I've seen those Mavericks in a few threads mentioned. They aren't too expensive, how do you like it? and are you running it as preamp or just a DAC?
Good to know what OPA627 did you put into yours? Or did you buy the upgrade from them?Love it. DO get the OPA627 and tube upgrades - big difference.
And I guess I use it as both, depending on what I'm listening to. Straight DAC off the HTPC (but with the tube buffer) and a limited pre with my analog turntable and external HD Radio tuner. With those, there's no DAC required as the analog out is fed straight out to the buffer and then the amp. I say limited because only control you have is source switching and line level.
PS - outstanding USB section on the Maverick. It limits out at 96/24, but IMHO, that outperforms the "hi def" coaxial and optical sonically.
Maybe someone could clarify, but if you aren't using the USB input it sounds like you may not even be using it as a DAC at all; just an amplifier (or preamp).
The user's manual does not state this. It says its a tube DAC and a tube headphone amp.
Good to know what OPA627 did you put into yours? Or did you buy the upgrade from them?
Well...yeah, at a basic level.
But if using the analog/RCA inputs gvl says neither the tube nor the DAC function are actually being used.
To have the tube and the DAC function in the signal path the implication is the source must be digital into the USB connection.
I listening mostly to CD's and I have run across some that will make your ears bleed. Typically these are re masters compressed to death but one exception is the Go Go's Beauty and the beat. I compared these when I was still in vinyl a few years back and the vinyl was not mixed that great to begin with. One cd version sounded absolutely wretched and down the road I found a different year release that was later than the other. That one sounded pretty much like the record so as you see quality has no bearing on release date. Before I buy anything new I research it on line to see if it sounds decent from the reviews. As for a tube buffer it wont help, I have a tube amp and if garbage goes in garbage comes out. Have you considered a equalizer, it could help but I would just find a better version of any disc you are after by doing a little research.
Duh on my part. I can see me just being stupid on the DAC side, need digital input of course. But the way it reads the tube buffer may still be used for the headphone amp only "mode". Of course these translated manuals suck, this is one of the better ones I have seen though.
It's easy to test
I noticed a pleasant difference between my Schitt Fulla and Aune T1 which has a tube buffer. Not better just warmer. But I like the way tubes sound compared to SS. I have also noticed that bad recordings just get more badder the further up the DAC food chain you go.
I've been looking into an equalizer to cut some of the harshness instead of a DAC or a buffer and think that might be a thing to try first as cheap EQ's are always floating around and if it works I can look for an upgrade EQ if need be or move on to something else.
There's a reason those graphic EQs are always floating around on the cheap. You COULD maybe get lucky and find one that works for you, but I played that game for years with pretty craptacular results. If you do go with an EQ, keep an eye out for a Parametric EQ that allows you to dial in exactly on the problem areas. Also, don't expect to be able to do that by ear alone - that's an exercise in futility if you're trying for perfection.
Recently went with a DSP solution - Room EQ Wizard on my laptop, a calibrated mike, and the "convolution engine" that comes with jRiver Media Center. Run a few sweeps, click a button, and REW builds a PEQ curve that loads right in and automatically adjusts your digital music to EXACTLY what your room needs. The hardware isn't all that expensive either - I got a mixer, ADC, software, and the mike for maybe $200 total.
PS - you can print out the PEQ file and see exactly what's happening. I used that to pick out the "big lumps" and adjusted my parametric equalizer to handle all my analog sources. My PEQ only has nine filters per channel (including those on my McIntosh MQ104), but I'm happy with the results. Another option is adding a MiniDSP to the audio chain - that gives you the same level of detail the software solution does.
Anyway, gotta say, haven't had to tweak a setting in a couple years since going that route.
Interesting, I have found the complete opposite to be true..My personal experience with a couple of tube buffers says save the money you'll be spending on a gimmick and put it towards a better preamp. A buffer may or may not take the edge of the occasional digititis. It it does it's at the expense of the music in other areas; mushy bass, rolled off highs. I had the same result with a tubed dac. To me the music sounds better through the ss output of the tube dac.