laviefacile
Dutch HiFi enthusiast
True, XD = OT XD ... Now enjoying
MDAC first listen (part XXIV)
- Thread starter JemHayward
- Start date
- Status
Richard Kimber
pfm Member
misterdog
Not the canine kind
laviefacile
Dutch HiFi enthusiast
Hey thanks for bringing it to my attention. Just changed it
signatures can be changed by using the 'quick links' and then 'edit details'. Off you go!I just got a message that my MDAC is on its way back to me with the latest upgrade plus Toy upgrade. I will write a review as soon as I have had a proper listen.
Thanks you John for repairing the "butchered" unit (information earlier in the discussion). I guess there was really a lot of eftra work with it.
Thanks you John for repairing the "butchered" unit (information earlier in the discussion). I guess there was really a lot of eftra work with it.
JohnW
pfm member
I noted that your unit was set to DAC Mode - you really should use it directly with the power-amp (No Pre-Amplifier) as the Pre-Amp will just reduce the TOY MDAC's performance.
BTW - I'm VERY VERY happy that with your TOY MDAC's SQ - in fact Renata even commented in bed "Shame we had to ship Joke's MDAC - I'm going to miss it!!!" - Well thats fine "Bed talk" indeed...
But it was indeed stunning SQ - So we hope you like it!Once you reload your A10 software all your old setting should be retained... (Hopefully).
JohnW
pfm member
Even if they did it takes me about 2 days a unit (if all goes well)!
JohnW
pfm member
Yes HiFiCollective have the best prices I could find + I arranged a 10% discount for Toy upgrade kit & 15% for the Fusion upgrade kit for fellow PFM'ers
I've looked into the direct prciing and Nicks not making much on the deal...
PhilCTTE
Senior mumbler
Hi John, did you get my email , regards av by pass and balanced headphone query?
I can sympathize with your work hours at the moment, doing 12/13 hours myself :-/
Unfortunately not from home.
Paid hifi collective by PayPal who took the money straight away, so bit of a cock up there. Still looking forward to some lazy summer days with a g&t in hand ,listening to the MDac later in July.
I can sympathize with your work hours at the moment, doing 12/13 hours myself :-/
Unfortunately not from home.
Paid hifi collective by PayPal who took the money straight away, so bit of a cock up there. Still looking forward to some lazy summer days with a g&t in hand ,listening to the MDac later in July.
JohnW
pfm member
Information gleaned by microscopic examination of Bulk Foil 220R resistor sold by Charcroft and Texas Components Corporation.
Mask ID’s :-
VIL 1989 1792 (Charcroft)
VIL 1986 1563 (Texas T2575 series)
At a best guess, I’d say that Vishay Israel manufactured the Bulk foil resistor “Blanks” originally at there Dimona plant which since 1996 has been extended to Be'er Sheva.
There are two (or maybe more)? Companies (Texas Components Corporation & Charcroft) who appear to purchase these “Resistor blanks” from VIL (Vishay IsraeL) Laser trim them (they are supplied in untrimmed resistor ranges) & then “package” them.
From the samples I have, the Charcroft and Texas appear to use a different series or atleast differing foil Mask sets “1792” & “1563” as there’s 3 years between the manufactured date – maybe the Charcroft “1792” is just a later improved version.
I have no idea if they sound the same… I suspect they should be close as they are both manufactured on the same process at VIL.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86116171/Charcroft VIL 1989.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86116171/Charcroft VIL 1989 1792.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86116171/Texas VIL 1986 1563.JPG
Thank you!I noted that your unit was set to DAC Mode - you really should use it directly with the power-amp (No Pre-Amplifier) as the Pre-Amp will just reduce the TOY MDAC's performance.
BTW - I'm VERY VERY happy that with your TOY MDAC's SQ - in fact Renata even commented in bed "Shame we had to ship Joke's MDAC - I'm going to miss it!!!" - Well thats fine "Bed talk" indeed...
Once you reload your A10 software all your old setting should be retained... (Hopefully).
Is the first thing which you told also valid with an integrated amplifier? I have a Lavardin IS amplifier, and it has only one input that is direct (a modification made in the Lavardin factory), and that one is reserved to drive the main channels from my home theatre amp. Or should I consider buying a power amp? (Recommendations in this case?) Or is it (speaking about sound quality) ok to use the normal inputs of my amp with the pre-amp adjustment in the MDAC?
