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Digital Drive: REVIEW: Tube Audio Design TADAC DAC Processors by AJZepp

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REVIEW: Tube Audio Design TADAC DAC Processors

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Model: TADAC
Category: DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price: $1599.00 (Sells for $699.00)
Description: Tube DAC using 12AU7
Manufacturer URL: Tube Audio Design
Model Picture: View

Review by AJZepp on May 25, 2008 at 08:59:09
IP Address: 72.148.237.78
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I just finished a weekend a critical listening with my new TADAC, which arrived this week. I thought I'd post some initial impressions and then follow up down the road for comparison.

I've been putting an outboard DAC on the back burner repeatedly for months. This is the first one I've owned, and it was very difficult for me to make a decision. I had been going back and forth among the Van Alstine Ultra, the Monarchy NM24, and the TADAC. I'd also considered several other DACs, but these are the three that were consistently on my short list. Other upgrades just seemed to be more clear cut, so they would take precedence and the DAC would wait until a later date.

With the purchase of my Squeezebox Duet, I knew it was time to just make a decision. I was happy with the rest of my gear, and I felt very comfortable with the effort I'd made to take the room acoustics out of the equation to the greatest degree possible with 15 GIK panels and some Mapleshade speaker plinths. I was very close to pulling the trigger on either the AVA or the Monarchy DAC, but I happened to read a very convincing review of the TADAC on the day I was really wanting to spend some money. I put the order in over the Tube Audio Design website, and waited for my new DAC to arrive.

Now I would never avoid buying a superior product because I wasn't happy with the aesthetics...but let's face it, this isn't the most attractive piece of gear on earth. That being said, the build quality is very solid, and I was pleased with both the turnaround time and the effort to provide for safe shipping. Paul recommends about 30 hrs of break-in time, so I was happy to oblige. When I sat down to really do some critical listening last night, it had close to 48 hrs of break-in, so I figured it was ready to go.

Right off the bat, the most striking improvement (over the analog outs of the Squeezebox Duet) was a significant increase in soundstage depth. I had a nice width to the presentation already, as this is one of the DeVores strengths, but never before had I had such a 3-dimensional image. The next thing I noticed was twofold: Voices had a more natural timbre, and the instruments were much more clearly delineated. With my amp and preamp, I'd been mindful of choosing gear that incorporated tubes, but that did not get overly lush and "too tubey". I love transparency, and I wanted to maintain that while incorporating a touch of warmth and richness that I sometimes find lacking with solid state gear. To that end, I felt that the TADAC was assisting me to further achieve that goal.

I've noticed that some of the best recordings I've been purchasing have been from less mainstream musicians. It seems counterintuitive, but artists like Jack Johnson, Ingrid Michaelson, and Tyrone Wells, all sound fantastic compared to some of the more popular performers I have in my collection. Anyway, I've always loved how strings have sounded on the DeVores. The TADAC has taken it to a new level, for sure. I honestly don't know if I'd be able to tell the difference if someone was strumming a guitar in the room, or if it was being played as a recording. The detail and richness of string instruments is absolutely amazing. I sat there and listened to my new Tommy Emmanuel disc from beginning to end, just mesmerized by the presence that this music was creating in my listening room. Very nice!

Something I've been playing around with a bit since picking up the Squeezebox is internet radio. There is a service called "Radio I/O" that has about sixty stations, and I really enjoy having it on in the background. I happened to flip over to it last night after finishing up my listening session, and was surprised to find that it sounds REALLY good! There is an "ambiance" station that is very relaxing, and running through the TADAC makes it all the better. I kept it on for a couple of hours while I went about my business online. Relatedly, one thing I have noticed is that the few MP3 files that I've downloaded from Amazon are much more distinguishable from the Apple Lossless files that compose most of my 3000 song collection. With the analog outs of the Squeezebox, there have been times when it was more difficult to really hear the differences, but now it's much more discernible.

In conclusion, I'll simply say that I've focused on putting together a 2-channel system that represents strong value at a modest price point. I've focused on achieving and maintaining transparency, detail, richness, and presence, while also trying to buy American made products whenever possible. The results are in - the TADAC was the last piece of the puzzle - and I'm very pleased with the sound.


Product Weakness: Aesthetics leave something to be desired.<br>
Product Strengths: Tremendous value. <br>Improves soundstage depth. <br>Lifelike presentation.<br>Excellent build quality. <br>


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Butler Audio 5150 Hybrid Tube
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Mapletree Audio Designs Line 2A SE
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Squeezebox Duet
Speakers: DeVore Fidelity Super 8s
Cables/Interconnects: BJC interconnects, Mapleshade Golden Helix Speaker Wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Singer/Songwriter (J.Johnson, I.Michaelson); Rock (Doors, Radiohead,Flaming Lips); Jazz (D.Krall); Acoustic (T.Emmanuel)
Room Size (LxWxH): 16 x 12 x 8-10
Room Comments/Treatments: GIK Bass Traps and Acoustic Panels
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Tube Audio Design TADAC DAC Processors - AJZepp 08:59:09 05/25/08 ( 7)