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Maverick Audio D1 DAC/Pre-amp
- Thread starter djnagle
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There was another post I read here today that indicated it may be a very similar design to the iGrant DAC we've heard so much about. It could even be a rebadged item with a few circuitry tweaks.
Check out that Tube DAC thread; I may have found it there...
Check out that Tube DAC thread; I may have found it there...
crackerkorean
Striving for Polymathdom!
Its also very similar to the Xiang Sheng DAC-01. Here is a head-fi thread on it.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/maverick-audio-dac-amp-446764/
Interesting little unit there.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/maverick-audio-dac-amp-446764/
Interesting little unit there.
crackerkorean
Striving for Polymathdom!
Im interested to see what you think. You cant beat it for the price. I am curious to know what the DAC in it is etc.
crackerkorean
Striving for Polymathdom!
Also I think that guy acoustics dreams guy is wrong, if it fits you should retro fit it and it would work ok.
Depending on the DAC you might be able to digitally control the volume level. This is something I am working on with a project I got going on now.
Depending on the DAC you might be able to digitally control the volume level. This is something I am working on with a project I got going on now.
I agree. The volume pot board would not be hooked up to the unit and would only control the motor. The signal would route through the volume pot as it does now.
eedork
Super Member
I too am considering the Maverick
For me I'm flip-flopping between the Maverick and the E-MU 0404 USB. I like the E-MU because I can record with it for about the same money as the Maverick.
Anyhow, I'm curious to see what you think of the Maverick. Please report back once you've had a chance to listen to it.
-Matt
For me I'm flip-flopping between the Maverick and the E-MU 0404 USB. I like the E-MU because I can record with it for about the same money as the Maverick.
Anyhow, I'm curious to see what you think of the Maverick. Please report back once you've had a chance to listen to it.
-Matt
I got mine Wednesday. DHL sent it from Cincinnati to Grand Rapids when it should have been sent to Detroit, so that added a day. No fault of Mav.
My first impression is that is very heavy for its size and, for its size, is built like a tank. It is truly plug and play. Stuck it in my system (hooked up to my MS with USB) and hit play on my music server. The look and feel of the D1 is outstanding and looks like a much more pricy unit. By the way, I like the click of the volume pot. It is wobbly but I saw that the feet still had little rings from the molding process and a little 220 took that off in an instant…..no more wobble. Very elegant looking piece of gear.
I am using this as a DAC/tube pre for my main system not a headphone amp.
My first impression from a sound standpoint, was “send it back”
I have an extremely revealing system and the D1 sounded terrible. Harsh, shrill, thin, lifeless, no bass, exaggerated highs. I had to turn it off. But I know that some things need to burn in, so I left it going for two days with the volume set to 1. At that setting I could barely hear it. So after two days of burning in, I sat down last night and started listening to is seriously. I got the upgraded tube just so you know.
OK, it sounds fantastic. The highs are extremely detailed with out piercing my ears. I can hear several layers of music and background that I’ve never heard before. The mids are very smooth with great openness and presence. The D1 handles the dynamics very well so when a singer is really belting it out, it does not seem over driven or ringy in the ear. There is great timber in the mids as well. The vocals sound just like they are supposed to sound. And like the highs, there is an incredible amount of detail. The bass is supper tight and I can hear the distinction between every note. My system is flat down to 18 Hz and I can tell the difference between 18 and 25 Hz. The midbass slams and kick like a mule. It really changed my bass tremendously…..I am very happy about that as I am on old washed up Bass player.
The imaging really came into focus as well. I can tell when the vocals are dead center or, in the case of CR&N, in the center, just left of center and just right of center. I can hear music 6” to the inside of my speakers and 2’ outside my speakers and everywhere in between. There is more vertical imaging as well so the hieght of the instument or vocals vary with the recording.
The soundstage is deeper than it ever has been. I played a Johnny Cash CD last night. It was like he was sitting 5’ in front of me and my speakers are 15’ way from me.
I have the Windmill Getter tube and the WE tube but will hold off on rolling them for a while until 1. The D1 is well broke in and 2. I really get use to the sound or it so I can identify the difference.
I do have a pair of Grado SR60 but only use them on the road on my laptop. I will give them a listen, but I don’t think I can give an accurate eval of those as I don’t have any experience with any other headphones.
My system consists of:
Speakers
* JBL 4530 Scoops with JBL 2225 woofers
* StereoLab 400hz tractrix horn with JBL 2441 compression drivers with Radian diaphragms
* Big Heil Air Motion Tweeters.
* 2 subwoofers with Martin Logan 12” drivers and BASH 300s plate amps
Amps
* Decware Zen amp for the mid horns
* Kegger PP EL34 for the tweeters
* Adcom 555 for the woofers
Source
* HP computer with 1.5TB hard drive for music only
* Custom TT with Hagarman Octal Cornet Phono Pre.
I tri-amp through a Pioneer 3 way active crossover.
