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Ok Folks, here it is.... My own personal
favorites!
favorites!
DACs
The Musiland US Monitor 1
Forget the other derivatives of this DAC because the lower priced Monitor 1 is the one to get. Once you go through the funky install, this is the one and only asynchronous
DAC that sells for less than $3000.00 For about $100, you get a DAC that fixes most of the jitter buffering problems in USB. The only thing lacking is a competent
conversion process that you would have to pay much more for. Internet radio, breath taking, high definition playback, riveting. It makes perfect sense to listen to the
Monitor with a great pair of headphones like the AKG 701s , Dennons or Grados. For road warriors, it’s the only way to enjoy high def on the road. Still, with the Monitor’s
optical output, having the Monitor manage the USB connection and taking the optical to your favorite DAC stills sounds better than most of the USB DACs out there. C’mon
iTunes crowd, get on board!
Forget the other derivatives of this DAC because the lower priced Monitor 1 is the one to get. Once you go through the funky install, this is the one and only asynchronous
DAC that sells for less than $3000.00 For about $100, you get a DAC that fixes most of the jitter buffering problems in USB. The only thing lacking is a competent
conversion process that you would have to pay much more for. Internet radio, breath taking, high definition playback, riveting. It makes perfect sense to listen to the
Monitor with a great pair of headphones like the AKG 701s , Dennons or Grados. For road warriors, it’s the only way to enjoy high def on the road. Still, with the Monitor’s
optical output, having the Monitor manage the USB connection and taking the optical to your favorite DAC stills sounds better than most of the USB DACs out there. C’mon
iTunes crowd, get on board!
If you have never heard a NOS DAC, hear this one. Its smooth as silk and the transients are to die for. This is what the vinyl junkies love about a NOS DAC and why they
say it sounds like vinyl – it’s the transients and the smooth tonal balance. However, they miss, and all NOS DACs do this, on resolution – where they do not extract the last
bit of detail from disks. Nonetheless, for overall smoothness and removal of the “digital sound”, ya’ just can’t beat it.
The Musiland MD 10 Modified
Deep bass and surprisingly startling presentation. Combined with the CyberServer, me thinks its some of the best sound around. While it does not give you that sense of
“inner space” between instruments like the Brigatta does, it decodes up to 192K. And 192K DACs that sound “un digital”, ladies and gents, is very very hard to come by.
So I listen to the MD 10 modified most of the time, where I can enjoy my latest 192K discs and still span down to 44.1. That’s not the reason to buy it though, as it sounds
nothing like the MD-10. Its tonally neutral through out the range, dead quiet, dynamic. How can a DAC at this price sound this good.
Deep bass and surprisingly startling presentation. Combined with the CyberServer, me thinks its some of the best sound around. While it does not give you that sense of
“inner space” between instruments like the Brigatta does, it decodes up to 192K. And 192K DACs that sound “un digital”, ladies and gents, is very very hard to come by.
So I listen to the MD 10 modified most of the time, where I can enjoy my latest 192K discs and still span down to 44.1. That’s not the reason to buy it though, as it sounds
nothing like the MD-10. Its tonally neutral through out the range, dead quiet, dynamic. How can a DAC at this price sound this good.
The Teradak Chameleon
As Teradak gets closer and closer to a reference NOS DAC, we have with the Chameleon, a very reasonable stop along the way. In our pursuit of great DACs, we are
looking for the dynamics, bling bling and articulation of vinyl, without a smushy soundstage. The Chameleon comes close to this as it has some of the resolution
capabilities of the Musiland Modified, although it falls short on complex passages and what we use for the digital audio test tone, the piano. But, what a fun listenable DAC
we have here – and most of your average catalog Class “B” or whatever DACs cannot touch it.
As Teradak gets closer and closer to a reference NOS DAC, we have with the Chameleon, a very reasonable stop along the way. In our pursuit of great DACs, we are
looking for the dynamics, bling bling and articulation of vinyl, without a smushy soundstage. The Chameleon comes close to this as it has some of the resolution
capabilities of the Musiland Modified, although it falls short on complex passages and what we use for the digital audio test tone, the piano. But, what a fun listenable DAC
we have here – and most of your average catalog Class “B” or whatever DACs cannot touch it.
