XiangSheng DAC-01B is an absolute steal!

[lattiboy]

I stream Tidal HiFi and Plex FLAC flies through the optical out of a CCA on my main system. This feeds the analog input of my Denon 3500H which feeds my power amp.

I have been using a gen 1 Musical Fidelity vDAC for the past few months, which is supposed to be a pretty good mid fi piece. Before that I had an Oppo BDP-103 at the heart of my main system. Again, a very well regarded mid fi DAC. After a few days with the 01B I cannot believe the difference! Absolutely night and day!

I got this DAC (which is a clone of the Maverick Audio D1 without the tube section) for an absurd $75 with an eBay coupon. Prices fluctuate and there are a few different sellers.

These units can be modified like mad, and there’s a whole thread about it here:

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...averick-audio-tubemagic-d2-dac.698877/page-37

I have some new OpAmps coming next week which I’m excited to try out, but I thought I’d vouch for this stock, cheap, imported little DAC which has made my previous two DACs seem like absolute garbage. Honestly, I feel like I should re-evaluate all my old equipment...

 

[KarlK]

Ah, another Chinese replica of well-regarded-but-overpriced Western gear. Some will clamor but I say to H... with them if it weren't for (good quality) knockoffs about only about 10% of us would able to afford decent DAC's, demand for high-quality streaming would be nearly nonexistent. Let the good times roll

 

[automojo]

Ah, another Chinese replica of well-regarded-but-overpriced Western gear. Some will clamor but I say to H... with them if it weren't for (good quality) knockoffs about only about 10% of us would able to afford decent DAC's, demand for high-quality streaming would be nearly nonexistent. Let the good times roll

Hmmm. so what specific 'Western' gear would you be referring to the DAC-02B copying?
From what I know- the DAC-02B grew from the Chinese designed Xaing Sheng Dac-01; Dac-01A, Maverick Audio D1, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac -01, and not any 'Western' Audio design-seems to be a Chinese designed unit-unless, of course I'm missing something?
I have a Mav D1 Plus, and A Grant Fidelity Tube Dac -11 (which grew out from this design), and both are excellent sounding units.
IMHO, given my experience with these units, the Chinese are more then up to the task of designing some great audio gear.
I certainly could be missing some thing here-the these are copies of a specific Western model...
Regardless, the prices they choose to market them at, well that's their own business, like any other business/manufacture. Your entitled to choose a marketing path of your own..
Price doesn't always dictate the market-but the consumer ultimately sure does...

 

[KarlK]

IMHO, given my experience with these units, the Chinese are more then up to the task of designing some great audio gear..

Had posted this in another forum, take it as a token of my opinion of Chinese-made and/or Chinese-designed products

Quality of merchandise at Monoprice never ceases to amaze me. They do as much as Hifiman to seek/produce high quality products in China. For many years there's been a local luxury market that catered to the ever-growing cohort of middle and upper-middle classes in that country but apparently it took us a decade and a high-end headphone manufacturer for us to find out and tap into it.

 

[automojo]

As a side note-I picked up this well designed/home brew AD1865 ladder NOS DAC from this Chinese fellow recently. After about 20 hours of break in, I have to say it easily sounds better then the numerous Western design NOS Dacs I have had the pleasure to listen too, as well as more then a few of the Chinese TDA/NOS dac's as well.
These are product's you just don't see many others trying to market, as it's a small specialty market.

I

 

[automojo]

Had posted this in another forum, take it as a token of my opinion of Chinese-made and/or Chinese-designed products

Sure...
Yep I have to agree.
Not to beat the subject to death.....
As far as copies...everything starts from another idea....music, art, architecture, engineering...
Given the length of the history of mankind, there is little, if any, 'original thought", if you will-if you want to be truly honest.

 

[automojo]

 

[KarlK]

Sure...
Yep I have to agree.
Not to beat the subject to death.....
As far as copies...everything starts from another idea....music, art, architecture, engineering...
Given the length of the history of mankind, there is little, if any, 'original thought", if you will-if you want to be truly honest.

Can't argue with that bro, a copy is only a copy when it brings nothing new to the original. Otherwise it's an evolution that can bring either little or huge improvement to the basic concept, but improvement all the same. No such thing as small profits a wiser than I fellow once said. Sure, the inception of totally new concepts should be rewarded with some form of patent protection but not the kind that lasts 50 years or suchlike that it would halt evolution and/or progress instead of taking it onward. The cultural mindset of Asians appears to be "tuned" for uncanny improvement rather than invention per se, something they not only readily admit to but are proud of, and not without reason in many cases.

 

[automojo]

I stream Tidal HiFi and Plex FLAC flies through the optical out of a CCA on my main system. This feeds the analog input of my Denon 3500H which feeds my power amp.

