Hello Daniel, I appreciate your point regarding the cost and value aspects and they're logical. Here's my view, the Yammamto DAC is one of the best sounding and natural music presenting DACs I have heard.The Yamamoto is relatively unknown but has impressed me more than practically every other DAC or CD player with Redbook playback. It emotionally allows you to connect and engage in the music thoroughly. In my opinion it is quite undervalued and inexpensive for the high quality of sound it offers.
The Duelund CAST simply elevate these intrinsic attributes even further. Honestly everything improved from an already high level, tone, dynamics, ,clarity, nuances and ambience retrieval etc . The Duelund is expensive but given what it adds to the superb Yamamoto this total package is pure musical organic excellence. For those who really enjoy Redbook as I do it would be difficult to find a better digital source, if natural sound is your priority. I'm not talking hifi but true natural musical communication. Daniel as you've found out, in stock form it is "very fine" but it becomes just special with Duelund CAST capacitors . Like you, Iplan to keep mine for a long time (over 3years so far). Regards,
1.- I refrained from buying the Duelunds when I realized that they would cost around $500 (pair), plus shipping, plus VAT, plus tech fees = 500. I think it´s too much an upgrade for a DAC roughly costing 1.400 in the european secondary market (if you´re lucky enough to get someone to pay that amount).
The same old diminishing returns question arises: the Yamamoto DAC with the Duelunds sounds 35% better than the original?
2.- Ditto, I still prefer the Yamamoto versus the Exemplar (actually is for sale). Even though the Exemplar has a bigger sound than the Yamamoto. This last one has a more homogeneous presentation, more body -especially in the mids- and an unbeatable bass. My intention with the Exemplar was to get the same "house sound" as I experienced with the Exemplar-Denon 2900. I have to admit it: they are different animals, and my favorite is the Exemplar-Denon 2900.
End of the story. I´ll keep the Yamamoto for a long time.
Daniel, It seems either way you`ll still have a very good DAC.It just demonstrates how so much is perhaps system dependent. The Yamamoto DAC in my system is very 3 dimensional and has exceptional tactile presence to a high degree. I find instrumental and vocal tone,timbre and harmonics so real and natural. For me this is its greatess attribute, superb and holistic tone.I wish you the best with your decision.
Not yet. Actually, I connected the Yamamoto today and I found out -again- the bass and the body of the mids is superb -the Exemplar does not reach that quality in those departments, even using a 6922 Amperex PQ tube-. In the other hand the Exemplar excels in the highs extension -a lot of detail here- also the Exemplar produces a 3D presentation the Yamamoto cannot achieve.
I´m at a crossroad here, hesitating which DAC let go.
To my ears, with my system and with the music I use to listen to -electric rock and blues, especially Hammond B3 organ sound- the sub is a must. The Druids can´t go as low as represent the sound of the pedal bass of a Hammond organ.
On the other hands the Druids are great with electric guitars and Fender Rhodes electric piano.
As you, like me, own a Yamamoto YDA-01 DAC I have to let you know that right now I´m trying a brand new Exemplar Audio-Xindak DAC, modified by John Tucker. I still don´t dare to give an educated and informed opinion about that DAC -I´m in the third week of listening, so it´s a little bit early to say something fair. I know John´s products and share his philosophy and my very, very first impressions -using a EH 6922 tube in the DAC- are:
1.- More information and air in mids and highs with the Exemplar DAC vs. the Yamamoto. The guitars, the Fender Rhodes electric piano and the Hammond B3 organ sound unbelievable;
2.- The bass with the Yamamoto goes deeper than the Exemplar. The Exemplar´s bass is very nice and present though.
Daniel, The very best tube power amplifiers are just hard to match when it comes to natural sound and pure musical realism.3 dimensional ability and tactile present are more convincing. Regards,
Thank you for your input on a solid state amp. I´ll take a look at those CODAs.
You know, these last six months I´ve been trying a Valvet L1 pre with 6SN7 tubes plus a pair of Valvet E1r solid state power amps -10 watts per channel in class A. While they sound very, very good, I still prefer the Leben in terms of bass reproduction and 3D soundstage.
Hello Daniel. Regarding your inquiry about excellent solid state amplifiers that might rival your tube setup, give CODA Technologies a try. I bought a new old stock (NOS) 10.5r solid state amplifier earlier this year. I'm definitely impressed with the build quality; the sound is fantastic and the customer service is stellar. They're not inexpensive but I'm confident you can find a model to fit your exact needs.
To my ears the Leben CS-300 sound has more body -especially in the mid and bass department-. The soundstage is more holographic than the Yamamoto 2A3 amp. The voices are represented in a "300B" fashion.
I'm interested in your impressions of the Yamamoto VS THE LEBEN with your ZU's. I own a pair of Zu Soul Superfly's which I'm using a Trafomatic Experience 2 amp to drive. I'm happy with this combo, but always wonder. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
It´s funny the "uproar" my room treament is causing on Audiogon.
I´ll tell you a story. Last week as my house is for sale a couple came to visit it and both asked who made those "paintings" and if they were included in the sale. Of course, if I´m lucky enough to sell the house in these "distressed" times I´ll be happy to include those paintings.
Maybe, I should consider enter the "artsy" room treatment world.
In audio terms, yes it´s a killer system and I´m wondering if I could get a solid state integrated amp that surpasses the Leben performance for the same amount of money. Advices are very welcome.
You nailed it: "emotional sound" and I´d add a very balanced presentation of the musical instruments.
As and update, right now I´m only using the Leben CS-300 amp (the Yamamoto is sold) with 5751 Sylvania tubes(a big difference compared to the TJs 12AX7, even though these are very good) and Russian EL-84 tubes. Also I switched IC cables and I´m using Zu Audio Varials -more extended highs and mids than the Antipodes.
You know what I like the most of the Leben is the "Bass Boost" feaure because you can get more flexibility in that area. Lately I came to think that having tone controls like in the all days would be very useful in order to avoid room or record inefficiencies. Instead of using expensive cables as tone control items.
I don´t want to forget that tone provided by the YDA-01 plus the terrific Leben soundstage both offer an explosive cocktail.
Hi, Daniel, I also use the Yamamoto YDA-01 DAC it`s marvelous( but hardly known in the USA). I admire the simplicity/high quaility component aspect of your system. You must have a very natural and emotinally involving sound.
You´re right I´m a lawyer and a "wannabee" entrepreneur and those graffiti red lines and dots were my way of not being boring when you look at your front wall while listening music.