I am glad to hear that both you and Renata were happy with the sound quality of the unit. Really promising news!
JohnW
pfm member
What you really should try and find is a Power amplfier with Balanced inputs
You could try your Lavardin on its AV inputs with the MDAC in Pre-amplifier mode - it depends how Lavardin have wired the AV inputs (if they are truly direct, or still passages the Pre-amplifier stage but with the gain set to Max)...
Still - Balanced input is the way to go...
With regard to your integrated amp I think you may be able to configure it for the best of both worlds...assuming I've not misunderstood you
If by 'Direct' you mean that you have a 'Pass Through' input (which you are using from your AV amp), you could reserve that for the MDAC and use its pre amp capabilities via that channel.
That will obviously cause you issues with your AV setup...However most AV amps will have a 'Line out' from the decoder for all channels, so connect the L&R from there to one of the standard inputs in your amp, then just balance the AV channels at around 12 O'clock on your amp...
Hope that makes sense, it's similar to my setup (functionally), except I don't have a direct/pass-through input on my pre amp, so I've had to use an RCA router to switch between my MDAC and Analogue Pre into my power amps (not really an option with an integrated amp though)
there is still a few ways to exceed the performance fusioned l2 mdac offersBDAC's on hold - after Munich we agreed to change course with Mike Creek - we submitted the PCB schematic for a budget DAC for Creeks in house designer to layout - we will "technically" support the design of this DAC and Dominic will write the software - but its not going to be what the BDAC was intended to be.
Due to production costs - Creeks BDAC version would need to retail closer to GBP1000 - the same price as the MDAC + L2 upgrade, and the BDAC using a pair of the ESS9023 is never going to compete in SQ terms.
In fact Dominik and I where really disappointed listening to the ESS9023's (on a demo board) we trusted too much in others opinion of the ESS9023 performance - really they are "Cxxp" - it was all very depressing especially after spending almost a year on the design...
I developed a lot of new circuits during the design of the BDAC so later down the road Ill redesign the BDAC with a pair of high-end ESS DACs, so it will be an even better DAC
This whole MDAC modification experience has highlighted a different direction for me. I feel that no design can compete with the SQ of the Fusioned MDAC without the use of the Bulk Film resistors so basically I lost a year of my life finding out this lesson with the BDAC
-support higher sampling rates via usb(such as 384 kS/s)
-add more filter options
-using more dac chips to bring the noise down and/or avoid the left channel clock locking bug(was it left channel?).
-use a better dac chip, but i guess it doesn't exist any atm.
the price of mdac+l2+fusion is pretty high, maybe it's possible to get that performance at a lower price.
JohnW
pfm member
A significant expense is the cost Bull Foil resistors - without these, NO DAC will have have that special virtue the Fusion MDAC offers - well I've never heard one anyway!
Consider the total Fusion "Upgrade" package costs GBP1300, or about 1200 if bought new... No DAC at this price point comes even close IMO...
I don't see 384Fs important at this time - but a pair of dual 9018 is worthwhile..
I might offer at a later date a Dual 9018 upgrade PCB for the MDAC...
...ah good point John, I was assuming 'Pass Through', or bypassing the pre stage.
I tried to get a mod like this made to my 8000Q pre amp, my my electronics man stated that it would be rather difficult and messy, and advised a good quality external RCA router...which works very well
JohnW
pfm member
...ah good point John, I was assuming 'Pass Through', or bypassing the pre stage.
I tried to get a mod like this made to my 8000Q pre amp, my my electronics man stated that it would be rather difficult and messy, and advised a good quality external RCA router...which works very well
You should have had the AV bypass option added to your DAC
You could have routed your 8000Q for analogue sources via the AV input...
fusion5
on the dark side of hifi...
You should have had the AV bypass option added to your DAC
I thought about that but then it will be obsolete when the MPAX arrives...
Is the signal converted to a balanced signal?
You should have had the AV bypass option added to your DAC
I considered it John, but as I already have a good quality router I decided not to bother...particularly as it needs a power off and on to activate it, which would drop my SBTouch's USB connection etc.
The router works fine for me, allows me to keep the MDAC on all the time, use it as a pre amp, and have my AV/Analogue functionality...
I use this one;
http://www.homehifi.co.uk/products/7240.html
...and it'll do until the MPAX comes alond
JohnW
pfm member
Not really true balanced - but will work on the XLR outputs, just a -6dB gain reduction... (XLR- connected to RCA Ground).
- Status