Canuck Audio Mart

I had this posted in the dealer section but that stuff doesn't get posted on the front page so I thought I would post it here to try to get a little more interest going

Just received my first shipment of the Music Hall dac25.2 and thought a round of demos would be in order. I haven't seen any items being passed around lately and thought it would be good to get the word out.

The dac 25.2 looks to have almost everything that we look for in a dac. Balanced, coax, optical, and a USB input. Outputs are Balanced or RCA.
The dac 25.2 features Texas Instruments PMC 1796 24/196 dac chip that has 123 dB dynamic range 8x oversampling digital filter and just 0.0005% THD. The dac 25.2 upsamples to either 24/ 96 kHz or 24/192 kHz (selectable on the front panel). You can also leave the upsampler off for 16/44.1 kHz.
For reclocking and anti jitter there is a Phillips 74HC574 in conjunction with the Texas Instruments SRC1492 Asynchronous Sample Rate Converter.
For output there is an Electro Harmonix 6922 tube.
To top it off it comes with a 1/4" headphone jack with independant volume control. The headphone amp is quite robust. It was more than loud enough for me and I didn't reach the limit.

Like I said this unit has all the makings of a fine DAC and to my ears it sounds as good as any I have heard.......but I haven't heard that many.

This is where the good people of CAM come in.
I'll put one out for demo and if interested sign up ,keep the unit for a week test it and post your impressions, then pass the unit on to the next person on the list......I hope there is a list.

The MSRP for the dac25.2 is $795 but I'm introducing them at $650 with shipping. US price is $595 so factor in the exchange and we are right there.

So sign up and I'll keep tabs on the list and where it is. PM the person ahead of you your address or you can PM me and I'll forward it.
All I ask is that you send it with tracking and insurance to the next person. shouldn't cost more than $20.
Thanks and enjoy.

I have two people signed up
Lorin E in SK
Paul B in ON
after that it is wide open

Paul

Hobopaul, it seems to be a good offering with a reasonable price.

In order to get out the most of the testing, I would recommend the following:

1. Can you burn in demo dac for at least 100 hours prior to sending to the first tester? Or, ask the first tester to do it before starting listening test.

2. Dac sound is affected with digital cable, power cable and the isolation from vibrations.

It would be good if all testers could test under similar conditions to minimize the number of variables , because there are too many already(digital source, preamp/amp/speakers, room accoustics)

Can you provide digital cable and power cable if there is no captive one.
Nothing fancy is needed - shielded $10 Volex 14/3 will do.

That way, testers can test standard setup and fancy setup if they have expensive power cable / interconnects.

For vibration control, I recommend heavy butcher's block because almost everyone has one in the kitchen.

I would like to know if this DAC can accept higher than 48/16 on USB input.

All the best with your endeavour and good luck !

Paul,

I have no doubt that the MH Dac is a fine piece of kit, but as far as I can see (and regardless of what tips you may be getting from another CAM sponsor) a lack of interest in the dealer's forum does not constitute reasonable grounds to post this in the General Forum.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=535

ben

Hi Paul
It's a great opportunity to test this very interesting tube DAC.
Pleas count me in. I'm in TO.

Thanks

Noam

Thanks for the tips and suggestions gents.
Tweakedwire
I'll talk to Music Hall re your 48/16 question. Excuse my ignorance but do you mean 48kHz 16 bit. You can upsample to 192/24 but not sure if one necessarily follows the other.

Re the power cord. I have included a Unity Basic Link power cord with the demo unit as well as the stock power cord. Anyone who wants to do some swapping is welcome to do so.

As far as keeping the demos of a similar nature I'm not sure if that is what I am looking for. One of the biggest selling features IMO is the unit's versatility. Balanced, unbalanced, usb, optical, coax. You could hook this thing up to a myriad of sources and that is what I am looking for. I'm hoping it sounds just as good hooked up to a Squeezbox as it does playing mp3 files or lossless or to a midfi cd or dvd player or through a nice transport with balanced outs.

The demo was burned in by myself for 30-40 hours and by the time it is done by our first tester we'll have over 100 hours.


Ben and admin or anyone offended by having this posted outside of the dealers' forum I apoligise. I posted this topic here because the dealer forum doesn't show up on the front page. (maybe that was the intent) and if most people are like me they don't sift through the forum index looking for interesting topics. If there is no interest this topic will quietly fade away and I won't beat the bushes trying to revive it. Not sure what you are trying to say re "another sponsor" but feel free to say what is on your mind.

I'll give it a wirl

OK here is the lineup so far,

Lorin has the dac25.2 right now in Saskatoon
Nightranger1964
Audionutt (may have to try to work something out with Lorin as you are in S'toon as well)
MKReid
Noams1
omclive
ktuuri
polarboy in May

I would like to try a Demo. I like the balanced connections, it's what I use with my Benchmark. Transport is a Modded Parts Connection Music Hall CD-25 with Balanced 110ohm output to the Dac.

Glad you posted it in this forum. I very rarely look at the dealer forum.

ktuuri
How is the cd25 with the Benchmark?
I never look at the dealer forum either

The CD-25 works very well with the Benchmark, I'm very happy with the Music Hall CD-25. It sounds fine on its own but the mods that were done are done with the thought of it being used as a dedicated Transport with a Dac.

Consider this Paul B. in too. I'm in the market for a DAC. I'll PM you my vitals.

Three Pauls on one forum. That's gotta be some kind of record.

No Johns, Georges or Ringos. Not to mention, no Peters or Marys.