The Brigatta
The winner and still champion. While not as bold as the Audio gd, it is a resolving champ. Folks that have Maggies or Quads will really just love this DAC as it does
something with speed on the panels that give it an erie life like quality. Vocals and images are laid back and smooth – where it relaxes singers and musicians in the
background and places you squarely in the concert hall. Its worth hearing, if not for its presentation, for its uncanny ability to sound warm and ‘just right”. Good to 96K.
The winner and still champion. While not as bold as the Audio gd, it is a resolving champ. Folks that have Maggies or Quads will really just love this DAC as it does
something with speed on the panels that give it an erie life like quality. Vocals and images are laid back and smooth – where it relaxes singers and musicians in the
background and places you squarely in the concert hall. Its worth hearing, if not for its presentation, for its uncanny ability to sound warm and ‘just right”. Good to 96K.
Preamps
The Ming Da MC 2A3 X8
The sound is so seductive, that the minute you hear it, you will know that something special is going on. It plays the midrange just right – its not too soft or too warm, but
like a 007 martini, it mixes the two just right. While it is shy on the bass side, the over all presentation deserves accolades as the 2A3 and EL34 tubes take care of the
power supply and the 6SN7s and 6922s work to paint the sound stage with no nasal vocals, correct instrument timbre, a wide open high end and an adequate low end. A
best seller now in its third year.
The sound is so seductive, that the minute you hear it, you will know that something special is going on. It plays the midrange just right – its not too soft or too warm, but
like a 007 martini, it mixes the two just right. While it is shy on the bass side, the over all presentation deserves accolades as the 2A3 and EL34 tubes take care of the
power supply and the 6SN7s and 6922s work to paint the sound stage with no nasal vocals, correct instrument timbre, a wide open high end and an adequate low end. A
best seller now in its third year.
The Doge 8
Incredibly detailed, quite and precise. It really wants to be the marriage between the Audio Research SP-10 and SP-15 where warmth is toned down a bit and musical
presentation becomes stellar. Member of the “mega tube” brigade, the 8 tube Doge 8 is fussy as can be and mercurial with tube selection. Don’t think that because you
spent a lot of money on these tubes, that they are going to sound good. I use vintage Tung Sols (not the re-issue) and RCA 12AT7s. We can supply you with Mullards and
the JAN 12AT7s which do a very decent job. To get a real work view, send a message to the Audiogon board for tube recommendations.
Incredibly detailed, quite and precise. It really wants to be the marriage between the Audio Research SP-10 and SP-15 where warmth is toned down a bit and musical
presentation becomes stellar. Member of the “mega tube” brigade, the 8 tube Doge 8 is fussy as can be and mercurial with tube selection. Don’t think that because you
spent a lot of money on these tubes, that they are going to sound good. I use vintage Tung Sols (not the re-issue) and RCA 12AT7s. We can supply you with Mullards and
the JAN 12AT7s which do a very decent job. To get a real work view, send a message to the Audiogon board for tube recommendations.
The Ming Da 7R
Warm and inviting – this is a classic (ARC SP-3) type of sound. It fattens the bottom bass, warms the mids and rolls off the highs. It makes any solid state amp sound
good. An incredible value for the money, the 7R, now in its 8th year of production, will surprise you with its musical abilities. A long time favorite, how can I leave it off my
list?
Warm and inviting – this is a classic (ARC SP-3) type of sound. It fattens the bottom bass, warms the mids and rolls off the highs. It makes any solid state amp sound
good. An incredible value for the money, the 7R, now in its 8th year of production, will surprise you with its musical abilities. A long time favorite, how can I leave it off my
list?
Amplifiers
The Ming Da MC34AB
Select Triode / Power Amplifier mode on this and this is one sweetie of an amp. Use it in Ultra-linear / Power Amp mode and it powers hard to drive speakers with ease.
