BD players over the years and I always preferred my tube output CD players (AMC CD6 and Musical Fidelity CDT, both RIP now). Now I am trying to bring tube magic to all my music.
Thank you all in advance.
Cheers
My current system.
Main: Linn Classik Movie DI (All in one system DVD, CD,Tuner, DAC and amp), Accuphase 206 amp, Legacy Audio Studio Bookshelf speakers, Leowe DVD player & Tuner (back-up) & Samsung BD player
Second system: Linn Classik all in one unit, Epos MS bookshelf, Panasonic BD player
Last edited by timurmusicfan on Tue May 19, 2015 3:25 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Corrections)
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Lite audio Tube DAC
Suggestions from gentle man and tube kaki.
Uses E88CC. Good reviews. No usb. Need to add a DIP to convert USB to coaxial. Price about us usd 400. shipped from hk. Thank you for suggestion.
Uses E88CC. Good reviews. No usb. Need to add a DIP to convert USB to coaxial. Price about us usd 400. shipped from hk. Thank you for suggestion.
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Musical paradise made very decent tube product. I will suggest you go to audition it.
Sonerin- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 532
Age : 44
Location : Selangor
Registration date : 2011-12-03
Character sheet
Source(s): Asus tinkerboard, Rega P10
Amplification: Wadia 322di, Accuphase A-47, C2150
Speakers: KEF R11
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Thank you for suggestion. I contacted Willy Wong of Starspickeraudio. Will go an listen to musical paradise next month.
Did you audition this?
Thank you.
Did you audition this?
Thank you.
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
I did not audition the tube dac but I bought the musical paradise MP501 tube amp
Sonerin- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 532
Age : 44
Location : Selangor
Registration date : 2011-12-03
Character sheet
Source(s): Asus tinkerboard, Rega P10
Amplification: Wadia 322di, Accuphase A-47, C2150
Speakers: KEF R11
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Thank you. Appreciate your ssuggestion.
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
I have been using Music Hall dac25.3 since 2012, bought it from Singapore, not bad and has got a Electro-Harmonix 6922 tube in it.
keyboon- New Member
- Number of posts : 7
Age : 62
Location : cheras, KL,Malaysia
Registration date : 2010-11-29
Character sheet
Source(s):
Amplification: Quad 606 MK2 Power Amp, Chord Company Anthem2 Interconnect
Speakers:
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Greetings.
Interesting suggestion. Google shows Music Hall have a lot of fans in the US.
Didn't know available in Singapore. Thank you for suggestion. Do you remember the price?
Interesting suggestion. Google shows Music Hall have a lot of fans in the US.
Didn't know available in Singapore. Thank you for suggestion. Do you remember the price?
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Did you manage to audition the musical paradise tube DAC ?
Sonerin- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 532
Age : 44
Location : Selangor
Registration date : 2011-12-03
Character sheet
Source(s): Asus tinkerboard, Rega P10
Amplification: Wadia 322di, Accuphase A-47, C2150
Speakers: KEF R11
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Greetings. Not yet. Planning a trip later. I am out station this week. Work. Thank you.
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Waiting to hear from you on it. Had just receive my musical paradise tube amp.
Sonerin- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 532
Age : 44
Location : Selangor
Registration date : 2011-12-03
Character sheet
Source(s): Asus tinkerboard, Rega P10
Amplification: Wadia 322di, Accuphase A-47, C2150
Speakers: KEF R11
CAL Sigma 2
Greetings to all,
Latest update.
Got myself a used CAL Sigma 2 Tube DAC from a perfect Gentleman in Bukit Jelutong.
Not really tested yet as I got in connected only couple of days ago. This uses one 12AX7 tube.
Thank you for your recommendation Mr Oh.
First impressions:
1. Astro: Using ASTRO optical output using el-cheapo China optical cable. Fantastic improvement. Now it sounds like hifi. Improvement in instrument separation, sound stage, clarity and vocals.
2. Samsung BD player: Great improvement. Similar to above. Removes the 'digital glare' and sounds more life like.
3. Linn Klassik: Not yet done A/B comparison.
Only problem is that CAL Sigma does not have USB input. As a temporary solution, I use the Samsung USB port to read from the HDD and take out the digital stream. Works OK but the Samsung cannot accept Hi-rez audio files.
For Hi-rez files, back to my Acer notebook and iPod Touch. Plan to keep it this way till next year.
Thanks to all for suggestions.
Latest update.
Got myself a used CAL Sigma 2 Tube DAC from a perfect Gentleman in Bukit Jelutong.
Not really tested yet as I got in connected only couple of days ago. This uses one 12AX7 tube.
Thank you for your recommendation Mr Oh.
First impressions:
1. Astro: Using ASTRO optical output using el-cheapo China optical cable. Fantastic improvement. Now it sounds like hifi. Improvement in instrument separation, sound stage, clarity and vocals.
2. Samsung BD player: Great improvement. Similar to above. Removes the 'digital glare' and sounds more life like.
3. Linn Klassik: Not yet done A/B comparison.
Only problem is that CAL Sigma does not have USB input. As a temporary solution, I use the Samsung USB port to read from the HDD and take out the digital stream. Works OK but the Samsung cannot accept Hi-rez audio files.
For Hi-rez files, back to my Acer notebook and iPod Touch. Plan to keep it this way till next year.
Thanks to all for suggestions.
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Good to hear that you had found what you need
Sonerin- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 532
Age : 44
Location : Selangor
Registration date : 2011-12-03
Character sheet
Source(s): Asus tinkerboard, Rega P10
Amplification: Wadia 322di, Accuphase A-47, C2150
Speakers: KEF R11
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
Dear Sonerin,
Thank you. And how is your Musical Paradise Tube Amp?
I changed from a Audio Innovations series 500 tube amplifier to an old Accuphase integrated (solid state) last year. Still missing my tube sound although Accuphase is a good amp.
Thank you. And how is your Musical Paradise Tube Amp?
I changed from a Audio Innovations series 500 tube amplifier to an old Accuphase integrated (solid state) last year. Still missing my tube sound although Accuphase is a good amp.
timurmusicfan- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 257
Age : 62
Location : Cyberjaya
Registration date : 2010-04-15
Re: Tube USB: Which is the best?
The tube amp is great. The music sound is warm and solid. The bass also has become tighter .
Sonerin- Frequent Contributor
- Number of posts : 532
Age : 44
Location : Selangor
Registration date : 2011-12-03
Character sheet
Source(s): Asus tinkerboard, Rega P10
Amplification: Wadia 322di, Accuphase A-47, C2150
Speakers: KEF R11
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