winters860
Super Member
I've been looking hard at buying a DAC/preamp for my main system. I wanted something with a remote, and controls simple enough not to flummox my SO. I was also trying not to spend more than $500. I'd looked at buying a new Emotiva Stealth DC-1, buying a used Peachtree NovaPre, cannabalizing my TEAC AI-301DA integrated amp, or building something up out of Chinese boards.
I'd also seen some older home theater pre/pros that might fit the bill, and was looking hard at trying to find a McIntosh MSD-4. Instead, I found a Harman/Kardon Signature 2.0 for sale locally for $150.
The H/K Signature 2.0 was designed and built in the USA at Madrigal Labs, alongside Citation, Mark Levinson, Madrigal, and Proceed. It had an MSRP of $2500 and street price was $1500-1900.
Most owners didn't seem to buy it at street price, though, instead getting the 2.0 closed out between $250-900. It was buggy as hell, necessitating several firmware updates accomplished by physically replacing the EEPROM chip. There was also a mid-run redesign of the processor board that added DTS (and otherwise improved performance via a new Cirrus Logic chip). By all accounts, Madrigal was able to eventually work the kinks out of the 2.0, but a reputation had already been formed.
Mine is an early example, but has been updated with the new DTS board and final factory firmware ver 2.10a. I've been in contact with Bob Popham at RJPC, who helped design this model and serves as Harman's service center for the Signature line. He told me that, although he used to offer an unofficial ver 2.12 firmware that improved bass management, appropriate EEPROM chips became unavailable around 2008, and he no longer has the software or hardware to write them.
Customer reviews (like these) tend to be fairly positive, but there are complaints about the bugs, and descriptions of sound quality run the gamut from "warm" and "detailed" to "dry" and "2D". By using the H/K Signature 2.0 ver 2.10 as purely as a two-channel DAC/preamp, and changing the processing settings for each digital source to decode only PCM, I should be able to wring every drop of performance out of this bizarrely complex beast.
I'll need to buy a USB-to-S/PDIF converter, and am leaning towards the discontinued Topping TP-C1. I'll also need a learning remote to use on a day-to-day basis. The original H/K remote is WAY over-complicated, but also completely essential for setting up the pre/pro's functions. Buying a cheapie learning remote will save stress for me and my SO, and keeping the H/K remote safely in a drawer will prevent wear and tear.
I haven't actually played with the 2.0 yet, user advice being to set aside an afternoon to set it up. Wish me luck!
I'd also seen some older home theater pre/pros that might fit the bill, and was looking hard at trying to find a McIntosh MSD-4. Instead, I found a Harman/Kardon Signature 2.0 for sale locally for $150.
The H/K Signature 2.0 was designed and built in the USA at Madrigal Labs, alongside Citation, Mark Levinson, Madrigal, and Proceed. It had an MSRP of $2500 and street price was $1500-1900.
Most owners didn't seem to buy it at street price, though, instead getting the 2.0 closed out between $250-900. It was buggy as hell, necessitating several firmware updates accomplished by physically replacing the EEPROM chip. There was also a mid-run redesign of the processor board that added DTS (and otherwise improved performance via a new Cirrus Logic chip). By all accounts, Madrigal was able to eventually work the kinks out of the 2.0, but a reputation had already been formed.
Mine is an early example, but has been updated with the new DTS board and final factory firmware ver 2.10a. I've been in contact with Bob Popham at RJPC, who helped design this model and serves as Harman's service center for the Signature line. He told me that, although he used to offer an unofficial ver 2.12 firmware that improved bass management, appropriate EEPROM chips became unavailable around 2008, and he no longer has the software or hardware to write them.
Customer reviews (like these) tend to be fairly positive, but there are complaints about the bugs, and descriptions of sound quality run the gamut from "warm" and "detailed" to "dry" and "2D". By using the H/K Signature 2.0 ver 2.10 as purely as a two-channel DAC/preamp, and changing the processing settings for each digital source to decode only PCM, I should be able to wring every drop of performance out of this bizarrely complex beast.
I'll need to buy a USB-to-S/PDIF converter, and am leaning towards the discontinued Topping TP-C1. I'll also need a learning remote to use on a day-to-day basis. The original H/K remote is WAY over-complicated, but also completely essential for setting up the pre/pro's functions. Buying a cheapie learning remote will save stress for me and my SO, and keeping the H/K remote safely in a drawer will prevent wear and tear.
I haven't actually played with the 2.0 yet, user advice being to set aside an afternoon to set it up. Wish me luck!
