Icarium

Craig Uthus to me show details 5:51 PM (13 minutes ago) Reply The ZDT sounds better than the Nautilus. I will need to A/B it with the HD2.

It's transformer coupled rather than OTL which is a different sound. It's a pretty different topology I believe. It's not really balanced.. I believe it's balanced with transformers.. and it only offers single ended input -> "balanced" output. It doesn't let you do balanced input. I dunno the Nautilus sounded pretty different from the Zana.. wider soundstage... more engaging sound.

ZDT <- This is very similar to the Nautilus amp that he had prototyped but better (Partial Silver Electraprint transformers last time I heard). I think it's a steal at this price versus the price of a new Zana Deux.... anyone on board or considering?

Religion

Yeah your face has to get used to electric razors... aftershave helps the transition but for the first few weeks or months maybe even it was rough going.

Yeah so how it works now is you push the knob in to switch from between change volume, select input, check current info, check temperature info etc. I suppose j4cbo could insert slect output in there and bounce between left/right/balanced operation... but it would be pretty unwieldy since you'd have to cycle through everything to move from left to right. Moreover if this isnt something a majority of people want then they would be inconvenienced by having an extra thing to cycle through. I suppose it could be jumper disabled or something maybe? But complexity just seems to keep on increasing? Dunno. Paging j4cbo!

Pfft

Yeah I definitely think its worth it at 7.5k esp since you do vinyl drops.. mmm HDCD vinyl drops. Plus most of the PacMicro people are in the area so service is probably is obtainable.

Doesnt SRC stand for Secret Rabbit Code?

Er there is still the problem of how you want to control things with one knob. The logic could start getting a little hairy and the UI could get very unwieldy. So I don't think the design concept as it stands now can support your first suggestion. Thoughts j4cbo? Like yes there are separate attenuators but there is only one actual user facing volume control planned right now. Your second suggestion with regards to different sources with different amps will be even more hairy... how would you try and control that with just one knob that can turn left to right and depress inwards like a button?

Only 100 Model 2s were made.. I saw one listing awhile back for one in New Jersey for 7500 bucks. They are still pretty actively used in the recording industry, but if you place a wanted ad you might get some hits in this economy. I don't know anything about the Model 1. Filburt might know more.

Whoops reread this.. I misspoke.. out of those I've only heard the Spectral the rest are based on anecdotal evidence from various design folks that I trust to varying degrees and parts similarities.

At that price range.. Berkely Audio Alpha DAC if you need hi rez (~5k)... I haven't heard it myself, but it has a strong pedigree. If you don't and don't mind vintage dacs then Spectral SDR-2000 Pro and Sonic Frontiers Processor 3 (These are probably stronger in redbook and about ~2.4-3k). Also.. some of the older Mark Levinson stuff is good too and also in that rough price range or a bit more. Some of the Nelson Pass D1s seem decent as well... All of these dacs to my experience sound better than anything from Esoteric or what I've heard from EMM Labs (Only the SE stack).

Talked with Jeff of Glass Jar he said he had received payments for Team Canada (Looser101), luvdunhill, Team Jacob, Team Spain and has shipped the shipments.

I think the only owner here is Elephas. I have pretty extensive experience with Esoteric though I haven't heard that particular one... I own the D-3 (Old dac), D70, UX-1 and have heard the DV50s/DV60/P-03D-03 combo. While I like the house sound it tends to be on what people see as "clinical" and is a little bit over smooth. It does have a nice wide soundstage and is fairly clear and detailed. It is not the best bang for the buck, but that really depends on what your requirements are... digital input/hirez/etc etc.

My bad.. in that post "you" meant Luvdunhill.

Okay luvdunhill heard from everybody.. looks like we want 12 transformers (6 pairs). I still have you listed as wanting a pair of sowters, but I figure that's under your own control. That's it then. Also just checking in.. anyone still in flux with Glass Jar Audio or is everyone all paid up?

Okay sounds good. Just j4cbo then!

Okay so pending on PICAudio and then it's just J4cbo ;p

No worries. Good luck with the bleeding :/

True this is for the input transformers which is for the single ended/balanced and vice versa business. You guys previously has expressed interest in sowters, but those may or may not be off the table currently (Pending verification from luvdunhill). Cinemags are ~37 bucks each and you need 2.

Okay cool sounds good. Then all that's left is for Nate and the rest of my group to come to a decision (Morphsci/j4cbo) I think Pfkman has decided to go none.

Haven't verified with Luvdunhill yet... but I believe input transformers do need to be locked down today. I'm not sure what the latest situation is.. I heard something like sowters might be on hold for awhile, but I heard Cinemags are moving forward very soon since the diyaudio community is involved on that one. I'm sure luvdunhill will clarify, but if you have yet to confirm an option please do so now. Check the spreadsheet as I know some of you had expressed interest with Sowter but that was prior to cinemag being an option. Like right now I have nothing down for Team Spain.

Chrome is built on webkit too... but sounds like you are on mac so you can't use it lulz.

Yeah that's kind of my attitude too.. why else would two transports sound different? And I feel as if I have heard clear differences before.