DAC or Tube buffer

wanted to upgrade my existing system. Need advise from you guys shall I get a DAC or tube buffer for my Marantz cd63se ?

If possible recommend me the brand of the DAC or tube buffer.

What kind of sound are you looking for? Current system Tube or Solid State?

I think it is batter to get a DAC, if u wanna tube taste some DAC come with tube output stage
For DAC if u dont want to take risk of build quality, cambridge audio DACMagic will be a good choice, else Xindak DAC-5 has a tube output stage but Xindak needs double price of DACMagic

Musical Fidelity X10D is a great partner for Marantz 63SE

- br@d - wrote:What kind of sound are you looking for? Current system Tube or Solid State?

I'm currently using tube amp.

Hmmm... If you have a budget over RM1K. DAC skydyna's recommendation is worth an audition.

Musical Fidelity X10D is good if you have RM1 K ++/ Try the Yaqin tube buffer with Western Electic 403B tubes. Better sound to me

Hi brad, show us the picture of your tube buffer pls.....

limsy wrote:Hi brad, show us the picture of your tube buffer pls.....

Go to http://soundt.18.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=3540

Its not mine but its the same in addition, a few more feedback from users around the world

ss kong..u can read the review about the YAQIN tube buffer in the forum...quite a few using yaqin tube buffer including me

p/s- http://www.epinions.com/content_312424107652

china made DAC AH is damn good!

Hi,I just offer u the Yaqin 6J1 tube buffer at RM430 delivery to you.

Edwin 0167887786

hi..just wondering...can i use tube buffer if my amp is solid state?

Sure solid state amp also can be use ,this will make the sound more warm with the Western 403b tube.

Hi CKHOO,

Is the Yaqin originally come with Western 403b tube ?

Come with Chinese Tube 6J1,can be upgrade as you like.

thanks for the inputs brad
always wonders how will it sound
some said it improves a lot on vocals
will have to audition later

just wandering the price for a pair of tubes
& whats available for different output?
thanks

azri wrote:thanks for the inputs brad
always wonders how will it sound
some said it improves a lot on vocals
will have to audition later

just wandering the price for a pair of tubes
& whats available for different output?
thanks

hi azri..maybe will help

http://www.hifi4sale.net/equipment-discussions-f6/yaqin-tube-buffer-t629.htm

http://www.hifi4sale.net/equipment-discussions-f6/6j1-vacuum-tube-equivalent-replacement-t628.htm

ahhh.. nice of u to link the thread, tqs again
i think im into buffer soon, perhaps in between audio alchemy & cps

any buffers dealers around klang valley??
is it still rm430??

i'll be in bangi early july
just leave contacts pls, tqs

great, now im trap between yaqin & burson

azri wrote:any buffers dealers around klang valley??
is it still rm430??

i'll be in bangi early july
just leave contacts pls, tqs

Azri..i dont think so got dealer in klang valey...we all buying from MR EDWIN nice guy from JOHOR 016 7887786...

hopefully u can join our yaqin club

Fizi,

i am considering to inject some tube warmth into my system, what is the significant improvement that you notice with the Yaqin?

hi wywong..maybe will help..just click to read the review about it

http://www.hifi4sale.net/equipment-discussions-f6/yaqin-tube-buffer-t629.htm

http://www.hifi4sale.net/equipment-discussions-f6/6j1-vacuum-tube-equivalent-replacement-t628.htm


[/quote]

wywong wrote:Fizi,

i am considering to inject some tube warmth into my system, what is the significant improvement that you notice with the Yaqin?

Change your signal capacitors to a warmer one like Mundorf M-caps =)

Yaqin 6J1 Buffer last unit with me now ,first come first serve .The next will arr on early July .

Call 0167887786 Edwin

chkoo, tqs for your PMs but i've decided to go for pre tube
just got one (diy on audionote circuit) & its on its way

btw, ur price is good

sskong wrote:wanted to upgrade my existing system. Need advise from you guys shall I get a DAC or tube buffer for my Marantz cd63se ?

If possible recommend me the brand of the DAC or tube buffer.

try upgrade the Marantz. Anytime can beat those Expensive >2K new player.

Mod done : Blackgate, OPA, new Clock, damping,etc

chua, how much does it cost to do those upgrades?
is there any diff with 63 & 63se?

Most improvement comes from the cock and the blackgate capacitors. The costs is in the components and the components are more expensive than buying a used cd63. The costs of upgrade is around RM 600.

Mechanically cd63se is better and some components used are better.

Tube buffer ? .... why add another stage in the signal path that will add colouration?

Might as well go for a proper tube pre-amp like a AudioNote or Audio-Research amp. Or maybe an old Sonic Frontiers unit would be good too, instead of getting a tube-buffer that just kind of confuses things around abit.

Or how about both ... get a Tube DAC ... like the Audio Research DAC-1.

U get both Tubey analog sound, and a proper DAC all in 1 box!

