Abbas dac 2.1 se
- Thread starter jespera
- Start date
Well obviously I can't speak for the guy but I highly doubt such an approach would fit into his retro parts philosophy. Pls a lot a the OEM boards are no longer available.
FYI Lampizator used to use these OEM boards too, before then moved to their delta sigma "engine" chips.
The new compression drivers and crossover tweaking has been really interesting to hear the changes over the last 6 months and now as you say clarity and rhythm are at there best.
These speakers with there sensitivity are super revealing of the music and the changes experienced rotating through the collection of Abbas DACs and tubes was encouraging enough to make the rather excited and broad statement that, you have NOT heard your Abbas DAC unless you are listening with profoundly good SET amps and high efficiency horns.
I didn't hear Brian's MSB set up but the synergy with the Abbas is breathtaking.
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| NEW MODELS OF DACs | ||||
| DAC 2.4 Signature 6SN7 | TDA1541A | 6X5+EAA91+E180F+ 2X 6SN7 | black front, 2pc power transformer "GD workshop" , 6SN7 GE or raytheon, two spdif inputs | Available / Click here for more info |
| DAC4.2 SE 6SN7 | PCM58P | 6X5+5R4+6BL7 | black/wooden, toroidal power transformers, soviet 6N8S tubes | Available |
| DAC U1 + 6SN7 output | EZ80 + 2X 6SN7 | black/wooden, toroidal power transformers, soviet 6N8S tubes | Available / Click here for more info | |
| DAC HERMES SE 24/96 CS8414 | PCM63P | 2X 5U4, 2X 6080 , 1X 5R4 ( 5U4, 5V4) | soviet tubes, black front panel, toroidal transformers +108USD AD1865(AD1862) module ( no chips) | Available |
| DAC HERMES SE 24/96 CS8414 | PCM58P | 2X 5U4, 2X 6080 , 1X 5R4 ( 5U4, 5V4) | soviet tubes, black front panel, toroidal transformers | Available |
| DAC HERMES SE 24/96 CS8414 | AD1865 ( AD1862) | 2X5U4, 2X6080 , 1X 5R4 ( 5U4, 5V4) | soviet tubes, black front panel, toroidal transformers +108USD PCM63 module ( no chips) | Available |
| DAC HERMES Signature 24/192 WM8804 | PCM63P -J | ECC88, 2X5U4, 2X6080 , 1X 5R4 ( 5U4, 5V4) | branded tubes, EI handmade transformers, premium parts, black face panel. +180 USD marble panel | Available |
| DAC HERMES Signature 24/192 WM8804 | PCM63P- K | ECC88, 2X5U4, 2X6080 , 1X 5R4 ( 5U4, 5V4) | branded tubes, EI handmade transformers, premium parts, black face panel. +180 USD marble panel | Available |
| DAC HERMES Signature 24/192 WM8804 | AD1865-K/AD1862K | ECC88, 2X5U4, 2X6080 , 1X 5R4 ( 5U4, 5V4) | branded tubes, EI handmade transformers, premium parts, black face panel. +180 USD marble panel | Available |
| DAC HERMES Signature 24/192 WM8804 | PCM58P-K | ECC88, 2X5U4, 2X6080 , 1X 5R4 ( 5U4, 5V4) | branded tubes, EI handmade transformers, premium parts, black face panel. +180 USD marble panel | Available |
| DAC 3.22 PSYCHE SE 24/96 CS8414 | TDA1541A | 2pc 5U4,5R4, 2X6080, 6SN7, 6X5 | soviet tubes, black front panel, toroidal transformers | Available |
| DAC PSYCHE Signature 24/192 WM8804 | TDA1541A R1 | ECC88,2X 5U4,5R4/5V4, 2X6080, EF13, EZ11 | branded tubes, EI handmade transformers, premium parts, black face panel or +180 USD marble panel | Available |
| DAC PSYCHE Signature 24/192 WM8804 | TDA1541A S1 crown | ECC88,2X 5U4,5R4/5V4, 2X6080, EF13, EZ11 | branded tubes, EI handmade transformers, premium parts, black face panel or +180 USD marble panel | Available |
You will need to email him to confirm availability and price.
The choices can be confusing . The Psyche and Hermes options in the signature are the ones to look at
But my take on it is that it depends on your taste and your system. Happy to bring round a 3.2SE for you to listen too.
Hi,
Abbas is very reserved if you ask him *what is your best dac?* - because he has a different approach as the usual DAC vendor I know that, because asked him the last couple years several times
So what I can tell you:
- all his "Signature" (not being confused with type SE, different!) specific named models are his highest grade and highest effort of time & material. After that model type it would be "SE" ones
- TDA1541x are the more top models (sure will change with the newer PCBs) and more complex to build, as many different tube stages are needed
- Than you can choose from various other DAC chips and it is all about your flavor.
- His new PCB layouts (Hermes/Psyche) also includes new digital output boards and therefore he offers now also AES/EBU and XLR...as well: Hand made copper foil capacitors!!
So my DAC he just finish, will be one of the first ones "Hermes Signature 24/192 with PCM63P-J, AES/EBU, XLR and RCA". Takes some time, because he is very cafefully evaluating his new design. My order is from January this year..
I'd also recommend to go for his new Psyche/Hermes DAC, even the older models are still outstanding!
