eth2 Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) I have been looking at this model DAC. Currently, there are two on the market, one for $2,500 and one for $995. However, a close look at the pictures of the board and the transformers raise a real question of whether one is a fake. What do you think? The first link is the one I question http://app.audiogon.com/listings/da-converters-audio-logic-34-mxl-upgraded-w-mundorf-evo-silver-gold-oil-caps-eichmann-rca-connectors-2015-02-13-digital-135-957 http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649050789-audio_logic_34mxl_magnetic_interstage_silver_upgrades/images/554070/ http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;image=20941 http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649181021-audio-logic-34-mxl-digital-to-analog-converter/ Edited February 28, 2015 by eth2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) The $2,500 one has lots of expensive upgrades listed: "What was even more amazing, with this particular unit, the orignal owner worked with Jerry and Noble Electronics to keep the same circuitry, but tweak parts to the max ... at a cost of an additional $4400 .The upgrades included silver transformers, torrids, parts, wiring, etc. Spectacular!" It looks like the same PCB is used. The upgraded one has a couple extra transformers on the sides. IMO, the 995 one is bone stock, but real. I could be wrong! An email to the maker could verify this. PS: Look at the cost of the transformers he used to upgrade, silver ones: http://www.audionote.co.uk/comp/trans/trans_05_interstage.shtml Edited February 28, 2015 by mustang guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) I found a lot more pictures of the guts of this. One thing I notice is that some have four electrolytic caps flanking the tubes. Not sure if this matters. Could be a later or earlier revision? The $995 one: Edited February 28, 2015 by mustang guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eth2 Posted February 28, 2015 Author Share Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) Thanks Mustang guy, The manufacturer died. I tried to reach him, but then found out he died in 2010. I am not sure that a 2005 DAC is worth $2,500. There have been too many advances since then. The other DAC I was considering was the Wyred 4 Sound DAC2 DSD.It gets more an more confusing as you read the reviews. I have a Cambridge DACmagic Plus. Maybe that is all I need. Edited February 28, 2015 by eth2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I am not sure that a 2005 DAC is worth $2,500. It's not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 DAC technology is moving fast. A brand new $300 DAC will likely bury a $2500 10yr old DAC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Someone got all geeked out with this unit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khkenny Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 The $995 one is the original stock version straight from the workbench of Jerry Ozmet. He originally made his DACs only with single-ended outputs because they sounded the best to him -- one only needs to trace back the accolade and reception of his 24MXL DAC to see that they were also single-ended. Subsequently, a few owners took their AL 34MXL DACs to third-party upgrade service providers for transplants and other massive internal reconfigurations, adding balanced outputs which required an additional pair of coupling caps. They also decided to spend quite a bit on transformers of various metallurgy. Some even took things to the extreme as evidenced by the pics shown on this thread. Modern DACs have their conveniences. And they are also mass produced in other countries with cheaper labor -- the bulk production volume and cheap labor cost enable DACs to be had for less than a bottle of decent wine these days . Mr. Ozmet was a digital guru in his days and his DAC circuitry is still vastly respected as a canon and an icon even today. In terms of sound quality, it's all about different cup of tea for different folks. Ask why many still die for NOS DACs using the venerable Philips TDA1541 or for old Western Electric tubes and sometimes the modernity of products produced today lacks something special from the past. The Audio Logic DACs are in a totally different and higher league than the dacmagics and the lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eth2 Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) By way of full disclosure, the previous post was left by the seller of the $995 DAC. His feedback on Audiogon is very good. Edited March 2, 2015 by eth2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Now you know there may be a market for vintage DACs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 One might give these very serious consideration! Doubt very seriously you could do better at multiples of these DAC's cost: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=132682.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Welcome to the forum khkenny! You obviously know a thing or two about the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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