DAC architecture reimagined - the Cascade DAC

[Solecky]

Yes, direct to M500 from built-in pre.

Thx

 

[Solecky]

Alma Audio had a room with this DAC

My mission: Must not like DAC this expensive.
Mission status: Total fail.

Incredible. Relaxed sound yet lively, plenty of jump when appropriate. Super detailed but warm and realistic. This thing is going to be problem…..

I think I needed to hear MSB with a tube in the circuit.

Tip of the hat to Alma Audio for best sound at CAF IMO.

Tracks played:
Cracker: Kerosene Hat
The Slow Show: Low
Boy Genius: Parting Glass
Heart: Darkside
Big Thief: Change

Thx for the comments

 

[asiufy]

Alma Audio had a room with this DAC

My mission: Must not like DAC this expensive.
Mission status: Total fail.

Incredible. Relaxed sound yet lively, plenty of jump when appropriate. Super detailed but warm and realistic. This thing is going to be problem…..

I think I needed to hear MSB with a tube in the circuit.

Tip of the hat to Alma Audio for best sound at CAF IMO.

Tracks played:
Cracker: Kerosene Hat
The Slow Show: Low
Boy Genius: Parting Glass
Heart: Darkside
Big Thief: Change

Backpacker,

Thank you for the kind words! Funny thing is, you *did* hear the MSB with a tube in the circuit! The Vinnie Rossi Brama preamp uses a pair of 300B tubes!
Anyway, thanks also for posting the track list... Most of the songs you requested will be in heavy rotation over here. Exquisite music taste you have, sir

See ya,
Alex

 

[Cincy2]

The following is a public service announcement for Cascade owners. After a lightning strike during Hurricane Helene, a surge on my ethernet line damaged the streamer in my system. It had to be repaired. I had a surge suppressor installed on the line and thought nothing of it. Shortly after that, I began to notice a loss of soundstage depth in even my best files. I was feeding the Cascade over home internet with files stored on an iMac in my home office while I wait for my Pink Faun server. It wasn't too long before I became very worried that something was amiss. One of the first changes I made to figure out what was going on was to take the surge suppressor out of the signal path and plug the Cascade directly into the ethernet outlet. The clouds parted and angels began to sing. I don't see why this would make such a big difference, but it did. The Cascade is killing it as I expected it would!

Eric