err.. no rca cables hmm but it comes with coxial cables right?
How if i get a rca to mini to connect to predator amp or it is possible using coxial converter?
I dun know about anything desktop rigs and currently i planning to pair with my laptop which has spdif output
How bout littledot mk2++ heard they able drive high impeance cans but are suitable for my laptop which has spdif output
Please advise

Zero DAC pair with normal cdp can produce nice sound quality like a RM2k player?

no coaxial....only cheap ass optical.

coaxial converter? convert to wat? u need the rca-mini to connect from zero to predator.

ur laptop spdif is coaxial? then u just need a coaxial to coaxial cable to connect from laptop to zero then rca-mini to predator. if its optical then can use the optical cable that comes with the zero

LD MK2++ no idea.

I have bought 2 sets. 1 set I would like to try my own. Anyone interested for the 2nd set, let me know.

Sorry for the mystery, i really dunno how to post the picture. anyway here is the translation taken from the website (sorry for the english, it was my bad english)


Application : Generally the IC opamp application is designed for industrial usage. When the IC opamp is used for audio, the performance is less than satisfactory. This discrete opamp uses accurate matching of components and audiophile grade resistors, combined with dedicated audio design circuitry and gives a smooth and natural output sound. This discrete opamp can be used to replace existing amplifier or DAC upgrade.

OPA – Earth : Our first generation discrete opamp has been sold throughout the world by other marketing means. This discrete opamp utilizes integrated cascode circuit with the schematic based on single channel circuit which is an improvement based on new improved parameters and technology. The sound characteristics is neutral and natural. THD Less than 0.0005%(1KHz), Operating voltage：±9 TO ±25V，Open loop gain：35DB，Operating current：Approx. 28MA（Single Output），Approx. 56MA（Dual Output）。

OPA-SUN : This discrete opamp uses full balanced circuit design which is widely accepted by our Hong Kong and American followers among our other products. The sound characteristics is energetic, huge dynamics and good impulse response. THD Less than 0.0003%(1KHz), Operating voltage ：±9 TO ±25V，Open loop gain：42DB，Operating current：Approx. 22MA（Single Output），Approx. 44MA（Dual Output）。

This discrete opamp not only can replace typical single or double output opamp, but also has a separate earth wire that can be connected to the earth of the player. Even if the earth is not used, the output sound will have slight difference. User can choose to decide his own, but we recommend to connect the earth wire to ground.

Dual OPA:It can replace AD712, AD827, C4570, JRC4580, JRC5532, JRC5532D, JRC5534, LF353, LF358,LM833N, NE5532, NEC4520, NEC4570, NJM2068D, NJM2114, NJM2214D, NJM4558, NJM4558D, NJM4560, NJM5532, NJM4558P, OP275, OPA2132, OPA2134, OPA2604, RC4558D, RC4558, TL052, TL072,LT1057,BA5218,EL2244,LM4562

Single OPA:It can replace LF356, LF357, NE5534, LT1122, OPA627,OPA637,OPA604, AD797,AD811, AD844,OPA603,OPA134.

Price:
OPA-EARTH Dual OPA USD22.5/1 unit (24*24*40)
OPA-EARTH Single OPA USD12/1 unit (24*11*40)

OPA-SUN Dual OPA USD30/1 unit (24*24*40)
OPA-SUN Single OPA USD16/1 unit (24*11*40)
(Without Postage)

Extension lead of the OPA, price only add USD3/unit,

How much a normal coaxial cable cost?

I also not sure bout it but it has 3.5 audio input (sorry i am a newbie at this)
My laptop is acer aspire 6920g gemstone
Rca to mini hmm will it affect my sound if i use it connect to zero dac like loss in audio or inteference?

I dunno should i go for Zero + my cheapo cd player or go for a Marantz cd player. I have RM2k for a cd player. Please advice me, thanks!!

Depends on what kind of sound u are after. ZERO is a 24bit DAC, it gives the resolution and dynamics that u want. However if u want vocal, you can also tweak it to your liking (although not too much lah).

Depends on how much you expect, I have been happy with it. Whether it sounds 2k or not, it depends on your purpose.