My first impression is that is very heavy for its size and, for its size, is built like a tank. It is truly plug and play. Stuck it in my system (hooked up to my MS with USB) and hit play on my music server. The look and feel of the D1 is outstanding and looks like a much more pricy unit. By the way, I like the click of the volume pot. It is wobbly but I saw that the feet still had little rings from the molding process and a little 220 took that off in an instant…..no more wobble. Very elegant looking piece of gear.
I am using this as a DAC/tube pre for my main system not a headphone amp.
My first impression from a sound standpoint, was “send it back”
I have an extremely revealing system and the D1 sounded terrible. Harsh, shrill, thin, lifeless, no bass, exaggerated highs. I had to turn it off. But I know that some things need to burn in, so I left it going for two days with the volume set to 1. At that setting I could barely hear it. So after two days of burning in, I sat down last night and started listening to is seriously. I got the upgraded tube just so you know.
OK, it sounds fantastic. The highs are extremely detailed with out piercing my ears. I can hear several layers of music and background that I’ve never heard before. The mids are very smooth with great openness and presence. The D1 handles the dynamics very well so when a singer is really belting it out, it does not seem over driven or ringy in the ear. There is great timber in the mids as well. The vocals sound just like they are supposed to sound. And like the highs, there is an incredible amount of detail. The bass is supper tight and I can hear the distinction between every note. My system is flat down to 18 Hz and I can tell the difference between 18 and 25 Hz. The midbass slams and kick like a mule. It really changed my bass tremendously…..I am very happy about that as I am on old washed up Bass player.
The imaging really came into focus as well. I can tell when the vocals are dead center or, in the case of CR&N, in the center, just left of center and just right of center. I can hear music 6” to the inside of my speakers and 2’ outside my speakers and everywhere in between. There is more vertical imaging as well so the hieght of the instument or vocals vary with the recording.
The soundstage is deeper than it ever has been. I played a Johnny Cash CD last night. It was like he was sitting 5’ in front of me and my speakers are 15’ way from me.
I have the Windmill Getter tube and the WE tube but will hold off on rolling them for a while until 1. The D1 is well broke in and 2. I really get use to the sound or it so I can identify the difference.
I do have a pair of Grado SR60 but only use them on the road on my laptop. I will give them a listen, but I don’t think I can give an accurate eval of those as I don’t have any experience with any other headphones.
My system consists of:
Speakers
* JBL 4530 Scoops with JBL 2225 woofers
* StereoLab 400hz tractrix horn with JBL 2441 compression drivers with Radian diaphragms
* Big Heil Air Motion Tweeters.
* 2 subwoofers with Martin Logan 12” drivers and BASH 300s plate amps
Amps
* Decware Zen amp for the mid horns
* Kegger PP EL34 for the tweeters
* Adcom 555 for the woofers
Source
* HP computer with 1.5TB hard drive for music only
* Custom TT with Hagarman Octal Cornet Phono Pre.
I tri-amp through a Pioneer 3 way active crossover.
riverrat
professional camper
Nice review djnagle and very nice system you have!
Maybe you said somewhere, but what is/was your system for digital playback prior to getting the Maverick? It says a lot that you noticed such a nice improvement in your system, would also help to know what you are comparing it to.
Thanks!
Maybe you said somewhere, but what is/was your system for digital playback prior to getting the Maverick? It says a lot that you noticed such a nice improvement in your system, would also help to know what you are comparing it to.
Thanks!
crackerkorean
Striving for Polymathdom!
Did any body ever find out what DAC is being used in it? Also what USB receiver IC is being used.
You going to try the remote volume?
You going to try the remote volume?
Ryan and someone else developed the DAC and they are not releasing any data on or about it. I don't know anything about the USB receiver. I will let it break in and do some tube rolling before I mod it.
crackerkorean
Striving for Polymathdom!
Im sure they didnt develop the IC itself, thats what im curious about. If you could take some detailed pics of the inside that would be awesome. Just curious on whats in it. Might need to start a thread on whats in what.....
Im working on remote volume for something else im working on if I get it working reliably ill let you know.
Im working on remote volume for something else im working on if I get it working reliably ill let you know.
crackerkorean
Striving for Polymathdom!
I looked through google etc, it seems that they have scraped the part number off of the top of the DAC Ic. Thats just cheap and wrong in so many ways IMO.
Also Xiang Sheng DAC-01 and grant seem to be the same way.
Also Xiang Sheng DAC-01 and grant seem to be the same way.
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I really don't know about the guts....that is way beyond me at this point. I know there are a couple guys in Head-Fi that are changing out the opamps (whatever those are) and getting better results. Yes, Please let me know how your remote control works out. That is the one thing it really needs,....That being said: I am controling my MS with my wireless laptop and can control the volume that way, but I heard from others that controlling volume in the computer actually removes some of the data and I'd like to avoid that.....if it is true.
I will open it up in a day or so and check that out however, I do not know what the DAC IC looks like.
riverrat
professional camper
Great sonics for the money, I had the 3980 and can testify to that.
Unfortunately, I was one of those contributing to the statistic of early failures in what is indisputably a disposable unit. Mine lasted about 6 months of light use.
I run mine full time for 6 or 7 years and never had a problem until two months ago. Now there is bad distortion when playing a CD but fine when playing a DVD. Go figure.
