The John Westlake/Lakewest MDAC/FDAC, VFET and Detox

[misterdog]

Beyond the difference in the native filters and the (now largely solved) ESS IMD hump, I don't know what difference it really makes whether one uses a top of the range ESS or AKM chip.

The AKM chip exhibits a very mild 'hump'. (See -18dB on image below)

It is also comprises two chips one for the digital side and one for the analogue. So probably not the straight swop with ESS that some might imagine, and far more expensive.

The AKM chip (s) have been available for some time now, despite the old factory burning down and being rebuilt, so some manufacturers can make progress. Obviously JW was not in charge of that project.
There are numerous DACs using the new AKM chip(s).

Topping make a pair of DACs, one with ESS and one with AKM so you can compare and contrast.
£ 280 for the ESS and £ 361 for the AKM version, buy both they are as good as it gets IMO,I doubt JW can improve on this other than including some added functionality that probably few need.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-e70-stereo-dac-review.39188/

https://hifigo.com/products/topping-e70?variant=43527230849263
Taxes and delivery included ! around 7 day delivery.

 

[nostromo]

,despite the old factory burning down and being rebuilt, so some manufacturers can make progress. Obviously JW was not in charge of that project.

Haha...like it .

 

[Alex S]

Maybe John burned it down to buy some more time.

 

[Achim]

Topping make a pair of DACs, one with ESS and one with AKM so you can compare and contrast.
£ 280 for the ESS and £ 361 for the AKM version, buy both they are as good as it gets IMO,I doubt JW can improve on this other than including some added functionality that probably few need.

https://hifigo.com/products/topping-e70?variant=43527230849263
Taxes and delivery included ! around 7 day delivery.

I once imagined the same as you seem to. I ordered them, only to find that apart from all the technical prowess the sound was nervous and not at all refined, as in "highend".

Maybe due to the switching power supply, maybe due to the whole bargain package.

It's not that easy to build a good DAC, methinks.

 

[sq225917]

Funny those topping dacs have thd+noise that best almost everything

 

[matt j]

I love my Topping, must admit though I've not heard it sounding nervous.

 

[Alex S]

Toppings are like dogs. If you’re relaxed they will be too.

 

[brab]

The argument I've heard is that Topping, SMSL, et al use lots of negative feedback to achieve their specs, at the cost of SQ. Any evidence for that, and to keep this discussion remotely related to the thread topic, does the MDAC use much feedback?

 

[misterdog]

It's feedback from the FDAC we need, though it could be sometime.

 

[sq225917]

Any piece of hifi with sota thd+noise uses lots of feedback. You can't get much past -80 db without it

 

[Tigerjones]

I love my Topping, must admit though I've not heard it sounding nervous.

Have you thought about talking to it in a threatening manner?

 

[matt j]

Have you thought about talking to it in a threatening manner?

I could try worrying it with threat of a Westlake upgrade and see how it reacts?

 

[Hazelberry]

I could try worrying it with threat of a Westlake upgrade and see how it reacts?

I’d be worried it’d laugh itself to pieces.

 

[LarsS]

Still waiting for my Detox, no I’m not, just kidding!
Hate to see this thread die a slow death considering all. ”Only” lost some 300GBP since I managed to sell my FDAC investment.

May I remind 90% of you all that you bashed my proposal on PM this venture, hindering JohnW’s creativity was the main objective not having a PM. See where we are now, think I got support from a couple of investors.

Anyway, keeping the thread alive for some time.

/The PM that never got hired (for free)

 

[PhilCTTE]

Still waiting for my Detox, no I’m not, just kidding!
Hate to see this thread die a slow death considering all. ”Only” lost some 300GBP since I managed to sell my FDAC investment.

May I remind 90% of you all that you bashed my proposal on PM this venture, hindering JohnW’s creativity was the main objective not having a PM. See where we are now, think I got support from a couple of investors.

Anyway, keeping the thread alive for some time.

/The PM that never got hired (for free)

Yes I recall that PM suggestion would have been interesting to see what would have happened . I'm not sure whether John would have adhered to it anyway.
Are you free now , can we have a PM please ?
Not sure what I will do about my financial position if we get to the end of the year without a DAC.

 

[nostromo]

[

Jarek was a key member of this project, John could have just off loaded all this complex software development to him. It seems without someone like Jarek on this project who is able to debug, test and improve this software, the project may never be completed. I guess John doesn't have the resources to hire anyone either.

I was looking for Jarek's name to include in a post just now and came up with the post quoted above.... I was planning to write something like that... Apparently I already did a while ago!

I think without software support there is no way JW can finish this DAC off. Software design, debugging and testing is a skill JW simply doesn't have.... Let's pray I'm very wrong.

I would suggest he move onto the Vfets now.

 

[Spike]

Forget it. It’s gone.

 

[Spike]

I always said I’d wait until my retirement. Well I’ve retired. Nearly time to put it to bed and forget it.

 

[Rosewind]

I will only forget after I am dead. Until then I will always bear a grudge. John W owes not only me but the rest of you.

I lost £3000 on the John Westlake Lakewest MDAC2 / VFET / Detox venture.

I wish an investment specialist had been at hand to reveal that John W and his projects "wore no clothes".

 

[Rosewind]

If I had the £3000 back, I would buy ...
something special ...

a 12" tonearm
a B&O Beogram 1700 or 1202 for the livingroom
a Leak Stereo 20 for the livingroom
a Denon AU 340
a set of Tannoy Eaton speakers or QUAD ESL 63 for the livingroom