---

Added on August 4, 2008, 9:11 pm

I would suggest dont go for too cheap one. Try to look for Canare as starters or Belden. Take a look at this, but not necessary to buy from them.
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/digital-audio/index.htm

SPAM
http://hifi4sale.blogspot.com/2008/08/dog-...ingle-dual.html

y spam heheh

Anyone here has receive the DAC from 3rd bulk?
I have been Pm GodLoveSxS but he seems to be missing from 2 august.

Huh? Most of us collected our units on Sunday at KL Sentral as per his PM. Didn't you check-in here for updates?

---

Added on August 5, 2008, 11:33 am
Wah... ccschua bringing more poison to the thread! USD30 is a lot more reasonable than what those fellas are paying in the US (Head-Fi), which is USD50. Another bulk on the horizon?

---

Added on August 5, 2008, 11:40 am
Zero will improve the SQ, yes, but don't expect miracles. Hoping to pair it with a RM300 DVD player to achieve the SQ of a RM2k is frankly quite tough. Gatevalve have recently tested the Marantz CD5001 + Zero and found it to be almost on par with CD6002 which cost about 1.4k. He then tested CD6002 + Zero and found that it's almost on par with the 2.5k KI Sig. Further testing on KI Sig with and without Zero, cannot hear much difference so he bought CD6002. Hope this helps.

wut i found 63-KI is different character compare to current KI

how the opa827

Anyway, I have cancelled the order of 2 sets and decide to just order 1 set of both earth and sun.

I will test and see how it performs.

I hope some guys can post the test results of DY2000.

mADmAN bro,just received Zero dac from GodLuvSxS on last sunday.
Pls add me in the owner list. Thanks

Because haven get the SPDIF converter, so i use PSC805 to output the optical signal.
And also try out opamp DY2000, really produce warm sound compare wit OPA2604.
For my philips hp8900 headpone, i prefer more on DY2000. Because HP8900 harsh on high vocal.
So, DY2000 can reduce it but also less detail compare wit OPA2604.

added kukarchoon to the owners list...

other owners, pls lemme know to add u in the list like kukarchoon did..

im too lazy to read and see whether or not u own it through ur discussions

where you get DY2000? interested!

I did check here for updates but as for the COD date i was not in KL & i'm not living at KL, so i requested him to post it to me as i have already paid him the postage fees. Anyone here got his H/P number going to call him up.

---

Added on August 5, 2008, 8:35 pmGot his number on the sales topic.

Hi bro, sorry for not sending out your unit yet. I just got the shipment by saturday evening and post office was not operating during Sunday. Somemore my phoneline have been sucky for these two days while Monday and today I'm busy working at KL and just back to Ipoh. Promised will send it out by tomorrow. very sorry, please forgive me

grap this last unit from GodLuvSxS on last Sunday

so how's the feeling listening to the digital DAC, compared to your average soundcard ? compare to your CDP ? compare to other DAC ?

now if u put in the opamp, LM 4562, LT 1057, OPA 627, u should notice the difference sound char. to notice the sound difference, get yourself some good reference CD. best to get the 24bit recording.

Why dont u wait for the OPA Earth, suppose to giv u neutral and natural (soft and delicate ) sound.

If you get the original track of this one, it will shock u.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBq7XRa6uZM&feature=related

The part where he play the harmonics really lively high.

---

Added on August 6, 2008, 12:40 amWith regards to the Nomenclature of the Earth and Sun OPA, it goes like this.

Earth, representative of mother nature, peace, has the sound that binds this element.

Sun represents Openness, attack, vivacity, can clearly shows the dynamics of musics.

If the support for these products is encouraging, the designer has another unit in Mind - Moon, with the soft and warm glow tubes like sound.

Hope to receive my unit by next week.

Have not even powered up the Zero yet. Not much time to do it at home, that's why I wanted the USB converter so I can do the burn-in at the office and cart it home after burn-in... now will take a lot longer at home. Will only try the 827 after burn-in so can do another round of checking. I also have the 627 to compare with. Now waiting for ccschua to burn-in his Earth & Sun and give us the review so can have another upgrade.