Hope helps a bit
Gerald
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Thankyou GeraldHi,
Abbas is very reserved if you ask him *what is your best dac?* - because he has a different approach as the usual DAC vendor I know that, because asked him the last couple years several times
So what I can tell you:
- all his "Signature" (not being confused with type SE, different!) specific named models are his highest grade and highest effort of time & material. After that model type it would be "SE" ones
- TDA1541x are the more top models (sure will change with the newer PCBs) and more complex to build, as many different tube stages are needed
- Than you can choose from various other DAC chips and it is all about your flavor.
- His new PCB layouts (Hermes/Psyche) also includes new digital output boards and therefore he offers now also AES/EBU and XLR...as well: Hand made copper foil capacitors!!
So my DAC he just finish, will be one of the first ones "Hermes Signature 24/192 with PCM63P-J, AES/EBU, XLR and RCA". Takes some time, because he is very cafefully evaluating his new design. My order is from January this year..
I'd also recommend to go for his new Psyche/Hermes DAC, even the older models are still outstanding!
Hope helps a bit
Gerald
Stephen brought round his 3.2 to have a listen the other night - most kind of him and Bryan . It is quite a good dac and the components + techniquesused in there are most impressive indeed
Very exciting news Gerald, congratulations and hope it arrives soon. Looking forward to hearing your impressions and seeing a completed Hermes!!
Thankyou Gerald
It is always exciting listening to this DAC in a different system to you own. Abbas owners share the love
The experience gives me insight and a perspective on this crafted esoteric audio component. What is retrieved from this vintage 16bit chip may be perceived by some as limiting but you would surely be deaf to its beauty!!
To my ears it is shockingly good and brings valuable tone and gravitas to the music. A credit to Abbas who continues to get more and more from the 1541.
With excitement and anticipation , I look forward to hearing from a Psyche Sig owner, soon i hope for a comparison to the 3.2SE would be very interesting.
This is interesting that both Psyche and Hermes are going to share the same development for the first time.
With new digital output boards and wow, for certain hand made foil capacitors.
Helping deliver tone, clarity, pace, dimension (all 3) with great separation and weight an Abbas 3.2SE sporting a EML 80 mesh plate on a grayish afternoon.
I cant comment on the 2.1 will leave that to @jespera. I have heard a 2.2SE on a large horn system and it certainly wasn't struggling with instrument separation. Cant imagine these two being that different other than the systems they are played in ?
The larger format does provide more dimension, separation, detail etc if the 2.1 is found lacking in your system however.
I cant comment on the 2.1 will leave that to @jespera. I have heard a 2.2SE on a large horn system and it certainly wasn't struggling with instrument separation. Cant imagine these two being that different other than the systems they are played in ?
The larger format does provide more dimension, separation, detail etc if the 2.1 is found lacking in your system however.
Hi everyone new poster here (and friend of Stephen (Artnet). I'm another huge Abbas fanboy here.
@Nuforce please email Abbas directly to get his latest price list.
I love the Abbas Dac's so much that I bought a 4.1SE, then a 2.2SE (with a TDA1541 Studer double crown), a Abbas USB/SPdif converter and an Abbas Psyche Signature. I previously had many dacs including a MSB Premier with powerbase and pro isl.
They really scale as your system improves (They are wonderful with big horn systems).
LPG
@Nuforce please email Abbas directly to get his latest price list.
I love the Abbas Dac's so much that I bought a 4.1SE, then a 2.2SE (with a TDA1541 Studer double crown), a Abbas USB/SPdif converter and an Abbas Psyche Signature. I previously had many dacs including a MSB Premier with powerbase and pro isl.
They really scale as your system improves (They are wonderful with big horn systems).
LPG
Welcome Mr Plasma (Brian), look forward to your posts!
All abbas gear is truly great. Not just quite good. Theres nothing lacking and the better chain the more you’ll get.
… as the owner of 2.1se, 4.1se, 3.2se, abbas cd94 cd player, usb-spdif, and three abbas sut … I must rank high in the abbas fan boy competition.
… as the owner of 2.1se, 4.1se, 3.2se, abbas cd94 cd player, usb-spdif, and three abbas sut … I must rank high in the abbas fan boy competition.
Not sure what your are refering here. Seems you are happy with your Acuhorn R2R...His highest grade you would still be below <€10k. Abbas you cant compare with usual commercial DAC-vendors, as with his passion, time he spent on built details, vintage design patterns (who else is using old copper etc, besides some Japanese locale manufactures?).
Had a chance to compare Lampi pacific with horizon, different architecture and both (like "old" GG2) are exceptional! Whould I spent that money? NO, because for me personal I found my satisfaction with Abbas 3.2SE (+ new one with PCM 63-J) streaming + cd, PS Audio DirectWave Transport to I2S with Holo Audio May KTE (SACD), Grimm MU2 for Streaming + DSD native.
I'm someone having for different digital sources, different DACs! For me, there is NO universal perfect-DAC out there (not MSB, not dCS, not Aries Cerat, not Total Dac nor Playback Design). It's like finding the best speaker, not happening for me and therefore using 2 complete different hifi chains. Every design has his compromise! ...it's getting even worse if you go up the hifi-/ultra hifi latter (MY opinion).
Rgds
Gerald
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