OK, I've been reading through the reviews and I'm mighty interested to get a unit. Since this is a bulk, am I too late? Thanks.

Oh crap... can't order the Burr Brown then... or else have opamp no dac... crap...

mikelanding, I've just put down my order for the Zero DAC with GodLuv and would be very interested in your OPA627. However, I think the shipment can only come in by end of next month at the soonest. If you don't mind, hope you can wait till GodLuv orders the units before I put down my order? I don't want to have a set of OPA627 with nothing to plug it into. Thx!

---

Added on June 23, 2008, 5:51 pmWhat ru using to listen to your Zero? Thx

This post has been edited by RAV4: Jun 23 2008, 05:51 PM

Will let you know in a few days. GodLuv will order by Thursday. I just wanna make sure the units are ordered first. Thanks mike.

---

Added on June 24, 2008, 1:39 pmInteresting! I would assume the Zero to give you a minor "upgrade" to your 63SE since the Marantz is quite highly regarded. Ccshua wanted to know how different the Zero sounded compared to the 63SE's integrated DAC. Would you still have sound problem if you don't use "higher pitch" music?

I also have an aged system, 16yrs old Audiolab 8000A Amp + Bose AM5-II. Toshiba DVD is probably 7 yrs old. I missed out on an affordable used Meridian DAC so I hope the Zero will give my system a new boost in sound quality.

This post has been edited by RAV4: Jun 24 2008, 01:39 PM

OK, I get what you mean. Thanks. Actually, x dollar don't give you x amount of improvement. As it gets more expensive, the improvement is rather minor but the thing it, the little improvements are for those how can tell the difference... as in serious audiophiles. People who spent on systems that cost more than a link house! They are a different "animal" really.

The reason why the CD63SE weight so much is to ensure that the transport is more stable. More stable = less vibration = less error/jitter = less correction by the DAC = better sound. The very simple Ring that sticks to a CD to reduce vibration provided a cleaner n more focused sound, proving that vibration do degrade sound quality. That's why dedicated CD players still cost a few times more than DVD players. If I have spare cash lying around, I don't mind having a Meridian transport and DAC. Unfortunately, I didn't have a multi millionaire dad so have to play play with Zero DAC lor.

---

Added on June 25, 2008, 7:38 amWhat sort of music would you listen to for warm and laid back? I can only think of vocals so this will allow you to focus more on the voice than music?

So the DY 2000 "warm" up the entire dynamic range? I sure would like to try this on Jazz Vocals. Can't wait for your shootout. How much is the DY 2000 and where can I get 1? Thanks!

This post has been edited by RAV4: Jun 25 2008, 07:38 AM

Wah, rm30 is tempting.... but I've heard so much about Burr Brown so I think I'll still put my money there. I think all I need now is an opamp that covers the warm side. Waiting for ccschua's shootout to decide on what next.

yehlai, have you placed your Zero DAC order with GodLuv??? Hurry and join the gang!

Cool!!! Now, the dreadful waiting..... before we can join the club.

yehlai, those ratings on speakers and amps are just the maximum specifications. A lot of NAD owners use their 30W or 35W amps to match with 80W or 100W speakers. In this case, it's impossible that the AMP will blow the speakers coz it's not powerful enough but you will "clip" Amp coz it's not powerful enough to drive the speaker if you turn the volume up to say maximum. On the other end, there are people with 200W Krell amps driving 100W speakers but in this case, volume at 12 o'clock is enough to make your neighbour call the police. Pushing the volume up will then potentially blow your speakers but I think your ears will give up first.

Anyway, music is to be enjoyed so one shouldn't bother too much with all the specs. So long as you look out for the all important matter of matching the correct amp with speaker to get the sound characteristic you like, you're good to go.

Connection Method:
CDP/DVD -> RCA Output -> AMP
CDP/DVD -> Coax/Fiber Digital Output -> ZERO -> RCA Output -> AMP

So your interface to the AMP is still the same. It's not a complicated item so try not to make it so.


WOW! That's a really old school Japanese amp! Honestly, old Sony are not very "musical". If you're looking for an upgrade, I just saw someone selling a 2nd hand Arcam Alpha3, which would make a huge difference to your system. http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/726414

---

Added on June 27, 2008, 1:24 pmGreat! So when will there be a bulk for DY2000?

This post has been edited by RAV4: Jun 27 2008, 01:34 PM

LS3/5A is a speaker designed by BBC for broadcast use (also called Monitor speakers). BBC has strict control over the design so that they all sound similar. Rogers, Harbeth, KEF are the few who took the license to manufacture them under their own brand but still sounds very much like how BBC designed them to sound like.

