11-04-2026 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Amir Iran Tehran Posts 390 Joined on 02-11-2009 Post #: 41 Post ID: 29837 Reply to: 29836 Ideon Axiom DAC The new Ideon Axiom DAC is around $200k. The three boxes are power supply + Clock + Converter .  I did not have Axiom but some reported the dynamics are like horns.  The power supply is 2000 VA.  List of over $200k Digital playback:  Audio Note level six R-2R DAC  Wadax Reference DAC  Ideon Axiom  dCS Varese Apex   CH Precision C10 www.amiraudio.com, www.hifi.ir

11-04-2026 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree N-set Warsaw, Poland Posts 653 Joined on 01-07-2006 Post #: 42 Post ID: 29840 Reply to: 29836 Clarification Yes, I'm sharing the DIY DAC, thinking it makes no sense to start a new thread (wrong) and this construction if attempted commercially would be rather expensive, esp. given distr. margins. I shared some construction problems for the reporting's sake, but the main conclusion is that it did not turn to sound substantially different from the couple of good known CDP's that I own. This can be of course my implementation although all has been done following the best traditions, but since my experience with digital is very small, I asked a broader question how important is DAC in the digital chain? How sensitive is the chain to the DAC changes? Common sense says it should be rather sensitive, but who knows. In the anlogue chain, for example, cartridge can be all vs nothing, so oversimplifying, the analog chain is sensitive to carts.  Cheers, Jarek

11-04-2026 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Paul S San Diego, California, USA Posts 2,903 Joined on 10-12-2006 Post #: 43 Post ID: 29841 Reply to: 29840 Sound Values Jarek, I say the DAC is a big deal, at least for CDs, which makes it +/- an opportunity to use it to get the sound how you want it. The excruciating thing is trying to figure out what in the chain is homoginizing things to where you cannot distinguish or choose 1 DAC over another. Like I reported years and years ago, back when I used a 1541-based Sony (ES333?) player over some other players that offered "more information" because the way the information was presented trumped "more", until I found my present CD transport and DAC. I sympathize with your situation, as it turns out that even the effing cords and cables make for audible differences. Anyway, I am able to choose what I prefer. OTOH, if you have no preference, go for what is cheapest, easiest, most consistent, etc. Cartridges and speakers are transducers, so, yeah, changes there can be pretty obvious. And then we get back to rote electrical operation and inter-compatibility of components, not forgetting that something as complex as a DAC is actually a pile of interactive components. Cartridges are a great example of how important operating parameters can be. Sub-optimal anything can make for sub-optimal sound where "the cartridge could do better". Topology and optimizing a given topology matter in terms of sound, and they can be so manipulated, at least for those who can hear it and who care about it. I think DACs are pretty sensitve to power problems, for instance, and older threads indicate I am not the only one who finds this. I chose to "eliminate rectification", mostly to make it easier on myself. Naturally, someone else might hear it differently and deal with things differently. Up Differences! Paul S