paul79

Na! All you need are tubes that work. And some 7318's

Cubox with linear power supply and MPD Software image file. Ipad, Mpad App, NAS, Router. Sounds great to me

Never get tired of that pic Muel. So awesome.... And I know, they sound awesome! The Penta's and 7318's never leave my VRD's!.

That's really a tough call! The 4100 has really excellent sounding bass if it is right and ready. Most of them need new bias trim pots as they get dirty, and you have no bias. This is on every damn one I see through here, so if yours has not been touched, good chance it needs some servicing. The KR-9600 is also prone to problems with the pre driver transistors on the amp boards. Other things as well, but if it is working and not noisy now, you should be ok. If you are lacking power and getting distortion in the bass with the MAC, then the 9600 may be your cure. Just try both and see which is better for you.

When I had the original MKI DAC3.5, I sent it in for the MKII upgrade. It was subtle, but I liked the upgrade. Better inner detail and focus. It was $500 also I believe.... In MKI clothing, the DAC was already excellent though! I think the 3.7 will put it in Femto territory with their own clock, so this should be much more obvious improvement.

Not a bad price for an upgrade, considering.

I'm drooling...... Always wanted to hear a moving iron.

Caps are taste. The best ones give the most transparency, but along with that, more is on display, which can be a great or not so great thing. I think the Jupiter Copper is a very swell cap for any money, and is very balanced. With it, I don't see any reason to spend more, really.

LOL! Sing? Well, guess I need to get me some of dem dere CV593's.....

You know, that thing your wife does in the kitchen and the whole house smells good?

Thanks guys.... Happy to help, and you are always a joy Cameron. Rodney..... Well you're ok too I guess

I understand. I just got confused when you mentioned the quality and similarity of performance they offer. I see now what you mean.

No can do my friend. I can't afford to stock them, and have to sell them as new. I don't sell for a living nor do I typically advertise that I do. I just want to be able to offer my customers something I think is great, if they ask about it. I have picked a chosen few companies to represent in this regard, for cables and source components. When I get a sale, I make a little, and that is great, but will never be my bread and butta.

Not trying to beat you up man. Not at all. Just seeing how you are familiar with them is all. I don't know.

Most all DAC's in the lower price bracket have always been trendy. I just found the Vega to be a very strange contradiction to this belief.

Schu, Have you heard the Vega and DAC2SE in your system? You seem as if you are familiar with them somehow....

I really liked my Bel Canto DAC3.5VB MKII. I bought this after being unsatisfied with the W4S... Albeit, the Bel Canto was way more costly. Curious to hear the 3.7 for sure. The 3.5VB MKII is no comparison to the Vega in terms of naturalness though, but I did like its very raw character and awesome displays if inner detail. The Vega however, is just more refined... I lived with the 3.5VB MKII for a couple years and I did like it allot.

The advantage the Vega has over about any other DAC using the Sabre DAC, is that the Vega uses only the DAC part of the chip. They use their own proprietary filters and not the ones made into the ESS Chip. So, they picked what they liked about the Sabre Chip and used it, then what they did not like about the Chip, they did not use, and did their own thing for the rest of the conversion process. Is this actually better? Based on my findings with other DAC's using the Sabre chip, hell yes! The Vega is the only DAC I have heard using the Sabre chip that I like. Yes, using the Vishay Resistors for the analog output is somewhat attractive, but in the analog domain, there is very little benefit here using them to be honest. Yes, they are great parts, but that's where it ends... Implementation is everything vs simply the resistor choice that they proudly tout, and the Orfeo output stage of the Vega sounds very damn good. This sounds like no other DAC with the Sabre chip implemented that I am aware of. . I used to have the original W4S DAC2, and it never impressed me. Not to say that the new SE version is not better, as I have not heard it, but I see no marketing to suggest they dealt with the conversion process any differently, besides adding the Femto Clocks and supply updates. Sounds more like simple upgrades to a decent DAC. I don't see any of the reviewers pulling out their wallet for one.

Try it and let us know! AN, thanks for sharing!

How's the Vega treating you Rod?

Yep. With exception of a couple warranty deals, the Penta's last. I have some of the Monger tubes here. I just don't want to mess with the amps at all right now. They are sounding just absolutely perfect. The damn 10M's will likely last forever (knocking on wood) lol But I will play one day when I feel froggy

What you think of the Gold Lions Cameron? Vs. the Penta's? I wouldn't bother with the bigger Tung-Sol's. I really doubt they will sound any different. I don't really care for the KT120, but Craig says I need to try them with the Mullard CV593 rectifier and crank up the bias. I will try this, and maybe then my opinion will change, but I am extremely happy with the amps with the tubes I have in them. Don't really see how they could get any better.

Santa.... You're funny! For you, maybe a Santa sale

Hey Tom! I got the cabinet wrapped around the NBS now. I'll have nice pics when the weather gets decent for a day. It looks AMAZING! Be prepared folks.... This NBS Cab is the envy of all! Glad you like the Copper caps. Add more, or take away less? I think they are very swell indeed. Bout time for some of those tubes aint it? Christmas to self? lol Tom is da man too!!!

No vinyl. He brought me some stuff to work on. Location updated