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Customer Review
For reference, let me describe my system: Preamp is B&K Ref 50 series 2, Amps are all Xindak solidstate Class A monoblocks (3 are XA8800MNe, 2 are XA8800MNu), DVD player is Pioneer AV47i (please note that I am not running the dvd signal thru the DAC/Upsampler at this time), CD player is a Sony Megachanger CX455, DAC/Upsampler are Musiland MD10/SRC10 (as you already know), Speakers are Opera Audio/Consonnance Eric Grands (front channels), Eric LCR (center), Eric 1's (rear), Eric subwoofer, and cabling (interconnect & speaker) is a combination of Xindak, ZU and Phoenix Gold products. I also use a series of 2400watt tripp-lite power conditioners to steady the electrical current fluctuations that my neighborhood seems to have. My system is not a world beater but I am very pleased with it.
Also, as a little background, my sony megaphone is a wonderful and convenient product to use, but I really wanted to improve the signal quality going to the pre-amp, and that is the sole reason I bought the DAC/Upsampler.
Here are my impressions:
- Bottom line is that the $600 spent on the DAC/Upsampler combo was money well spent.
- System plays a lot louder but I turned the volume on the DAC to -3 and that works well for me.
- Sound-stage is a great deal tighter and more defined, sound-stage image is much improved. (for me, this is the biggest improvement)
- Vocals have added depth (this keeps getting stronger as I use the DAC/Upsampler more)
- High end frequencies have cleaner / higher top end without any shrill/distortion
- Mid range is cleaner but with more punch
- Low end has more slam (much much more slam)
- Instruments play with improved clarity and precision
- Ambient sounds have greater presence (for example the rush of air on a well recorded horn section is easier to hear, as well as the sound of fingers sliding up and down guitar strings on an acoustic guitar)
- Silent parts of music are now more silent (dare I say almost Black)
- Well recorded cd's sound better and poorly recorded cd's now sound worse, some people might call this a drawback but I look at it as a positive. Redbook cd's are kind of like people, some are really beautiful naked (well recorded cd's) and some look better with clothes on (poorly recorded cd's). This DAC/Upsampler really undresses cd's and exposes their flaws.
- The lack of a user manual is not a problem, the units are really easy to use and don't need an instruction manual
- The short power cables are a hassle. Maybe overseas consumers don't mind this, but it's the one complaint I have. I had to run a separate power strip as a work-around, but a 2meter power cable would have reached my power conditioners.
- It would be nice if there were 12volt triggers on the products as I now have to turn them on manually when I use a remote to turn the rest of my system on.
John
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