It is like adding one buffer after the other. Afterall the buffer would give unity gain, be it source follower, emitter follower or Cathode follower. I have seen that and done that too during those days.

It is like there is some weekness in the system somewhere and try to cover that with some gear in between. Probably the only weakness audioresearch has is dollar sense.

each time a "buffer" stage is added, phase coherency is compromised due to the impedance changes that causes signal reflections. We're talking about analog AC signals here, and this is exactly what happens when more buffer stages are added.

In a nutshell, analog buffers are kind of a quick-fix but they are not without its drawbacks. It is better to start off with a proper equipment partnering in the first place.

Yeah, "Audio Research" does come with a heftier price tag, but: you gets what you pays for...

agreed...but...
1. it is one of the cheapest way to upgrade your system rather than changing your system
2. resell value still okay rather than 'reclocking' or 'opamp' your cd player
3. by changing the tube you can improve the sound too (i guess)

thats what i heard too about tube buffers
each tube have different characteristic
u need to change them to suite ur listening

chua55 wrote:

sskong wrote:wanted to upgrade my existing system. Need advise from you guys shall I get a DAC or tube buffer for my Marantz cd63se ?

If possible recommend me the brand of the DAC or tube buffer.

try upgrade the Marantz. Anytime can beat those Expensive >2K new player.

Mod done : Blackgate, OPA, new Clock, damping,etc

Hi Chua55,

Mine already modded by TS Lim.

pakleng wrote:china made DAC AH is damn good!

Hi Pakleng,

Do you mean Lite DAC AH ? Are u using one ? Which one u recommend MF X10D or Lite DAC AH ?

Probably we can meet up to AB the modded cd63 if u are around KL. I perform quite some mod jobs and would like to learn something here. just show us a photo and that would help alot.

recently I modded another cdp using tda1543.

If you listen to Lite AH u will notice the treble is not as clear and crispy due to NOS mode. Its high roll off as early as 10kHZ and by 20kHZ it will drop 3dB. you can compensate that by sin x/x. and if u check the spdif receiver chip, you will be so surprise. I have heard some good dac uses 1ppm reclocker and that's quite impressive.

sskong wrote:

pakleng wrote:china made DAC AH is damn good!

Hi Pakleng,

Do you mean Lite DAC AH ? Are u using one ? Which one u recommend MF X10D or Lite DAC AH ?

yes, the lite.

which one is better depends on your music taste

but my personal taste will be the X10D


btw, my friend has a 47Lab DAC with X10D output buffer built in one chassis

I have booked one also

no need spend too much to modify a CD player,the sound still "covered with cloth" even if you spent price of a plasma TV to upgrade it..
A vintage belt driven turntable can beat CD player flat.. example: Thorens TD125 + SME3009 + Shure M75.

Sorry a little late to the party but a clock (as apposed to the word in the quote makes a night & day difference. I have a 63Ki & believe me, the first time I heard it after the clock transplant floored me completely. Everything from the high to the low sounded better. So, do yourself a favour & get a clock.

There are many clocks available from the market nowadays. Even DIY ones. I had a Trichord CLock III but have since move that to my Theta Pearl. Ya, CD63e with Trichord beat Theta Pearl + external DAC by a large margin I tell u. Replacd it with a DIY clock & still sounds better than stock.

chua55 wrote:Most improvement comes from the cock and the blackgate capacitors. The costs is in the components and the components are more expensive than buying a used cd63. The costs of upgrade is around RM 600.

Mechanically cd63se is better and some components used are better.

wabun wrote:no need spend too much to modify a CD player,the sound still "covered with cloth" even if you spent price of a plasma TV to upgrade it..
A vintage belt driven turntable can beat CD player flat.. example: Thorens TD125 + SME3009 + Shure M75.

I am totally agree on this

no need Thorens

even the cheapest turntable with audiotechnica stylus can do

I got mine from a place called Audio Synergy in Perth Australia. The head man there is an ex Singaporean by the name of Clifford. He fitted the Trichod to my CD 63KI initially. This was in 1998. After a few years, I managed to transplant the clock to the Pearl.

Fast forward to present day, I believe Octave Electronics @ Jalan Timur can help u. They got clock coming out of thie ears & I'm sure they can advice u on which one will be the best for u & your budget. I think they will even install it for u if u are not technically savvy enough.

Regards,
Joe Ling

wsyam wrote:joeling..mind sharing where did ya get the theta pearl clock ?....and how much was it?....i have a naim cd 3...op amps already mod..now wants to get it clocked...

is the Trichord CLock III a Crystal oscillator ?

It's something that replaces the crystal in the CD player. A PCB board that generate better clock or something like that.

http://www.trichordresearch.com/clockworks.html



Looks something like this.

mugenfoo wrote:is the Trichord CLock III a Crystal oscillator ?

Regards,
Joe Ling

I have a MHDT Paradisea 3 Limited Edition to go my friend.....