Dac ?

[Formerly YB-2]

Makes one wonder if the Balanced Pagoda would be worth the additional $$? Have an available set of XLR-in on my preamp.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Makes one wonder if the Balanced Pagoda would be worth the additional $$? Have an available set of XLR-in on my preamp.

There is a lot of reviews and information out there on the Pagoda so I won't repeat or copy in much here. I know someone who has the Havana, Pagoda, and the new Orchid. We spoke at great length and he helped me to narrow it down between the Pagoda and the new Orchid. Different chips, different type of sound. This is sort of what he said, take it all with a grain of salt...results may vary for others and their systems, but he said "Pagoda is little brighter and more detailed with a little more air up top if that's what you need possibly for more laid back gear/speakers". Orchid is a tad more laid back with less air "and a little smoother" compared to the Pagoda but detail still comes through on the new Orchid is kinda how he described it to me. Also, this is consistent with the different chips and separate reviews. I have not heard the Pagoda, but I gather it might be better suited towards less revealing (more laid back) speakers. It's funny, each long term owner I spoke with who loves MHDT has at least 2 flavors and likes both DACs for different reasons. I feel lucky now just to own one of them. Cool things is, each of the units are well known to be sensitive to tube changes and can be further tuned from there...same as some amps we know of

[Formerly YB-2]

Thanks for your thoughts. My old ears don't mind some help 'up top', so the Pagoda may work just fine.

BTW - do most folks order direct with MHDT or go thru LTA in NA? Also, do you know if LTA supplies spare tubes (at a price) or is tube-rolling totally up to the owner?

[FloridaBoy]

https://www.sakurasystems.com/articles.html

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Thanks for your thoughts. My old ears don't mind some help 'up top', so the Pagoda may work just fine.

BTW - do most folks order direct with MHDT or go thru LTA in NA? Also, do you know if LTA supplies spare tubes (at a price) or is tube-rolling totally up to the owner?

I just ordered an Orchid from LTA. No real reason vs getting it direct. I don't think they sell tubes though. I've used a Havana for nine years with no issues.

Changing the coupling caps in these Dac's to your preferred flavor makes a very positive difference. I would not do this until you decide the unit is a keeper. These Dac's are also sensitive to power cords and digital cables.

Articles on NOS Dac's:

https://www.sakurasystems.com/articles.html

[Formerly YB-2]

Think I'll be going the "decooney route". Will likely start after the new year (when winter warmth travel is over) with a Benchmark DAC3 B due to their 30-day return policy. If, as mentioned, is "too much of a good thing" will return and give MHDT a try.

This is a most excellent thread and have enjoyed reading everyone's experience with their various DAC travels. Hope everyone will continue to post their thoughts.

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Think I'll be going the "decooney route". Will likely start after the new year (when winter warmth travel is over) with a Benchmark DAC3 B due to their 30-day return policy. If, as mentioned, is "too much of a good thing" will return and give MHDT a try.

This is a most excellent thread and have enjoyed reading everyone's experience with their various DAC travels. Hope everyone will continue to post their thoughts.

Good plan and this should be an interesting thread.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by Leew

After reading this thread I just bought this Havana Dac, what do you think of all the mods?

https://community.klipsch.com/index....-upgraded-900/


I’m hoping for good things

That looks like one very comprehensive and well done mod. Let us know details onbthe sound!

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Think I'll be going the "decooney route". Will likely start after the new year (when winter warmth travel is over) with a Benchmark DAC3 B due to their 30-day return policy. If, as mentioned, is "too much of a good thing" will return and give MHDT a try.

This is a most excellent thread and have enjoyed reading everyone's experience with their various DAC travels. Hope everyone will continue to post their thoughts.

While it was a bit of a shuffle, I learned a lot from the demos. What really surprised me is just how different the Benchmark vs. MHDT sounds in my system. The two were polar opposites. For me, the Benchmark was absolutely overwhelming. It was more forward, midrange and voices were more front and center, i.e. "in your face", and while it seemed clean, almost a feeling of remanufactured perfect clean sound, there was no velvet smooth texture in my system. The BM DAC3 kinda felt like a head freeze from a slurpy. I kept hoping the head freeze would go away. It did not. The MHDT Orchid was like the first sip of hot cider on a cold day the first moment I turned it on. Again, results will vary from system to system. Only way to know is the try them as we all know, we all hear differently, have different systems, different rooms, some have furniture all around, others have nothing near or in front of speakers, carpet or hard floors, so many variables that impact sound. Someone needs to start a DAC rental business with a few of each for everyone to try, hahaha.

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Makes one wonder if the Balanced Pagoda would be worth the additional $$? Have an available set of XLR-in on my preamp.

Can't hurt to look for some reviews on a balanced one.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Makes one wonder if the Balanced Pagoda would be worth the additional $$? Have an available set of XLR-in on my preamp.

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Can't hurt to look for some reviews on a balanced one.

A two year old review by tnt-audio (before the updated Orchid) of the non-balanced version of the Pagoda I recall, with some memorable comments, quote:

"The MHDT DACs have a similar sound, no doubt influenced by their valve buffers, and the Pagoda retains that familiar signature sound. But what struck me straight away was that the sound with the Pagoda was significantly more detailed."


Review: https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/mhdt_pagoda_e.html


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