Randy's sound system

[crwilli]

Sounds like a fun day Randy!

[chessman]

I used a Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE preamp before moving to a 6H30 tube based BAT VK-52 SE. My experience matches yours - the STP-SE (solid state) has an iron grip on the mid-bass, while the BAT (tubes) is airier. It comes down to personal preference. I went with a tubed preamp/solid state amp mix, but in summer I think about returning to the STP-SE. It will be interesting to see what you ultimately choose.

[Randy Myers]

Yea, we had a good time. Sampling all sorts of stuff to get a real good feel of the two amps.

I keep thinking that it may be time soon to look at other speakers, but every time anyone listens to the MC's in my environment they are blown away.... I was worried about the First Watt being able to power them, but for me both amps can drive the MC's just fine.

[Randy Myers]

I am trying out a W4S DAC2v2SE DAC. Not sure it will become a permanent fixture in my system, but so far it is looking like it might....

W4S SE upgrades, Femto clock, ESS 9038 Pro chip... wow, should be among the best!

[audio bill]

Really interested in your thoughts on the performance of that DAC, especially considering how impressed you were with your recently upgraded Benchmark 9028 DAC. Enjoy the tunes!

[Randy Myers]

I will let you know what I think of it. I feel that the 9028 Pro was a huge improvement over the 9018 in identical Benchmark units (DAC2 HGC -vs- DAC3 HGC).

I only got a few minutes to listen to the W4S last evening, and most of that was spent figuring out the controls, etc. It did sound very good, but I also assume that it will improve over the next couple weeks. W4S specifically states to allow 200 hours break in on the unit.

[Dr Tone]

Randy have tried the Ayre Codex? It's using the lowly 9018 but Charley's custom filters are exceptional. His USB implementation might be the best out there and his analog output stage is no slouch as well.

[paulphoosreal]

Randy, the sound does improve in subtle yet identifiable aspects. I'm more amazed at what the new Dac1V2 does every day I listen to CDs I've listened too many times before. More detail retrieval has been 1 very noticeable aspect as well as expanded soundstage. I'm now at approximately 150 hours and still notice dac giving more with time.

[Randy Myers]

New DAC, updated pics ... (thanks Dan for the pic enlargement)...

\z

[Randy Myers]

Originally Posted by audio bill

Really interested in your thoughts on the performance of that DAC, especially considering how impressed you were with your recently upgraded Benchmark 9028 DAC. Enjoy the tunes!

The Benchmark DAC3 was a huge improvement over the DAC2...

However the Wyred DAC-2v2SE is in a different stratosphere. Simply put, the most analog sounding DAC I have ever heard... No digital glare at all... pure sound, smooth, full, robust, sound stage to die for... digital may be catching up with analog.

I was concentrating on DSD, catching up on my DSD128 and DSD256 albums... but the past couple days been throwing PCM files at it... no longer would I say a DAC is better at one or the other!

The DAC has maybe 50 hours on it... smoothing out nicely, but not even close to being broken in....

One thing I have noticed, the higher the resolution I throw at it the more the DAC seems to like it... simply WOW...