But, be sure, the magic is in triode mode and although it cuts the power in half, you would not know it. I have it completely re-tubed with EH 6CA7 tubes and it is quite a gem.
Well reviewed by Positive Feedback and sells here at Pacific Valve with ease.
Select Triode / Power Amplifier mode on this and this is one sweetie of an amp. Use it in Ultra-linear / Power Amp mode and it powers hard to drive speakers with ease.
But, be sure, the magic is in triode mode and although it cuts the power in half, you would not know it. I have it completely re-tubed with EH 6CA7 tubes and it is quite a gem.
Well reviewed by Positive Feedback and sells here at Pacific Valve with ease.
The Ming Da MC 3008A
It so cool. You can get SET Class A sound at 40 watts. What a dream. As a matter of fact, once you hear it – you just can’t listen to anything else. Try getting a Cetron or USA
805 tube. Then go for some other NOS preamp tubes. The 300B sound is more precise and straight forward. The 2A3 was a little too musical for my taste. This amps ability
to extract detail from the source and present it in such a way as to be so polite is truly engaging. With this amp you just want to listen and tap your toe.
It so cool. You can get SET Class A sound at 40 watts. What a dream. As a matter of fact, once you hear it – you just can’t listen to anything else. Try getting a Cetron or USA
805 tube. Then go for some other NOS preamp tubes. The 300B sound is more precise and straight forward. The 2A3 was a little too musical for my taste. This amps ability
to extract detail from the source and present it in such a way as to be so polite is truly engaging. With this amp you just want to listen and tap your toe.
The Classic 16.0 and 16.2
Both of these amps have the same top loading chassis and transformers and you can literally hang them on a wall. The Classic brand goes overboard in quality and you
can see that in its features and transformers that just have the look and feel of quality. The 16.2 is really just a great integrated amp. I use it with my Horne Shoppe system
with a Doge 6 CD player. I have it stocked with Shuguang Mesh plates, Sovtek 300B and some Western Electrics. On both of these amps, the selection of output tubes
makes a big, big difference. For 300B sound, you are just not going to find a more precise and cohesive amp. The 16.0 is a Marantz design stuck in triode mode with a
sound that places instruments in the sound stage. It can drive Quads, yet is also delicate enough that it can also drive the Horne Shoppes.
Both of these amps have the same top loading chassis and transformers and you can literally hang them on a wall. The Classic brand goes overboard in quality and you
can see that in its features and transformers that just have the look and feel of quality. The 16.2 is really just a great integrated amp. I use it with my Horne Shoppe system
with a Doge 6 CD player. I have it stocked with Shuguang Mesh plates, Sovtek 300B and some Western Electrics. On both of these amps, the selection of output tubes
makes a big, big difference. For 300B sound, you are just not going to find a more precise and cohesive amp. The 16.0 is a Marantz design stuck in triode mode with a
sound that places instruments in the sound stage. It can drive Quads, yet is also delicate enough that it can also drive the Horne Shoppes.
The Bada DC-222
I just cannot compare this to anything in is price range, so do not ask me to. Fitted with 6189 tubes (GEs or Sylvanias) , this little gem is capable of some startling music that
folks who spend money at this price range will ever encounter. The resolving power is among the best and it brings a sense of tube warmth into the picture. The Bada DC-
222 opens up speakers and lets the midrange “speak” with air. I just get goose bumps when equipment lifts up the veil and lets me “peer” into the music. Like all Bada
hybrids, it marries a preamp with its own power supply and transformer with a tube preamp and an amplifier’s power supply with quality solid state outputs.
I just cannot compare this to anything in is price range, so do not ask me to. Fitted with 6189 tubes (GEs or Sylvanias) , this little gem is capable of some startling music that
folks who spend money at this price range will ever encounter. The resolving power is among the best and it brings a sense of tube warmth into the picture. The Bada DC-
222 opens up speakers and lets the midrange “speak” with air. I just get goose bumps when equipment lifts up the veil and lets me “peer” into the music. Like all Bada
hybrids, it marries a preamp with its own power supply and transformer with a tube preamp and an amplifier’s power supply with quality solid state outputs.
