Totaldac Reference D1

See your point, and agreed more boxes is messy / a size issue. BUT the best (highest levels) of most DACs in a manufacturers range are often 2 or 3 boxes just for the DAC. As you go up in quality they tend to prefer a large power supply and isolation for the sensitive digital circuits. Examples are dCS, Audio Note Fifth Element, Aries Cerat Kassandra Signature, MSB Select inc 2 x mono PS, Soulution 746.

Having spoken with a couple of leading designers on this issue, the two box approach may be driven more by finding space for larger psu solutions (eg multiple traffos / chokes) than physical isolation as there are offsetting losses arising from long umbilicals and extra plug / socket interfaces.
 
I believe I have read in the recent past that the two DACs CKKeung likes the most are the Totaldac Twelve and the MSB Select II. Curious to know which is the third DAC he likes the most.

Yes, there are 3 DACs I like most.
The first two are Totaldac Twelve and MSB Select II.

The third one may surprise you : CH Precision C1 with or without X1.
C1 has be be used as an ethernet DAC to give its best performance.
And the NAS/gigabit switch/ethernet cables have to be carefully tweaked before it can be close to the first two.
BTW CH Precision's net prices in Hong Kong are lower than in most other places. A very good buy!
 
Yes, there are 3 DACs I like most.
The first two are Totaldac Twelve and MSB Select II.

The third one may surprise you : CH Precision C1 with or without X1.
C1 has be be used as an ethernet DAC to give its best performance.
And the NAS/gigabit switch/ethernet cables have to be carefully tweaked before it can be close to the first two.
BTW CH Precision's net prices in Hong Kong are lower than in most other places. A very good buy!

Yes the C1 would need the Ethernet option. It was good but not exceptional on USB IMO. My Audio Note DAC 5 is still ahead of that level on the same system.
 
Don't forget the new Gigafilter! Oh my, this thing is incredible. Sounds like I have an entirely new digital source. Not cheap, but he nailed this one. The USB Cable to beat.

Hello Paul,

My friends and I are very interested in this new Gigafilter.
It's rather expensive when compared to the Totaldac usb cable which is one of the best-buys in its price-range. Now the Gigafilter has to compete with top usb cables of other brands.

Would you please tell us more about the Gigafilter? Has it been compared to other usb cables?

Many thanks!
 
It is well beyond the Totaldac USB Cable/Filter, of which I found as good as anything else out there for my tastes.
The Gigafilter is more sorted, more dimensional, bigger scale, very low noise floor, and images are so well defined in space, the event picture becomes extremely spooky and wet. More emotion comes through, and I can sense that the performers on the stage are having a great time. Everything is more real sounding. I can listen to more of my music that did not sound near as good previously, so it is fixing a problem for sure.
 
Hello John925,
I can see that you put a cloth on the DAC. This may prevent the DAC from dissipating heat, you should maybe remove it.

Hi Vincent,

Thanks it will be without the cloth when listening. With the four amplification, d2-Four gives a lot of joy that I've never experienced before. Quite a genius work from you.
 
Hi,
it is my very first post on this forum (from french alps) and my english is quite very uncertain
but i'm always been in love with music and especialy with Totaldac that i practice since 6 years.
And as I read that you are talking about the new USB Gigafilter and d1-seven,
I would like to bring my little testimony for informations in few days... I am a very recent but very happy owner
of these 2 incredible devices (The d1-seven is an upgrade of my d1-Six)

Quickly, the first (USB Gigafilter) is a real developer of the full potential of the DAC and when it's a totaldac, it's full of stars
in your ears ! and the second, probably the really end point of my Totaldac source with no more questions ! only answers.

my audio system actual & final (i hope so) :
d1-server (with double PSU & USBGigafilter) / d1-seven / Absolare S amplifier / New totaldac d150 speakers (coming soon!!)
& the little strings : Bibacord digital (AES-EBU) & analog (RCA), Voxativ for speakers.

Have nice music, be well
& see you in a few days
 
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Would you please tell us more about the Gigafilter? Has it been compared to other usb cables?

Many thanks!

Hi CKKeung,
i'am not a specialist of comparativ sessions and i don't really know what are the best references USB cords in our little world.
However, my GIGAfilter has been recently compared to a full UPTONE USB line ( JS2 PSU + LPS1 + IsoRegen + Totaldac USB classic)
and the result is that, this Regen line do also a great job of "USB cleaning" but the most signifiant difference
in favor Gigafilter (on the sidelines of this USB job) it's, his ability to continue to reveal a much more relaxed musical expression,
where the Regen line shows some signs of tension.

So 2 very goods solutions but for my part, the USB GIGAFilter is the really best USB devices that I have never heard, just plug & play... amazing !

Noticed, when you install the gigafilter on this full regen line the musical result is worse than the Gigafilter alone,
always these kinds of tensions.

be well
 
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Hi all,
after few days more, sorry but not really much to say in fact, with the usual audiophile words, just share my feeling.

the set d1-Server / USBGigafilter / d1-Seven composes what I heard better. The right resolvance of the very high-end digital
associated to the relaxed fluidity of the very high end analog, in a perfect sense of rhythm and this persistent feeling of "without limits".
Nothing seems to be missing, eveything is in place, the musical message and the musicians intentions are just here,
expressed in all its fullness, absolutely extraordinary.

All this source is just amazing, stunning.
Thanks to Vincent Brient for what is, for me, a real new reference !

This is the end.... and the beginning.

PS : You think it's probably too much, I really understand you ... just try!
 
oups !
 
Hi all,
after few days more, sorry but not really much to say in fact, with the usual audiophile words, just share my feeling.
the set d1-Server / USBGigafilter / d1-Seven composes what I heard better. The right resolvance of the very high-end digital
associated to the relaxed fluidity of the very high end analog, in a perfect sense of rhythm and this persistent feeling of "without limits".
Nothing seems to be missing, eveything is in place, the musical message and the musicians intentions are just here,
expressed in all its fullness, absolutely extraordinary.
All this source is just amazing, stunning.
Thanks to Vincent Brient for what is, for me, a real new reference !
This is the end.... and the beginning.
PS : You think it's probably too much, I really understand you ... just try!

Hello BF38,

Congratulations!

I auditioned the GigaFilter USB cable at the Totaldac Hong Kong dealer a few days ago.

Totaldac GigaFilter 1.jpg
Totaldac GigaFilter 2.jpg

The box in the middle of the cable is much larger than the previous Totaldac USB Cable. The cable is much thicker than the lower/older model too.

I would say that there is a quantum leap in the sonic performance. This new GigaFilter is in another league and gives so much more resolution, dynamics and authority than the lower model.
It is ordered by a customer of the HK dealer and just arrived and used for less than 2 hours. I guess there shall be furhter improvement after some burn-in.

All along my favourite USB cable is Vertere HB V3 but I think this GigaFilter may be better.
The HK dealer will get a demo GigaFilter soon and I will go to hear it again after it's well burned-in. Will update you again in WBF here. :)
 

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