---

Added on August 6, 2008, 8:53 pm
Have not even powered up the Zero yet. Not much time to do it at home, that's why I wanted the USB converter so I can do the burn-in at the office and cart it home after burn-in... now will take a lot longer at home. Will only try the 827 after burn-in so can do another round of checking. I also have the 627 to compare with. Now waiting for ccschua to burn-in his Earth & Sun and give us the review so can have another upgrade.

get it from Godluv last sunday but no time to burn it....

Hi guys, i just got a reply back from my USB to SPDIF converter supplier, the same brand converter got no more stock and no more in production, so I go source for another brand, and found this:



USB to Coaxial converter
================
why coaxial instead of spdif?
- During short distance signal transmit, coaxial performs better because during the SPDIF's light to electronic conversion, signal conversion may lost.

This converter using CM102 chip and it's digital performance is close to Burr Brown's PCM2902 which renown for it's good USB to digital conversion. Personally I tested the default converter with my PCM2902 based converter before, I would say it's worth the more expensive price

Price is RM35, comes with USB cable and coaxial cable and shipped to your doorstep. So for those who didnt request refund for the converter, you could get this with another RM15 topup. or you may choose to refund too, it's up to you guys

For those who are interested get one, you may also contact me Thanks



Status:
=====
Terenz_C - ?
Kukarchoon - confirm
RAV4 - confirm
RAV4's friend - confirm
Yehlai - refund
irwan6179 - refund
ccschua - confirm
leshita87 - confirm
tunasandwich - confirm
jackal1983 - confirm
sakuragi01 - confirm

GodLuv, I'm OK with the top up. Will update on my friend when he confirms. When can this unit arrive? Zero now sitting at home coz no time to burn-in. My plan was to leave in office running 24hours via notebook. Thanks.

---

Added on August 7, 2008, 11:32 amOK, my friend confirm top up RM15. I'll do the RM30 transfer later today. Please let me know when the unit can be shipped. Thanks.

Does this usb > coax converter has buffer delay problem or jitters?

If I could confirm all order within this week, 2 - 2 1/2 weeks arrival



This i gotta check with the supplier, but coaxial is more fun to play with, can play around with different cable to tune the sound

what is it for? from PC USB to Zero's coaxial?

Yup, from PC usb to ZERO's coaxial

Anyway I just kicks start ZERO dac 4th bulk Anyone who are interested, please proceed to the counter Now waiting for Chua getting the discrete opamp, see how further ZERO dac could go with those discrete opamp

How long need to wait the BULK?

I'm going back to US on saturday 23rd which is 2 1/2 weeks from now. if you can guarantee delivery date before that, I would love to have it from you. pls advice

U mean the dac bulk? Once MOQ fulfilled, around 2 - 3 weeks arrival



Well it's kinda tight and I cant promise you ... if u dont mind using used converter unit, maybe I will sell you my unit first, different model but with both SPDIF and Coxial output, using the better chip that the one I recommend, I got it RM100 ... maybe we can deal around half the price I got, PM me

Another owner of Zero DAC , mADmAN could u add me to the thread, please...

Still burning though, hectic uni schedule, but zero have shown some serious capabilities with stock spec...

What source you use?

Actually the stock OPA2604 setup is quite up to the task, after modding my Aego 2's input cap, now OPA2604 is da best match compare to DY2000 (too smooth), OPA2107(vocal abit neutral, bright, depth not that good thus less 3D), LT1364(High sounds bright and weird to me)

In the end, synergy is your best friend

added

GodLuvSxS, pls count me in for the converter~
I will either bank in another RM15 2morow or Monday~
Thanks~

well, since i haven recieve da usb to coaxial converter yet, i hook it through m-audio transit from my laptop...
one question though, if i hook another dac to zero, izzit kind of waste, i mean both transit and zero are eventually dac...

I'm agree with the bold sentence. Kelly Clarkson song vocal and the back ground music were blend together more detail & my speaker tweeter were sound more neutral not too sharp.

Actually the stock OPA2604 sound is quite good, quite balance, but stay tune for more poisonous spread once the discrete opamp reach ccschua's hand Venom king he is

Oops. Tried the LT 1057.

Basically this opamp quite analytical. if u have warm and laid speaker and want to crank more detail out of it, try this.

It gives more acoustics, at the same time more bass. Bass is a little loose though.

the Earth and Sun already send out. by next week should get. Hope the sound dont disappoint us.

