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Supercharged - Maverick Audio TubeMagic D2 DAC

Still trying to get a handle on the sound, and break-in. Seems like all these ladder DAC's need a good warmup, as the sound is out of joint when cold-very obvious. The Schiit MB's are that way for sure. It's funny how the Schiit signature sound (now starting to change a bit) evokes fairly strong opinions on both pro, and con sides. For myself, they were not a long term solution.
I always thought the Maverick D1, and also the Grant DAC-11 sound better warmed up, but it could be just me...
 
automojo said:
I always thought the Maverick D1, and also the Grant DAC-11 sound better warmed up, but it could be just me...
Click to expand...

I've noticed the same thing with my D2......more so since I switched over to a Western Electric tube. I don't know why but the D2 takes a lot longer to warm up than my tube amp.

I'm to the point that I might just leave it on all weekend long since that is when I do 90% of my listening.
 
SWL3600 said:
I've noticed the same thing with my D2......more so since I switched over to a Western Electric tube. I don't know why but the D2 takes a lot longer to warm up than my tube amp.

I'm to the point that I might just leave it on all weekend long since that is when I do 90% of my listening.
Click to expand...
Yep-me too on the weekend.
I find it interesting how really good these Maverick, and Grant Fidelity DAC's sound vs some fairly expensive DAC's, with super chips, high sampleing rates, etc.
 
Well, I can report the DAC-01B accepts the Burston opamps just fine. I had to clip the twist tie inside and move a wire or two, but that’s it! I’m using the V6 Vivids which are the largest opamps I’ve seen offered, so any brand should work.

Also, you only need one dual op amp instead of two or three!

I literally just put it in and am going to let it run at mid volume for a few hours first. Will report back with results!

PS thinking about getting a cheap tube-PRE instead of the D1+. The FX Audio one on Amazon is great. Trying to avoid dropping another $200....
 
lattiboy said:
Well, I can report the DAC-01B accepts the Burston opamps just fine. I had to clip the twist tie inside and move a wire or two, but that’s it! I’m using the V6 Vivids which are the largest opamps I’ve seen offered, so any brand should work.

Also, you only need one dual op amp instead of two or three!

I literally just put it in and am going to let it run at mid volume for a few hours first. Will report back with results!

PS thinking about getting a cheap tube-PRE instead of the D1+. The FX Audio one on Amazon is great. Trying to avoid dropping another $200....
Click to expand...
Sure-I have one of those. It's a great unit for the money-but combining them is not going to be the same as a D1+-sorry.
Sometimes you better of just saving up-or be on the lookout for a Grant TubeDac11, or a Eastern Electric Mini max Dac.
 
Recieved the D2 yesterday, it sounds real nice straight from the box, with GE5670W and OPA 267 OpAmps. I'm feeding thru optical from my Lindemann Streamer. Maybe it is a little "smoother" than the DAC in my C49.
 

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Terje-A said:
Recieved the D2 yesterday, it sounds real nice straight from the box, with GE5670W and OPA 267 OpAmps. I'm feeding thru optical from my Lindemann Streamer. Maybe it is a little "smoother" than the DAC in my C49.
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Congratulations on your new DAC.

I also got mine, about 6 months ago, with the pre-upgraded "GE5670W" tube. Although since then I have purchased a number of other GE tubes and not a single GE tube i've bought has anything in common with the "GE" tube that the DAC came pre-upgraded with. It's hard to tell from your picture, but what kind of tube did it seem like you got? Does it have any GE markings on it? Does it say 5670 on it or 5670W?

Below is a link to my previous post with pictures. Perhaps you could compare what your tube looks like compared to the one mine came with:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...tubemagic-d2-dac.698877/page-35#post-12921967

My experience with this DAC has been largely positive, especially once I rolled in other tubes, but my suspicions are that these pre-upgraded "GE" tubes (at least in recent units) are not actually GE tubes at all but some cheaper tube instead, perhaps a Chinese tube.
 
Thank you, I've checked the tube and it marked 5670 only. I think I have to buy a tube or two......
But that's ok.
 

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My D2's G.E. tube had faded lettering but you look at the gut's it's a G.E. tube-Mav is a straight shooter. IMHO-with this type of tube the G.E. over all is the best-Tesla is kind of dark. The exception is the Western Electric-but too expensive for the marginal improvement IMHO. Too bad they don't use a 6922 like the TubeDac11-you have way more good choices.
 
Hey all,

Two quick questions:

1) is the opamp on TOP the one for the tube output on the D1 plus? I replaced the visible one with the Burson V6 Vivid. Want to make sure I’m using it on the right output!

2) I am using this tube:

VINTAGE GE 5670 TUBE

s-l400.jpg


I paid $9 and it seems to work great. This is the “five star” Ge tube people keep mentioning, right? Is there another tube with a distinctly different sound I should check out? I got offered a WE396A D Getter for $35 from somebody on AK. Worth it considering what I have?

Nudes of my kit:

D9FA5DC9-D3B1-4935-946B-6CBAA55703EE.jpeg

82220083-EB87-47D7-8717-FD95DB0056EC.jpeg
 
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I have no clue on the DAC-01B.
The D2 has 3 replaceable op amps, the D1 has 2.
Might have to ask the seller/ manufacturer.
 
automojo said:
I have no clue on the DAC-01B.
The D2 has 3 replaceable op amps, the D1 has 2.
Might have to ask the seller/ manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Should’ve been clear, I just got the D1. There are two opamps, one on top and one on the bottom of the board.
 
Not overly thrilled with how close this quite warm tube is to my enormous and pricey opamp! It all works and sounds wonderful, but this seems a bit tight....

also, the Burson cannot sit flush with those two square red caps.

D47F5A13-E0C6-4BF8-90E8-12C3365524A8.jpeg
 
Recently I bought a Topping D10 USB-SPDIF converter and I was so impressed how much better it was compared to the IFI converter I was previously using.

Since I was really appreciating Topping, I decided to buy their $110.00 DAC.....the D30.

I was really surprised at how good a $110.00 DAC could sound but in the end it really made me appreciate the D2 dven more. Bigger, warmer and even had some 'lush' qualities in comparison.

The D2 ain't going nowhere anytime soon.
 
Sure.
It really depends on what your looking for, as well as your current overall system.
A lot of the newer dac's are very transparent-and add little if anything to the signal. But sometimes aren't the most enjoyable to listen to. Benchmark is easily the tops-but for me, I would need a daily driver as well.
 
See my previous post. I received the JAN 5670W tube today and it is not the same tube that was in my D2, it should have been, but the interior is different. I think it is possible to see it in the picture.IMG_20200127_175430489.jpg IMG_20200127_174559466.jpg
 
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