Worlds best DAC

Just to add spice to this my Killer DAC was just completed yesterday and I went over to hear it at the place of the person that made it for me - he posts under the name of Rawl where I am in Australia.

This is a very special hand built DAC with a cult following here in Australia. It uses the legendary Phillips TDA1541 DAC chips and all parts, even the transformer, are hand built and made specifically for the DAC. Even each piece of wire is hand selected.

This DAC was at a shootout with a number of other DAC's, but it came down to two - a DCS Stack and this DAC. The DCS was considered more Hi Fi with detail, speed etc etc - but the Killer was much more captivating and 'real' sounding - it was most peoples preference.

When I arrived Rawl had his uber heavily upgraded Wadia transport running via I2S into it playing Dianna Krall - Girl In The Other Room. Before saying anything else I want to emphasize this transport is wild - really low jitter custom modified Trichord clocks, totally battery powered, and other stuff that is quite likely even above the uber stuff in an Off-Ramp. This is no ordinary bit of gear. A number of people have compared it to an Off-Ramp and to their total shock it easily bested it - they switched over from computer audio because of that. BTW its the only transport I have heard that can do that - normally I find the Off-Ramp eats transports alive - no contest - especially my Off-Ramp which has a heavily modified power supply.

The amp was an upgraded VAC and speakers ML3 Reference, the same as mine. These speakers are fairly well known in Aus - but you guys may not know them. They are made by a guy that lives close to me and Rawl, and use 10 gauge air core inductors, the cabinet is lined with steel, and Duelund VSF Copper capacitors throughout.

Very full harmonically rich enveloping sound. This type of thing is what Rawl and other Killer DAC guys refer to as resolution - the thing that people preferred compared to the DCS. For me its a fuller richer sound - not extra resolution - I like it - but its different terminology than I use. I thought, yes it had the signature of other Killer's I had heard and I liked it right off.

Next up was via my Off-Ramp using I2S. My Off-Ramp also uses a heavily upgraded custom built power supply that makes a big difference over the switching supply Steve Nugent supplies with it. It has a switch that engages and disengages the earth - and we found one position significantly better than the other - much cleaner clearer sound so that's what we stuck with.

The difference was the Off-Ramp had greater detail, and better, tighter bass, but it lost a significant amount of the harmonic richness. It was a whiter, more bland sound. I preferred the transport, but I am not sure that would be everyone's preference. Knowing Killer DAC aficionados they would prefer the transport. Certainly Rawl much preferred it.

OK - I also took on over my Playback Designs MPD3, which, prior to the Phasure, was the best DAC I had heard via DSD. First up we played Harry Belefonte - Sylvie via PCM - OK - but to my ears the Killer was obviously better. This was expected - the PD is OK via PCM - but a number of other DAC's I pitted it against were better. Its real strength is DSD. So next was Sylvie via DSD. Immediately better - very live real and present. Now we are talking. Ok - what about the Off-Ramp via PCM into the Killer. Sorry PD guys - we have another DAC other than the Phasure that is better. It simply sounded richer and more life like.

We played a number tracks including some classical. But it was all basically the same - the Killer was clearly better than the PD - and the transport had a fuller, richer more enveloping sound - but the Off-Ramp better detail and bass.

The main hurdle is now past and the big DAC shootout with this, a PDX, a PD, and the Phasure is planned, and that should hopefully happen late January or early February. It should prove very interesting.

The speakers used in that shootout will be even above my speakers and those in this comparison - they use Duelund Cast, have external crossovers with a special star wiring scheme, and are lined with 1/4 inch copper and inch thick steel bracing all over the place - simply the best speakers I and a lot of people I know have heard - very very transparent - what you feed it it reproduces - ruthlessly.

Thanks
Bill

Once again Bill, very insightful and informative post.

Bill,
The Killer DAC sounds like something that I'd really enjoy. A component with one purpose, getting to the core of music's beauty, natural, realistic tone, vibrancy, harmonic richness and will convey the deep emotion of music. So much emphasis today seems directed toward the analytical hifi, ultra detailed, audiophile checkbox sound, it's very contrived and soul less to my ears.
The Killer DAC builder apparently loves and respects the art of music and the talent/efforts of the musicians.
Charles,

OK - I also took on over my Playback Designs MPD3, which, prior to the Phasure, was the best DAC I had heard via DSD

In my experience, PCM to DSD converters are very tricky and can vary dramatically when it comes to sound quality.

Can you do an experiment? Convert some of your favorite PCM files to DSD64 or DSD128 using JRiver 19 Media Center, as I feel their PCM to DSD modulator is superb. Once done, feed the resulting DSD files through your MPD-3 and see what happens against your PCM DAC playing the same PCM files?

Best wishes,
Alex Peychev

Thanks Bill for the detailed post. I look forward to hearing a formal report of the shootout down under. I share your sentiments about digital music reproduction. A recent Audioshark review of the Lumin transport put it best:

Digital sucks. There, I said it. To be honest, I really don’t want to dislike my digital because it is so convenient, but vinyl has always sounded better in my system. Those close to me know I have been on a DAC merry-go-round for several years now. I have cycled through so many DAC’s that I’ve lost count and too embarrassed to say, but it is somewhere around 20. In that time, I have had the pleasure of owning or trying some wonderful sounding DAC’s, but in the end, they always drove me back to vinyl as my preferred source.

To me, computer audio has always produced this “edge”, this hyper resolving presentation which often creates listener fatigue. Sonic characteristics which have always sent me running for my turntable.

In addition, with computer audio you have the added frustration and expense of dealing with a Windows PC or Mac. As someone who works on a computer all day, the last thing I want to be bothered with in my listening room is virus scans, fighting adware, phishing attacks or worrying about the latest software update or new version of the operating systems. I just want to listen.

Digital does indeed suck. There is always something ever so slightly askew. I don't own a vinyl rig, but in those escapist moments, my subconscious mind dreams of some big brass platter. A lot of the "solutions" for sale seem to fall short and somehow desecrate the music. Not just absence of fatigue but lifelike dynamics and energy. That is a razor's edge. Many NOS or tube dacs fails in that department. Reclockers fail. Upsampling fails. Hi rez and DSD fails.

Your observations about transports are also spot on. I have told people (and myself) that the transport game is as hard as the dac element. I am interested to see where that all goes in the next 2-3 years with the entrance of Sony back into the game, Lumin, etc.

It does seem like there are a lot of promising pieces coming down the pike. The Trinity dac is making waves over at Audioexotics: (http://www.audioexotics.hk/index.php?option=com_simplestforum&view=postlist&forumId=1&parentId=10845&topic=true&Itemid=53) where it panned a dcd stack.

Phasure is starting to get more traction and formal exposure in the US is growing (http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f10-music-servers/whos-tried-phasure-nos1-digital-analogue-converter-18457/). We have a shootout planned with the Lampizator in Atlanta in late Jan/early Feb. There is also a gentleman in Hong Kong who now owns Phasure, a Lampi L5 with DSD, and a DCS stack. A formal shootout is still pending.

The Lampizator L7 is making waves in Hong Kong (http://www.review33.com/m/forum_msg.php?db=1&tstart=0&s=&topic=47121019144020&start=20&sort=&number=59) and has been competitive with big dollar tables. We are still waiting for a comparison with the Trinity.

Finally, your description of the Killer dac sounds.....killer. I am a fan of that chip. DDDAC, a DIY outfit from German (http://www.dddac.de), made quite a splash with their kit based on that chip (and more recently on the 1794). People have traded in big dollar rigs for those cheap kits. The report is that it sounds like music and NOT digital. I look forward to hearing how this whole things shapes up.