Estimate 1 week time for the discrete opamp arrival based on my last time experience Mr. Ho mentioned last time the BursonAudio bought off all first gen discrete opamp together with the copyright, that's why he didnt produce anymore! This time he wont sell off his copyright anymore, the ZERO gang should be his first marketing team Cant wait to hear chua's impression

---

Added on August 9, 2008, 3:45 pmUSB to coaxial converter order status:
========================

Terenz_C - ?
Kukarchoon - confirm
RAV4 - confirm
RAV4's friend - confirm
ccschua - confirm
leshita87 - confirm x 2 PAID
tunasandwich - confirm x 1 PAID
jackal1983 - confirm x 1 PAID
sakuragi01 - confirm

Hi guys, I received RM30 on 8th August but I cant get a clue who's money is that, the mysterious man please PM me

Wonder how are u guys are testing the unit and whats your setup. By now u should hear some difference. Do post some notes if u bring the Zero to test around.

If u are looking towards some RCA cables, there are some used rca currently on sale.

Some of the test results shows a simple SNIPPIT bypass job can have good results. Although not as good as HDAM, it is still an improvement.

Should reach at least 50 hours of usage for 3rd bulk guys, stock OPA2604 aint too bad for bright and revealing system

I seen some china user commenting on the SUN and EARTH discrete opamp, compared to OPA2604, those discrete opamp sounds rounder, soundstage is wider, depth is deeper, more details, more precise positioning, more discrete high, smoother, less sparkling but with lots more emotional.



USB to coaxial converter order status:
========================

Terenz_C - confirm x 1
Kukarchoon - confirm x 1 PAID
RAV4 - confirm x 1 PAID
RAV4's friend - confirm x 1 PAID
ccschua - confirm x 1
leshita87 - confirm x 2 PAID
tunasandwich - confirm x 1 PAID
jackal1983 - confirm x 1 PAID
sakuragi01 - confirm x 1


Order submitted

OK, I'm gonna do a quick review since I don't have much time to listen to the Zero. Managed to hook it up just after lunch today since I was off. My initial impression:

Off the bat, there was an overall improvement to the sound quality. I heard better details, instrument separation was more distinct and the voice, was like a veil has been lifted. Cleaner, clearer and more vibrant. Man... I didn't realize my DVD player was that bad... and the Zero have not even been burn-in yet.

My setup:

Toshiba DVD (7yrs old) -> Zero toslink cable -> Zero DAC -> XLO interconnect -> Audiolab 8000A -> Audioquest Indigo -> Bose AM5-II Bass Module -> VdH CS122 -> Bose AM5-II Satellites

Hi RAV4, it should be 8000A
you are not using NAD 320BEE meh?
How is Audiolab 8000A compare with your 320BEE?

Yup, fixed.
My Audiolab is like 17 years old it still sounds good. Friend of mine has the "original" Made in England NAD which has a nice warm sound but since it's only 30W per channel, needs proper pairing with more efficient speaker. The 8000A even though is rated at 60W, have been tested to push more than 80W so it has no problem driving more difficult speakers. 8000A is known to be neutral and transparent so having the Zero is very useful for tuning the sound as the 8000A will just amplify whatever that is sent to it.

I tried some R&B last night and found the treble a little harsh, as what ccschua mentioned when the Zero is not properly burned in. Otherwise, the sound is like I have upgraded to a nice CDP. 2 hours+ of burn-in and I'm already enjoying the improvement!

Sometimes digital transport also will change the sound alot, I just sold my own USB to SPDIF converter and I'm sticking with my friend Sharp MD's USB to SPDIF converter, before using my friend's converter, the ZERO with OPA2604 sound balance, warm and easy listenning but after changing to my friend's converter, it becomes bright, airy and lost the warm thick vocal which I crave for!

Chua mentioned he should getting the "EARTH" and "SUN" within these few days

*double post*

So far the following bypass job worth doing (if u dont use headphone)

1. pull the wire going to headphone board
2. snip/potong the 22pF output treble killer
3. replace the DAC power with Sanyo Oscon capacitor.
4. Replace the stock RCA plug with others such as Neutrik (WBT similar, pls recommend)

Can someone tell the value of sanyo oscon to be used.