CD Players / Media Players
The Pacific Valve CyberServer
We are just so happy, and while we are not sure who thought of it first, kudos to the folks that are copying our idea that a direct solid state drive and a Linux OS is really the
best music server out there. As of this writing, a lot of the high end manufacturers are catching on to this by using the Linux/Unix socket drivers coupled with a solid state
drive. It is so low in jitter, than once and for all, you will be hearing your DAC for the first time. For some reason, the diminutive Musiland MD-10 modified rocks your world
about what digital really could be when it is mated with our Netgear product. P.S: Folks email all the time with “I just bought a SSD and I cannot get it to work with the Netgear
EVA 9150 I just bought.” That is right kiddos, we have the right firmware, magic and solid state drives that make the system work. Hence our price tag.
We are just so happy, and while we are not sure who thought of it first, kudos to the folks that are copying our idea that a direct solid state drive and a Linux OS is really the
best music server out there. As of this writing, a lot of the high end manufacturers are catching on to this by using the Linux/Unix socket drivers coupled with a solid state
drive. It is so low in jitter, than once and for all, you will be hearing your DAC for the first time. For some reason, the diminutive Musiland MD-10 modified rocks your world
about what digital really could be when it is mated with our Netgear product. P.S: Folks email all the time with “I just bought a SSD and I cannot get it to work with the Netgear
EVA 9150 I just bought.” That is right kiddos, we have the right firmware, magic and solid state drives that make the system work. Hence our price tag.
The Doge 6
Spooky images jump to the right and left of the speaker while the singer’s chair can be heard squeaking in the background. While choosing the six tubes is imperative, the
Doge 6 is capable of some of the best disc retrieval out there. The midrange is warm, yet detailed and never digital. Its so warm and musical and so just so much fun to
listen to. There are plenty of reviews and raves out on the web, so google and be my guest. The secret is in the digital filtering done by tubes. After conversion, its 12AT7s
all the way to 12AX7s and to your ears.
Spooky images jump to the right and left of the speaker while the singer’s chair can be heard squeaking in the background. While choosing the six tubes is imperative, the
Doge 6 is capable of some of the best disc retrieval out there. The midrange is warm, yet detailed and never digital. Its so warm and musical and so just so much fun to
listen to. There are plenty of reviews and raves out on the web, so google and be my guest. The secret is in the digital filtering done by tubes. After conversion, its 12AT7s
all the way to 12AX7s and to your ears.
The Shenda Music Van
Almost identical in musicality to the Doge 6, the Music Van is just as bit as good except that it does not have the same resolution or detail. What it does make up for though, is
the frequency extremes where the Music Van is more dynamic and better at the bottom and better at the top. Query Stereo Mojo for the review.
Almost identical in musicality to the Doge 6, the Music Van is just as bit as good except that it does not have the same resolution or detail. What it does make up for though, is
the frequency extremes where the Music Van is more dynamic and better at the bottom and better at the top. Query Stereo Mojo for the review.
The Decware CD Player
Tubes stick out of the back, well it is modded. This CD player is an imaging champ and throws smooth images to the center sound stage. It has a lot of guts, and pours
dynamics and vocal subtleties into your room with a sense of uncanny realism. Look for energy and spunk. Not like a weightlifter, more like a gymnast as it can muscle up
when it needs to and then all of a sudden, switch gears and be delicate and downright charming. Over all, very high end and lots of fun.
Tubes stick out of the back, well it is modded. This CD player is an imaging champ and throws smooth images to the center sound stage. It has a lot of guts, and pours
dynamics and vocal subtleties into your room with a sense of uncanny realism. Look for energy and spunk. Not like a weightlifter, more like a gymnast as it can muscle up
when it needs to and then all of a sudden, switch gears and be delicate and downright charming. Over all, very high end and lots of fun.
