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Re: Now, I must return to the soldering iron, I haven't yet wired up the components.

Arend-jan
At present I am totally happy with my analogue set-up. I couldn't be happier. Generally, when I have a piece of equipment, I don't change it. I keep it and occasionally upgrade it, as I describe in detail on the web page given to me on http://www.theanalogdept.com/anthony_hind.htm
Notice my ancient but tweaked double-PSU Quad ESL 57s, my tweaked Marantz 8B-Quad Amps (Quad IIB or not …), my tweaked Croft pre (with Silk transformer-out), and my three turntables. This is the system of a person who is perhaps a little too happy where he is.
It generally gets the "slippers and pipe" description rather than the "unhealthy" permanent changer.
I just tweak, i don't change, and that is perhaps why I am a little unhappy. I would really have liked to be able to keep on using my Tandy portable that I had tweaked to kingdom-come (see the PSU used with it).
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I have three turntables, a Garrard 301, a Thorens TD 124, and a Linn. I can clearly state that at present I am happiest with my most recently tweaked Garrard 301.
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This is able to extract far more micro details than the other two, which allows me to clearly differentiate between the string types on the instrument I am learning, the Renaissance lute.
The lute calls for the discrimination of micro-dynamics (as opposed to macro-dynamics).
In my previous messages I clearly state that this is exactly what I am hoping to extract with the K&K DAC allied to output transformers. That is why I have begun this experiment.

As a trained theoretical phonetician used to polemical discussion. I also enjoy trying to tease out the whys and wherefores of things, rather than simply taking things as they are. Perhaps it is a professional quirk; but you will find it in all my messages, on all my discussion sites.

I do enjoy discussion on the Web, in the domain of hifi, of photography and of lute playing. To take a non-polemical example, I really do enjoy arguing in favour of gut strings over synthetics, almost as much as playing the instrument. I have as much pleasure out of discussing, as I do out of doing. I readily admit that I am not just a "doer", but for me this not a criticism, it is positive.
Even here, I do not mean to criticize those lutists who use synthetics. There are many different ways of doing things that can be equally valid.

For the last couple of months, after my Tandy-portable finally failed (it really was good, as CDPs go, a friend with the Consonance ref 2,2 really admired the sound); and while trying to work out what way I should finally go, in the digital domain, I raised the issue of NOS versus OS, both on Audiogon, on Audioasylum, but also on the French site homecinema-fr.com.
I have also communicated on the subject with 6Moons and TNT reviewers and received a number of interesting responses.
I am not in a position to make listening tests, so I hoped I might be able to borrow other people's ears. If I could tease-out a description of the differences between NOS and OS, I might be able to make some decisions in consequence. My experience with the 16x2 portable also fed this reflection.
My messages can be found on all of these sites, and anyone can observe that I raised the question entirely independently of K&K, and before their new DAC was even announced.

This should not, therefore, be seen as a criticism of the OS RAKK DAC. I have not as yet heard it; and I would be sitting here now listening to it if I had managed to finish my project, I can assure you.
However, hifi units under construction, as you all must know, have a habit of resisting.
The bolt you bought is never quite long enough … I don't need to tell you this. Only people who repeatedly make the same model, escape from this sort of situation.

Thus from time to time I have left the drill or soldering iron to discuss with you all.
It is true that I am hoping that this will be well-worth-the-effort; and worried that this might not in fact be so. While doing this, I have had to drop both my lute playing and my listening to LPs.
That is my look-out, but I realize I am not quite so happy about that at the moment, although perhaps I will be in a few weeks time.

As a matter of fact, my intention from the outset was to use this early RAKK DAC as a test bed for a future DAC. This is an early RAKK offered to me for that purpose.

The idea was that I would be able to test my PSU and other parts, at a risk only to this freebie DAC, and then if all went well, and I liked the sound, I would upgrade. I was constructing I hoped for the future.

As you say, I have taken great trouble and given a great deal of thought to setting this up.
I was bolting and unbolting pieces of metal even in my dreams.

This care can hardly be considered as a criticism of K&K.

Indeed, the number of positive reactions (in favour of the RAKK DAC) in response to my non-negative message shows that a polemical approach can help to bring out the truth.

Thank you, anyway for your positive comments on my constructions. It is really appreciated. I think the care I have gone to to house the RAKK DAC proves that I have no aprioiri negative approach.
Indeed, I believe I am the only person on the French web site homecinema-fr.com who has ever mentionned the RAKK DAC, and at each mention the RAKK DAC web address appears.

If I have been a little long winded, it is because I needed to escape from the difficulties of this project. I will no doubt overcome them, I usually do, but at the momentthey are getting the better of me.
Regards
Anthony

PS I regret that very few people appear to be willing to discuss the merits or otherwise of OS or NOS, it seems to remain the area of "religious belief": You are for it, or against it.
I would really like to hear more debate of this issue, even if finally it doesn't get us very far.


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  • Re: Now, I must return to the soldering iron, I haven't yet wired up the components. - 13D3Tube 03/19/0711:54:20 03/19/07 (0)

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