Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-09 launched

[GrantFidelity]

Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 will be available in black faceplate soon:

picture:

(I am no photograph expert but you get the idea of how black front will look like on the DAC

Cheers,
Rachel

[BadassBob]

hey Ian, when are you due to get the next shipment of the DAC-09? I think Im going to order one, itll look nice sitting next to my MC-10L . Also, how do you think this would sound coming from an upsampler? I have a Squeezebox Duet feeding a Behringer SRC2496, which I will use to upsample to 24/96 then into the DAC-09.

[iGrant]

Originally Posted by BadassBob

hey Ian, when are you due to get the next shipment of the DAC-09? I think Im going to order one, itll look nice sitting next to my MC-10L . Also, how do you think this would sound coming from an upsampler? I have a Squeezebox Duet feeding a Behringer SRC2496, which I will use to upsample to 24/96 then into the DAC-09.

They are back in stock as of a couple of days ago, only as few silver left as many had pre-ordered them. Lots of black.

Re upsampling, worth trying and let us know if you like it. I like to keep music in it's native digital format and let the tube do its thing.

Cheers,
Ian

[BadassBob]

Originally Posted by iGrant

They are back in stock as of a couple of days ago, only as few silver left as many had pre-ordered them. Lots of black.

Re upsampling, worth trying and let us know if you like it. I like to keep music in it's native digital format and let the tube do its thing.

Cheers,
Ian

As far as tube rolling, have you rolled, say a Russian 6N3P or a 5670?

[iGrant]

Originally Posted by BadassBob

As far as tube rolling, have you rolled, say a Russian 6N3P or a 5670?

I haven't myself yet, but Rachel told me some customers have already. In time owners will post and I will try to do some rolling myself too.

Cheers,
Ian

[BadassBob]

Order headed your way

[iGrant]

Originally Posted by BadassBob

Order headed your way

, enjoy.

[BadassBob]

I picked up some Western Electric 396As and a couple of Sylvania 5670s. Im going to see how it fares with the stock 6N3, then roll away and see what I come up with. I'll post my findings most definitely!

[iGrant]

Originally Posted by BadassBob

I picked up some Western Electric 396As and a couple of Sylvania 5670s. Im going to see how it fares with the stock 6N3, then roll away and see what I come up with. I'll post my findings most definitely!

Thanks !!!, maybe you could start a new thread for it.

Cheers,
Ian

[geespot]

I am considering using the DAC as a preamp. Is there an amp that matches its form factor/size that anybody knows of? I am not looking to break the bank either.

g

[Andyman]

Originally Posted by SpeakerLabFan

My unit arrived on my doorstep yesterday, 3 days turnaround from Calgary, thanks to the folks at GF for the very quick shipment. My unit was shipped in < 1 hour after the order was placed.

I'm listening to the tube unit with Coax digital input from a Denon DCD-1290 CDplayer, and going into an Onix SP3 integrated tube amp + Klipsch Fortes.

Listening to Stanley Turrentine - Sugar. It is sounding great. There is plenty of attenuation on the output - I had to turn down the volume a notch from the previous setting.

I have been using the DacMagic unit in this setup, it's been a few days since I listened last so I can't make any comparisons but I'm very happy with what I'm hearing.

Looking forward to more time with the unit, and trying the USB input, and trying the TubeDAC with some solid state gear, I have an AU-20000 + Magnepan MGIIs I'd like to try the unit with.

Sounds interesting,
Any more updates, especially compared to the DacMagic??

[SpeakerLabFan]

Originally Posted by Andyman

Sounds interesting,
Any more updates, especially compared to the DacMagic??

Not much to update unfortunately. I have been feeling guilty about not getting more playing time with the unit. I'm just having too much fun with the vinyl.

I still have the TubeDAC in the bedroom system with Coax digital input from a Denon DCD-1290 CDplayer, and going into an Onix SP3 integrated tube amp + Klipsch Fortes. It's used as a headphone amp daily (great stuff) but I listen to far more LPs than anything on this system.

I'm planning to try it with other setups as I mentioned, and I'm going to move it into the main system (taking the place of the DACMagic ) tonight. I'm running the DAC in the main system going into a Carver M500t, Nakamichi CA-5 preamp, Carver MV-5 CDPlayer via coax, Toshiba Tecra M2 laptop via USB, Carver Amazing originals.

I have the Carver CDP and the DAC on different inputs on the Nakamichi preamp, I know I don't have golden ears but I think the internal DAC in the Carver must be nice be/c right now I hear no noticeable difference when I A/B the units. I've listed to the DACMagic in all three filter/phase settings as well - Linear is my preference.

Looking forward to A/B'ing here with the TubeDAC.

[SpeakerLabFan]

Well, I did a quick A/B in the main system with the two DACs in the chain for CD playback.

I did not listen to USB output from the laptop, so have not yet compared there.

It's early in use with both DACs, but finding that I prefer the DACMagic. I don't have a gold ear or patience to develop an audiophile vocabulary ("musical", etc) so it's hard to characterize why the preference.

It might have to do with match with those other components (Carver M500t, Nakamichi CA-5 preamp, Carver MV-5 CDPlayer via coax, Carver Amazing originals). In this system, the Tube DAC-09's warm, tubey sound isn't as preferred as the dead accurate DACMagic, to me, when I A/B'd them.

So, it's back to the bedroom system with the TubeDAC-09 as I rack-up initial playing hours on both units.