Broadcast speakers are best for vocals and that's what LS3/5A are known for. Forget about trying to play rock or jazz on them. Those few hundred bucks speakers will sound better but if you mainly listen to vocals, even those speakers costing more than 10k won't sound better.

In my life time, I've only listened to the Harbeth LS3/5A once. It's like the singer was there in front of us. It was about 15 years ago and it was close to 3k back then. Now, I'm sure they're 6-8k. Don't forget, you will need to pair them with a suitable amp too.

Out of curiosity, have any of you Zero owners ever done a comparison with one of those branded DAC? My only experience with one was the Audio Alchemy and the Musical Fidelity CAN DAC. These are like "entry" level DACs coz others like Theta and Meridian cost a bomb but I'm sure they sound like one too. Thanks.

Sounds really promising! Sure wanna get 1 if there's a bulk.

Thanks for sharing on the list of DACs. I think the Soundstage you're using is really good value for money. I would also pair it with a B&W like you. Perhaps I'll get to listen to it when we have a meet up after we got our Zero.

Hey Mike, what happened to my name? If there's enough to make your order now, let me have your account details so I can make the payment. Thanks.

yehlai, Hmm... i thought those who like orchestra go for systems with good detail, transparency and separation rather than warmth?

Power cables making a device sound better is almost the same like speaker cable. Thin cable = higher resistance = less signal reaches the end device. In the case of expensive power cable, higher current = transformer produce higher current = tubes working at higher power. Some will argue over this but the end result is what that matters. I know some serious audiophiles actually rewired their house electrical cables with thicker cables direct from power distribution point just for their audio room.

Yes, shorter cable = less resistance = better. It's also cheaper. ;-)

I have to disagree with the filter part. The only thing a long cable can do is increase resistance. Removing harmonics and noise will require capacitor and coil. A lot of people use Line Conditioner or surge protector (cheaper) for this purpose.

And yes, power cord will give more improvement to a power amp due to the higher current drawn, as compared to a CDP. I believe the effect to a DAC would be minimal as well. In this case, I believe a good digital cable will give more improvement.

OK, that I agree but it's actually the special material used to wrap around the copper and also the twisting of the copper wires that filters out RFI/EMI interference. I hope there will be some good offer during the up coming Audio Show so I can get a Power Cable as well.

Have you tried changing your optical cable to see if there's any improvement? I have an Audioquest on my PS2 so I'll take that out and use it on the Zero when it arrives.

Has anybody tried the sound difference between the Coax and Optical? I've been doing some research on cables (considering getting an AC Cord) and came across a few articles that says the Coax output from entry level CD/DVD players are far superior to the Optical. This is because most manufacturers use cheap 10 cents optical module for their cheap players.

I'll give it a test when my Zero arrive of course, since I already have both coax and optical cable in hand but am curious with existing owner's experience.

Comes with a cheapo optical cable but not coax. I have an Audioquest optical and a Monster digital coax on my PS2 and TV so will transfer them to the Zero. Better use than where they are now.

abel, thanks for sharing your experience! I also suspected that Coax would be better than Optical because some Philips players don't even have optical output. I'm gonna stick to coax but will still make a comparison after running in the Zero to hear the difference.

ccschua, I've been hanging out at Hi-Fi 4 Sale to check on some bargain power chords but it seems like even used stuffs cost at least RM400 onwards. That's like 1/2 the cost of a used power amp. I'm just wondering if the power cord can bring that much improvement or topping up for a used power amp is a better choice?
It seems like cables are really overpriced here. Example of the Wireworld Stratus power cord asking for RM590 on Hi-Fi 4 Sale is going at list price of US$99. That's 80% higher.

Thanks for that info. RM200 is affordable but I really don't mind pushing RM300 for the same Transparent Power cable if the difference is worth it. So you're using this cable on your Tube pre-amp? What about your PM-4001? Have you tested the difference on your Zero? But to listen to the difference on your HIFI, you'll need to remove the cable from existing location... which means using a headphone is easier to compare.

EDIT> OK, so you're using the Transparent with your PM-4001. What about your Kimber?

OK, did you get your Transparent cable from Acoustic System? I've heard a lot about this place so should pay them a visit but I'm actually waiting for the AV Show on 25th to search for the power cable.


This post has been edited by RAV4: Jul 15 2008, 04:57 PM

Very good advice ccschua! Thanks! I'll have to move my amp to the top to ease taking it out for testing then.

It seems like the Transparent cable is one of the high end ones and someone is selling the one Abel has at RM680! That's the cost of a nice 2nd hand amp. I wish I'm rich too.

Abel mentioned that you're testing the Coax section of the Zero... how did it go?