Abbas dac 2.1 se

[jespera]

Agree with you that the abbas dacs really shine when fed from a good cd transport. And aad material.

I think you should try the abbas usb-spdif converter.

 

[Campo007]

Hi LPG,

no tube-rolling so far for me, because already used my high-grade ones - very happy with them. Would also be carefully, because a lot of tube stages which need to harmonize, therefore I'm not too crazy and always use the NOS-tubes which have good measurements (proud owner of my Roetest https://www.roehrentest.de/).

As I also opt-in for XLR outputs, I can say: not worthwhile, as RCA way better with the Abbas regular copper Chinch cables (I've used €3k Audiomica XLR, fair comparison ;-).

Just did last night some in-depth comparison again with:
- Lumin U1 (Roon/Qobuz) + Abbas Hermes Sig (via RCA)
- Lumin U1 (Roon/Qobuz) + Abbas 3.2SE (via RCA)
- Grimm MU2 (Roon/Qobuz) (via XLR)
- Holo May KTE + Lumin U1 (Roon/Qobuz) (via XLR)
Pre-Amp: Soulution 725

Conclusion:
- 3.2 (TDA1541a) & Hermes (PCM63k-j) have slightly different tonality, but not too far away
- Still prefer Hermes, as for me the BurrBrown have some unique magic I love
- Is Abbas for me better than Lampizator, SW1X and Audio Note (owned serious contenders)? YES, because if you want to reach this tonality, you pay minimum 3 times more! Of course, we all now it most matters how the rest of your hifi-chain is setup'ed!
- Holo May KTE: best when using via USB to Streamer, but as it is a "traditional" R2R, can be too warm & blurry tonality (great for clinical-kind of speakers or active-ones aka Class-D)
- Grimm MU2, now owning it over 1y: anyone looking for his "end-game" streamer/roon-core/DAC, this is it. It combines the perfect worlds of analog (aka R2R/tube-based) and digital (Delta Sigma/FPGA-hybrid) sound signature in PERFECTION. Anyone spending that much, forget anything beyond €20k, sorry makes for me no sense anymore (yes, I'd test contenders in range up to €40k) - MY OPINION

Next tests in 2 weeks, when I exchange in my 2nd setup the speakers with full-range Cube Audio Lotus TQWT and getting finally my Pachanko Labs Streamer with Diretta Bridge. There I'll have brutal transparency and it maybe more obvious, will see.

WHY I'm all telling this in this Abbas-Thread?
..to show I'm not purely biased with Abbas gear and did serious DAC/streamer testing the last 6y, as many of you. Also, using 2 complete different hifi setups (low-efficiency speaker + transistor vs. high-efficiency + tube gear). Therefore, having my personal, strong opinion on it

Rgds
Gerald

I appreciate your comparisons. I currently have a Holo May KTE, and have had the pleasure of hearing @LanschePlasmaGuy 's Abbas. After reading this thread, i'm becoming very curious about a tube DAC. Maybe an Abbas.
How does the Holo compare to the Abbas?

 

[gerihifi]

I appreciate your comparisons. I currently have a Holo May KTE, and have had the pleasure of hearing @LanschePlasmaGuy 's Abbas. After reading this thread, i'm becoming very curious about a tube DAC. Maybe an Abbas.
How does the Holo compare to the Abbas?

Hi,

Holo is a good DAC, but have to say it best work with I2s ( in my case SACD/DSD transport) and USB.
Holo is for me always *lay back*, therefore recommended for highly analytical-sounding hifi chains. It is a typical R2R as intended originally;-)

But if I compare with a Grimm MU2, you will never go back to Holo. Therefore using it very specific for my USB-based Streaming solution in my *smaller* chain.

Abbas Burrbrown or Phillips implementation for sure also on those lay back side, but a bit more engaging, clarity and very authentic soundstage. I also compared it with Grimm MU2, even unfair price-wise and technology-wise, but MU2 is a different league and brutal good in longterm listening. This beast does everything fine, but not too much! Like I experienced with Rockna Sig, Chord Dave or Mola Mola.

Another example: you can play pretty bad recordings with MU2 and still sounding *ok*, if i do the same with Abbas *unhearable*, same applies for me personally with Holo. Many, many other DACs are just adding too much to the sound, nothing for me and I know some people like this...fine!

Greets
Gerald

 

[Campo007]

Hi,

Holo is a good DAC, but have to say it best work with I2s ( in my case SACD/DSD transport) and USB.
Holo is for me always *lay back*, therefore recommended for highly analytical-sounding hifi chains. It is a typical R2R as intended originally;-)

But if I compare with a Grimm MU2, you will never go back to Holo. Therefore using it very specific for my USB-based Streaming solution in my *smaller* chain.

Abbas Burrbrown or Phillips implementation for sure also on those lay back side, but a bit more engaging, clarity and very authentic soundstage. I also compared it with Grimm MU2, even unfair price-wise and technology-wise, but MU2 is a different league and brutal good in longterm listening. This beast does everything fine, but not too much! Like I experienced with Rockna Sig, Chord Dave or Mola Mola.

Another example: you can play pretty bad recordings with MU2 and still sounding *ok*, if i do the same with Abbas *unhearable*, same applies for me personally with Holo. Many, many other DACs are just adding too much to the sound, nothing for me and I know some people like this...fine!

Greets
Gerald

Thanks for the great review Gerald. I'm currently using my Holo with USB from my streamer and i2S from my CD transport. I like how it sounds, but i'm still curious about the Abbas.

 

[gerihifi]

Thanks for the great review Gerald. I'm currently using my Holo with USB from my streamer and i2S from my CD transport. I like how it sounds, but i'm still curious about the Abbas.

Hi,

don't get fooled with the usual response "it is day & night...bla..bla..bla" - NO it will not be like that. I really get angry about those statements, especially if you go in the "Ultra-Fi" area of DAC's & Streamer, because so many new DACs out there are getting closer to those super-expensive ones!

Tube rolling will have some slight impact, and you can play around with "tube-equalizing" I call it, I'm a bit more conservative in case of DAC's, because never had any serious sounding change with Abbas gear (yes, I already use good quality NOS ones and no new productions for his gear). Also was attending some session with Lampi Pacific & Horizion and someone proudly tried to convience the audience, how much tube rolling has changed "dramatically" the sound.... not for me, and I am a pretty sensitive listener.... <<< MY EARS

Abbas will sound more "open" and especially if you like Jazz or classical much more "authentic" in comparison with Holo, but (!!) in my chain . So without doing your own test, it only can be a tiny hint.

Best regards
Gerald