OP
- Thread Starter
- #21
No, it is likely using an analog volume control IC with digital control.
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Leema Acoustics Element DAC & Preamp Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
It's using a plug standard that is almost always seen in the US for 120v. I guess there is nothing physically preventing the form factor from handling 230v, but without a reference UK power plug and a working interface...
It is the most efficient and accurate way, it should be the standard really. Just a ADC box for all your analog stuff. It means you could even do custom ground relations for each source and optically break them from the rest of your system.
AndreaT
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Great review. Not favorable price/quality ratio, however it is possibly built-to-last (hard to quantify without heavy usage experience). The usual $ 100 DACs are superior to this unit. At this price, the absence of AES/EBU digital input is unforgivable. It is a pass in my book.
pseudoid
Master Contributor
Thank you @amirm,
By saying the above: You know well that you perked-up every members' ears!
This unit seems to have almost every type of input you would want (less XLR) and every other type (BT+WiFi) that you don't!
Unfortunately, new-age competition can do it -10dB cheaper and better performing (w/BT+WiFi but w/o XLRs).
When XLR and RCA outputs are offered, are their any DACs which can feed these outputs simultaneously?
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MHO, your being way too generous here partner. It's way too expensive and offers way too low of performance to gain a recommendation, analog or not. My Emotiva had those things and only cost $450.
Your call.
Ralph_Cramden
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I have a 10” Akai R2R which I never use, because it’s a PITA compared to streaming, so don’t really need a DAC with analog in. The R2R sure looks cool, though. 
Gotta agree with Sal on this one, even 8 years ago there were better cheaper options though maybe not all in one box aside from the miniDSP offerings. Balanced input would have been nice too at this price.
I just can't get over how ugly it is.
I just can't get over how ugly it is.
i wouldnt say its ugly but its sure designed by people who think this is just another peice of lab equipment.
Tp me this is a strange one.... the price is unrealistic for this performance... as people have said, if you're using a chipset from 2005 then expect 2005 performance.... and at $2,000, surely a state of the art dac + a good analog preamp would work just as good...
maybe use an amp with two inputs if you dont want to daisy chain the dac to the preamp??? buy a dac w/ volume contrl though
isnt the Schitt Freya standard no tube preamp a recomended choice here?
even as a one box choice where you mix and match digital w/ true analog passthru at $2k makes it a hard buy
there must be a like solution that is at least... competitive? I cant beleive the state of the market where this $2k unit is a good choice when the performance is so 2005
to me if i see "24/192" then i know they are using crystal or something truly from another decade
Tp me this is a strange one.... the price is unrealistic for this performance... as people have said, if you're using a chipset from 2005 then expect 2005 performance.... and at $2,000, surely a state of the art dac + a good analog preamp would work just as good...
maybe use an amp with two inputs if you dont want to daisy chain the dac to the preamp??? buy a dac w/ volume contrl though
isnt the Schitt Freya standard no tube preamp a recomended choice here?
even as a one box choice where you mix and match digital w/ true analog passthru at $2k makes it a hard buy
there must be a like solution that is at least... competitive? I cant beleive the state of the market where this $2k unit is a good choice when the performance is so 2005
to me if i see "24/192" then i know they are using crystal or something truly from another decade
What’s wrong with using crystals to clock a DAC chip, most design have. seen use them, not just from other decades, what do you mean?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #31
Almost always. I have a vague memory of some DACs letting you select which one lights up but by far, both on is the norm.
Crystal Semiconductor. what is considered to be a spent force in the world of dacs... like Burr Brown.
pseudoid
Master Contributor
I did not understand @amirm's 'recommendation' of the $70 Fosi Audio TB10D amp but I think I understand this hardware merits as long as we remember his stipulation that it is to manage (as a pre-amp?) analog feeds w/a few bonus digital inputs but the amp don't care about them.
It may not be my choice (even ignoring price) but I understand that there is no "way" he is "being" either "too" or "generous"...
Ok, not sure what you mean, I guess I’ll read it up, I tought Burr Brown made their chips out of silicon like everybody else.
DonR
Major Contributor
Too much money for what it offers, sorry. Maybe when it came out 8 years ago it would have been a better value.
The company's marketing blurb has some predictable garbage in it:
The company's marketing blurb has some predictable garbage in it:
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It looks like something I would install in a instrumentation panel/cabinet. With that dated display and the looks.
Elements Integrated Amplifier
Leema Electro Acoustics' Powerful & Compact Elements Integrated Amplifier
www.leema-acoustics.com
yeah at this point its pretty obvious what's going on... i never heard of this company before Amir tested this... its pretty clear what's going on... this is one of those classic cottage industries, probably literally... they make a bunch of esoteric equipment... all in the same test instrument style case and they're big on the 'mystique' of audio, low on the engineering and quality... they're big on hyping up the 'magical' side of audio and how 'English boffins' are doing it better... and every piece of £2,000....
Isn't this less than the performance of a Denon x3700h?
the Denon also costs less than this
what hifi is a bit of a long standing joke in the hi fi space but even they seem to have issues choking this down... and they choke down anything!
and this is 10yrs removed!
and you could have gotten away with Crystal Cirrus 24/192 converters back then.
what hifi is a bit of a long standing joke in the hi fi space but even they seem to have issues choking this down... and they choke down anything!
and this is 10yrs removed!
and you could have gotten away with Crystal Cirrus 24/192 converters back then.
vkhong
Member
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"LIPS is an acronym for 'Leema Intelligent Protocol System'. It is a communication bus that enables Leema components to communicate with other units in the Leema range. The communication enables simple control of power on/off from one unit, right up to the control of all functions in a Leema system comprising up to 15 individual components."
https://www.leema-acoustics.com/faq.html
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