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| CD Players, Digital Music & Servers Aurender, dCs, Esoteric, Lumin. |
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#1
03-29-2012, 04:18 PM
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Eastern Electric DAC plus ShOcKiNg discovery...
I tube rolled my Eastern Electric DAC tube with a PSvane 12au7 a few months ago. The PSVane sounded so much nicer than the stock tube right out of the gate. About a month ago I purchased a turntable and was very happy with this new addition to my audio family. I started to really notice a difference between my TT and my digital music. I could clearly hear that the TT had a wider frequency range, better highs and better lows. I started to prefer the TT sound much more than my digital sound. After reading a few threads stating that a good digital setup could sound close if not the same as a TT setup, started to make me think something was not right with my digital setup.
 I remember reading many threads on trying the EE DAC in both tube and solid state mode, I tried pushing the button on the unit that switches between SS and Tube and I honestly could not hear a difference. Then I remember reading about a tweak that said to take the tube right out of the unit and then run the DAC in SS mode. Thinking about my setup I thought I would be taking the tube out of the DAC, but I would still have the McIntosh C2300 preamp taking care of all those wonderful tube qualities, hmmmm.  I took the tube out today and I am truly FREAKING OUT!!!! I feel like I purchased a brand new DAC. I can't believe the difference, I can hear the same full frequencies I felt like I was missing in comparison to my TT. The highs are sweeter, the bass is tighter....I'm shocked!!!!!!! I guess having the tube on the DAC going into my tube preamp combination was just not working. This doesn't mean the PSvane tube roll on the DAC isn't good, I'm sure it's great in a different configuration. It truly is a happy day for me, I was ready to start investigating a different source for my system. Now I can just sit back, relax, and enjoy my digital collection. 
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Steve Audio Room:MC1000 Mono-Blocks, C2300 w Gold Lions, Eastern Electric DAC Plus, Magnepan 1.7,SVS SB13Plus sub, Squeezebox Touch,Rega RP1 performance,iPad2, SurgeX XS10 Portable Rig: Audeze LCD2 w custom cable, Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo, Ray Samuels SR71-B Balanced Amp, ALO Audio cables, 160GB iPod, 
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#3
03-29-2012, 10:02 PM
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You should look into the Bolder Cables mods to the EE DAC - I bet you would be even more pleased!
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McIntosh MC501s, XRT29s, XR27, WS350s ModWright LS 300 Preamplifier Denon AVR-A100 HT Receiver JL Audio F113 subs with CR-1 Crossover Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC (Analog 2 + Unison USB) Sonore Ultrarendu with Uptone Audio LPS-1.2 Uptone Audio EtherREGEN network switch with LPS-1.2 Oppo UDP-205 with ModWright Signature Truth Tube Modifications Clearaudio Performance SE TT with Hana ML MC cartridge ModWright PH 9.0x Phono Stage ASC & RealTraps Panels; APS PurePower 2000; Daedalus Audio DiDs LAT International, Shunyata, Wireworld, WyWires Cables
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#4
03-29-2012, 11:58 PM
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I found the biggest improvement in my MiniMax DAC was op-amp rolling. Tube rolling was great also, but if you find the best combo of op-amps, it's pretty much heaven. I also use the same upgraded fuse that Bolder uses in their mods.
I haven't tried the tube removal mod yet. I really, really like the tube output so much that I haven't really listened to the SS side. I'll have to try it I guess... Last edited by mraudio; 03-30-2012 at 12:01 AM.
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#5
03-30-2012, 01:28 AM
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Quote:
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Steve Audio Room:MC1000 Mono-Blocks, C2300 w Gold Lions, Eastern Electric DAC Plus, Magnepan 1.7,SVS SB13Plus sub, Squeezebox Touch,Rega RP1 performance,iPad2, SurgeX XS10 Portable Rig: Audeze LCD2 w custom cable, Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo, Ray Samuels SR71-B Balanced Amp, ALO Audio cables, 160GB iPod,
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#6
03-30-2012, 01:32 AM
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I am sitting here listening to my DAC in SS mode and once again i must say I truly can not believe the difference I am hearing. It is truly blowing my mind.
Just when you thought it sounded the best it could sound POW!!!!!! Right in the kisser. I love this hobby.
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Steve Audio Room:MC1000 Mono-Blocks, C2300 w Gold Lions, Eastern Electric DAC Plus, Magnepan 1.7,SVS SB13Plus sub, Squeezebox Touch,Rega RP1 performance,iPad2, SurgeX XS10 Portable Rig: Audeze LCD2 w custom cable, Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo, Ray Samuels SR71-B Balanced Amp, ALO Audio cables, 160GB iPod,
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#7
03-30-2012, 11:11 AM
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Quote:
Here's the article I used for my original MiniMax DAC: Audio Blast: Eastern Electric Minimax DAC Opamp Rolling - The Columns - Dagogo Here is some info for the PLUS version: AudiogoN Forums: Listing of Opamps for EE Minimax DAC Plus
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#8
03-30-2012, 12:16 PM
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Quote:
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Steve Audio Room:MC1000 Mono-Blocks, C2300 w Gold Lions, Eastern Electric DAC Plus, Magnepan 1.7,SVS SB13Plus sub, Squeezebox Touch,Rega RP1 performance,iPad2, SurgeX XS10 Portable Rig: Audeze LCD2 w custom cable, Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo, Ray Samuels SR71-B Balanced Amp, ALO Audio cables, 160GB iPod,
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#10
03-31-2012, 02:32 PM
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Now I'm totally confused on which op-amps to go with.
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Steve Audio Room:MC1000 Mono-Blocks, C2300 w Gold Lions, Eastern Electric DAC Plus, Magnepan 1.7,SVS SB13Plus sub, Squeezebox Touch,Rega RP1 performance,iPad2, SurgeX XS10 Portable Rig: Audeze LCD2 w custom cable, Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo, Ray Samuels SR71-B Balanced Amp, ALO Audio cables, 160GB iPod,
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