I have been using a gen 1 Musical Fidelity vDAC for the past few months, which is supposed to be a pretty good mid fi piece. Before that I had an Oppo BDP-103 at the heart of my main system. Again, a very well regarded mid fi DAC. After a few days with the 01B I cannot believe the difference! Absolutely night and day!

I got this DAC (which is a clone of the Maverick Audio D1 without the tube section) for an absurd $75 with an eBay coupon. Prices fluctuate and there are a few different sellers.

These units can be modified like mad, and there’s a whole thread about it here:

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...averick-audio-tubemagic-d2-dac.698877/page-37

I have some new OpAmps coming next week which I’m excited to try out, but I thought I’d vouch for this stock, cheap, imported little DAC which has made my previous two DACs seem like absolute garbage. Honestly, I feel like I should re-evaluate all my old equipment...

View attachment 1702818

I agree on the re-evaluation. New isn't always better-and sometimes just fine tuning, as mentioned here, is all you need. I also find it amazing how good these DAC's sound.
I tried a lot of DAC's in the last couple years, a number of Schiit MB,s Chord, Metrum, Benchmark-and at least in my system, these humbles DAC's are way more enjoyable, easier to listen too, and have more then enough definition, resolution etc, without fatigue.
OF all the aforementioned DAC's, the Schiit's were unique in being interesting, and almost addictive to listen to at first- but after time their signature sound just didn't do it for me.
A kin to looking at a pretty picture in bright high definition lighting-look at me, look at me!! But you always know you're looking at a picture. Very aware of it, if that makes sense.
These humble Dac's have the simple, yet seemingly elusive characteristic, to let you simply enjoy the music, with little fuss, or attention getters....the music remains the focus...
That's a thoughtfully designed product IMHO.

 

[kbuzz]

I stream Tidal HiFi and Plex FLAC flies through the optical out of a CCA on my main system. This feeds the analog input of my Denon 3500H which feeds my power amp.

I have been using a gen 1 Musical Fidelity vDAC for the past few months, which is supposed to be a pretty good mid fi piece. Before that I had an Oppo BDP-103 at the heart of my main system. Again, a very well regarded mid fi DAC. After a few days with the 01B I cannot believe the difference! Absolutely night and day!

I got this DAC (which is a clone of the Maverick Audio D1 without the tube section) for an absurd $75 with an eBay coupon. Prices fluctuate and there are a few different sellers.

These units can be modified like mad, and there’s a whole thread about it here:

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...averick-audio-tubemagic-d2-dac.698877/page-37

I have some new OpAmps coming next week which I’m excited to try out, but I thought I’d vouch for this stock, cheap, imported little DAC which has made my previous two DACs seem like absolute garbage. Honestly, I feel like I should re-evaluate all my old equipment...

View attachment 1702818

Im interested in this dac....but don't need volume controls....is there an identical model w/o? What is the best source- eBay...thanks

 

[Trevor_BD77]

Im interested in this dac....but don't need volume controls....is there an identical model w/o? What is the best source- eBay...thanks

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32815...VyP_jBx1wVQvWEAQYASABEgIfMfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[kbuzz]

trevor thanks..that link has the volume control...couple of questions if i may

1-can the volume control be defeated for use as a dac only?
2- any comment on the unmodified version? I don't have any DIY skills......
3- any reference to whether this can best my old basic schitt modi which new was only 99...thanks

 

[Trevor_BD77]

trevor thanks..that link has the volume control...couple of questions if i may

1-can the volume control be defeated for use as a dac only?
2- any comment on the unmodified version? I don't have any DIY skills......
3- any reference to whether this can best my old basic schitt modi which new was only 99...thanks

I googled the name and model number and it was easy to find.

I can’t answer those questions since don’t know anything about electronics, sorry.

 

[Nixxuz]

I got the DAC-05B last summer. Upgraded the opamps with Burson Vivid V6, the coupling caps with Mundorf Supreme aluminum, and the tube with a WE396A. I've never heard any DACs in the over $500 range, so I really don't have anything to compare it to, but it sounds great. Now I'm contemplating adding a pair of Dueland tinned copper bypass caps to the Mundorfs.

 

[eickmewg]

While not a DAC-01B, I have a Xiang Sheng DAC-01A. For that model, there are two jumpers internally that can be repositioned so the volume can control the headphone output only as a DAC, or both the headphone and the RCA outputs functioning as a preamp. So, I would assume something similar for the DAC-01B. The only change I've done is to swap the tube. I couldn't really tell much of a difference. At one point I had an optical Modi that was OK but died an early death. I've had some issues with my DAC-01A. Getting the cover off is a chore and care must be used when putting in back so that the internal wiring doesn't get pulled and broken. Currently it functions but has gotten pretty beaten up and I'm now using a Topping DX3Pro.