Hardly surprising that it would have less functionality than device costing 8 times as much.
Would think integrated amplifier more common than power so possibly wider market for it.
Just seems you are faulting a horse for not being a zebra.
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Monoprice Liquid Spark DAC by Alex Cavalli Review
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Would think integrated amplifier more common than power so possibly wider market for it.
Just seems you are faulting a horse for not being a zebra.
But there are many amplifiers that people already own that just lack DAC, is wasteful to not have something that adds such functionality rather than throwing it out and starting again.
They would still add ones that "sound" warmer or tighter or with wider soundstage or that evoke the colour violet.The 'look at my DAC' cred would be gone.
Turning it into a modern integrated? Maybe yes, but I already had the Quad 606-2 power amp. Before this I was using a Quad 33 pre amplifier with the Q606-2 power amp, so when I decided to replace the various built-in DACs of my sources I decided it was time to get something excellent to replace the somewhat outdated Quad preamp from 1970 that did not measure that well by modern standards. Hence the ADI-2.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
nicely between modi-3 and E30 in functionality and price.
Smaller: perhaps the E1DA9038d is competitive ?
Different looks, fits with its amp.
Doesn't beat E30 which for (almost) the same money also comes with filter options, remote and volume control and measures slightly better.
But at least AC picked the better filter as a fixed one.
At least more choice in affordable DACs.
Smaller: perhaps the E1DA9038d is competitive ?
Different looks, fits with its amp.
Doesn't beat E30 which for (almost) the same money also comes with filter options, remote and volume control and measures slightly better.
But at least AC picked the better filter as a fixed one.
At least more choice in affordable DACs.
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I agree that it is a great way to update legacy gear like a beefy 1970's Japanese receiver. I have done similar things with other audio sets in the house. My desktop system shows the potential and the issues with such solutions: desktop computer as a source, ODAC usb DAC, Emotiva Control Freak volume control, Quad 405-2 power amplifier. At the time, there were no affordable decent usb DACs with volume control, hence the combination of ODAC and Control Freak.
The E30 costs 130$, this one 99. It competes against the D10S.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Yep the D10S would be more correct, but for a little bit more you do get a display, remote and filter options, the D10S only has a display and only USBin. In Europe the D10S and E30 are only 20 Euros apart.
Anyway.. a nice different form factor option in a nice price class and performance.
Or the D30.
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Nothing new or innovative. Highly recommended panther I think needs to either break boundaries price or performance wise. But its a fuzzy beast!
Helicopter
Major Contributor
Thanks for the Review. I'm impressed it did slightly better than the E30, and I do like the look of these, but a topping or Schiit stack is still going to perform better due to better amps and this one would look really bad with anything that wasn't Monolith. Agree they are quite late to the game here, so doing a little better should be expected.
Thx for review, Amir!
If I read this correctly, that PSU 60Hz creeps up very high. With good PSU u might get ~120dB SINAD?
solderdude
Grand Contributor
The 60Hz is down -135dB in order for this to become audible you would be bleeding from your ears when you hit the play button 
SINAD is irrelevant at these levels... you can still rank them but then again you can rank everything if you want.
Multitone is more important indicator which is excellent (even better than E30) and even there it remains below -115dB SPL
At 60 Hz you need 40dB SPL for it to become just audible so 155dB peaks in music would need to be present.
On top of that, this is in Amir's setup. It may be better or worse in someone's setup
SINAD is irrelevant at these levels... you can still rank them but then again you can rank everything if you want.
Multitone is more important indicator which is excellent (even better than E30) and even there it remains below -115dB SPL
At 60 Hz you need 40dB SPL for it to become just audible so 155dB peaks in music would need to be present.
On top of that, this is in Amir's setup. It may be better or worse in someone's setup
Really, for $99 and exemplary metrics all around should get a golfing/football/trophy-hoisting panther!
The performance is there, as are the looks, however I'm really not a fan of the wall wart power supply for a DAC.
There are so many transparent desktop DACs now right around that 100$ price point, it's really just a question of feature and design preferences.
There are so many transparent desktop DACs now right around that 100$ price point, it's really just a question of feature and design preferences.
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infinitesymphony
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Reminds me a bit of the HeadRoom DACs.
Kind of nice not to have the sampling rate in huge 7-segment numbers staring you in the face like an '80s alarm clock.
Kind of nice not to have the sampling rate in huge 7-segment numbers staring you in the face like an '80s alarm clock.
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