Headphone Amps
The Ming Da MC 84C07
This is our favorite all around performer. Maybe it’s the 6E2 tube, maybe it’s the EL84 (which I replaced). The Ming Da is not fussy about the phones it drives or the music input. It
will startle you with a deep and involving presentation and a sense of musical warmth. It so right on in the midrange, bass and treble it is downright scary. I used the Ming Da with
my AKGs, Dennons and Grados.
This is our favorite all around performer. Maybe it’s the 6E2 tube, maybe it’s the EL84 (which I replaced). The Ming Da is not fussy about the phones it drives or the music input. It
will startle you with a deep and involving presentation and a sense of musical warmth. It so right on in the midrange, bass and treble it is downright scary. I used the Ming Da with
my AKGs, Dennons and Grados.
The Vanguard CD Transport
If you are unsure as to whether or not transports make a difference, then this little gem will change your mind. The Vanguard as does the CyberServer are such low jitter gems
that you will finally be hearing your DAC for the first time. So to answer the question, "Should I get a DAC or get a better transport" then this will answer your question. If you
couple this transport with the Musiland MD-10 modified or the DAC 19 MK III B, then you will have quite the CD playback system.
If you are unsure as to whether or not transports make a difference, then this little gem will change your mind. The Vanguard as does the CyberServer are such low jitter gems
that you will finally be hearing your DAC for the first time. So to answer the question, "Should I get a DAC or get a better transport" then this will answer your question. If you
couple this transport with the Musiland MD-10 modified or the DAC 19 MK III B, then you will have quite the CD playback system.
The Audio gd Reference One
While it is not as musical as the Brigatta, where you can hear throat smoke on the singer, the Reference One is my DAC champ. Why? Because it does everything right, so
much so, that on the piano test, not only can you hear the correct initial tone and after tone, you can also precisely hear the after tones of the chords echoing around the
wood in the piano. I have only heard this, BTW, with EAC ripped FLAC files through a CyberServer.
While it is not as musical as the Brigatta, where you can hear throat smoke on the singer, the Reference One is my DAC champ. Why? Because it does everything right, so
much so, that on the piano test, not only can you hear the correct initial tone and after tone, you can also precisely hear the after tones of the chords echoing around the
wood in the piano. I have only heard this, BTW, with EAC ripped FLAC files through a CyberServer.
The YS Audio Symphonies R
There are resolving preamps, musical preamps, musical preamps that resolve and resolving preamps that are musical – phew!. The YS Audio Symphonies R is a
musical preamp that resolves. With the tube upgrade, it is just so much fun because it gets musical timbres right. For the price point, purchasers of this preamp are going
to get a price / performance that is out of this world. I just love listening to this thing and right now it leads the pack in preamps less than 1K.
There are resolving preamps, musical preamps, musical preamps that resolve and resolving preamps that are musical – phew!. The YS Audio Symphonies R is a
musical preamp that resolves. With the tube upgrade, it is just so much fun because it gets musical timbres right. For the price point, purchasers of this preamp are going
to get a price / performance that is out of this world. I just love listening to this thing and right now it leads the pack in preamps less than 1K.
The QLS CyberMini
Ok, putting WAV files on an SD card is a pain in the butt, but, for a couple hundred bucks, you will have a transport that can create such a jitter free sound, that it easily compares
to transports costing 3K. When you purchase the CyberMini, you see what we are talking about that digital music should be played through a quiet, spin-less, motionless device
that is hard wired and NOT wireless into a DAC. WAV files on the CyberMini excel at our piano test and the lower bass registers are properly produced. You will see what we
mean.
Ok, putting WAV files on an SD card is a pain in the butt, but, for a couple hundred bucks, you will have a transport that can create such a jitter free sound, that it easily compares
to transports costing 3K. When you purchase the CyberMini, you see what we are talking about that digital music should be played through a quiet, spin-less, motionless device
that is hard wired and NOT wireless into a DAC. WAV files on the CyberMini excel at our piano test and the lower bass registers are properly produced. You will see what we
mean.
