Another Budget DAC! MusicHall DAC25.2

[Ajani]

At CES 2009, Music Hall unveiled the DAC25.2 a $600 DAC loaded with features...

http://blog.stereophile.com/ces2009/oh_nose_not_another_one/

Computer Audio/Music Servers are here to stay!!!

[Luvin Da Blues]

That's maybe just what I'm looking for. I know their new but have you heard one?

[Ajani]

That's maybe just what I'm looking for. I know their new but have you heard one?

Sorry haven't heard one... but I like the volume control feature (I hope they had enough sense to add a remote!!! That's the only problem I have with most of these DACs - including my Benchmark)...

[blackraven]

I cant wait to see a review of it. I have a musichall 25.2 CDP and its a very good product. At $600 for a tube DAC, they may sell quite a few of them.

[Luvin Da Blues]

Would anyone have a link to the Music Hall website? A "Google" search comes up empty.

Thanks,

LDB

[02audionoob]

http://www.musichallaudio.com/

[Luvin Da Blues]

http://www.musichallaudio.com/


LOL, my bad. I saw this website but thought they were a distributor/importer by the same name. I now know a bit more 'bout their corporate structure.:blush2:

Does anyone know if these MH DACs have hit the market yet?

[Luvin Da Blues]

Just in case anyone is interested, I received this email from Roy at Music Hall

"Hi,
The DAC 25.2 will be available at the end of February.
You can purchase it from www.audioadvisor.com
At this stage it will not be available in Canada.
Best regards

Roy Hall

Music Hall
108 Station Rd.
Great Neck NY 11023, USA
Tel. +1 516 487 3663
Fax. +1 516 773 3891

[Luvin Da Blues]

s'more info on my next DAC(?)

Today an increasing number of music lovers are buying, storing, and listening to music through their computer, media server, or personal music player (iPod). Many are also digitally distributing their music using a Sonos, Squeezebox, or one of a host of digital music distribution systems available on the market. This is a great way to explore and appreciate music but generally it’s done at the expense of sound quality. Until now, music lovers have been forced to rely on the inferior digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and sounds cards contained in those devices, and as a result, their musical enjoyment has dramatically suffered. We designed the dac25.2 to directly address this problem and to significantly improve the sound quality of the music played on these systems.
By uniting a state-of-the-art digital-to-analog converter with a tube output we produce the clarity and precision of a 24bit DAC with the warm rich open sound people love of tubes. The dac25.2 has 4 digital inputs which can accept any coax (s/pdif), optical, XLR, or USB digital input from an iPod transport, computer, media server, Sonos, Squeezebox, CD/DVD in stereo transport, or music hall’s own cd25.2 compact disc player, and it will output two channel stereo analog.
The dac25.2 features the latest Texas Instruments (formerly Burr-Brown) PCM1796 24bit, 192kHz, advanced segment, stereo audio digital-to-analog converter. This processor features 123dB dynamic range, an 8 x oversampling digital filter, and just 0.0005% THD. The dac25.2 upsamples to either 96kHz or 192kHz, which is user selectable on the front panel. To achieve the best sound, we use an advanced asynchronous reclocking and anti-jitter control system upstream of the PCM1796 DAC. For this system, we are using the Philips 74HC574 in conjunction with the Ti SRC4192 Asynchronous Sample Rate Converter, whose master clock is a high precision active crystal oscillator. The dac25.2 also features a large, high current oversize power supply. A headphone output is provided for convenient personal listening.
Features
 Electro-Harmonix 6922 tube output
 Ti PCM1796 24bit, 192kHz DAC
 Ti SRC4192 Asynchronous sample rate converter w/high precision active crystal oscillator master clock
 User selectable 96kHz or 192kHz upsampling
 Sophisticated asynchronous reclocking and anti-jitter control system
 8 x oversampling digital filter
 4 digital inputs: coax (s/pdif), optical, XLR, or USB
 2 Gold-plated outputs: single ended (RCA), balanced (XLR)
 Headphone output with adjustable volume control
 Large high current oversize power supply
 Thick brushed-aluminum fascia and solid chassis
 110v/220v voltage selectable transformer
 Detachable power cord
Specifications
THD+N: <0.04% Tube out (1KHz)
<0.0015% Balanced out (1KHz)
Output level: 2.0V
Frequency response: 2Hz~20KHz +/-0.2dB
SNR: >110dB
Power dissipation: <30W
Dynamic range: > 120dB (24 bit)
> 96dB (16bit)
Crosstalk: <-110dB
Operating temperature: 0 ~ 40℃
Headphone output level: 4V max
Headphone output resistance: 0.3 ohm
Power supply: AC115V/60Hz - 230V/50Hz
Physical
Dimensions: W x D x H (8.5 x 13.5 x 3.75 in.)
Weight: 10 lbs. packed

What's ya guys think?

[Ajani]

What's ya guys think?

At $600 for such a well specked tube DAC from MusicHall, I'd say go for it...

It's so good to see how heavily the audio industry is now embracing music servers...

[blackraven]

I would like to see it compared to the Benchmark DAC-1, PS Audio digilink III, Monarchy M24 and Van Alstine Insight DAC.

[Luvin Da Blues]

I would like to see it compared to the Benchmark DAC-1, PS Audio digilink III, Monarchy M24 and Van Alstine Insight DAC.

That makes two of us, tho I'm not sure it would measure up to those. Unfortunately this unit won't be availiable up here for awhile so I may have to order it "unheard" (end of Feb.) and rely on the return policy.:yikes:

[nightflier]

Volume control & XLR. Sign me up!

It looks like Roy read up on what people liked and didn't like about the other ones out there, particularly the Cambridge (no volume) and the Benchmark (too expensive). I'm going to guess that someone at Stereophile is already putting one of these through its paces - after all, they have such a good relationship with Roy, LOL.

[blackraven]

Roy's a good guy to deal with. He answers his emails personally and promptly in less than 24hrs. I bet that the MH DAC is a real bargain. The 25.2 CDP is excellent and compares favorably to players at twice the cost.

[Luvin Da Blues]

Can someone help me with this?

THD+N: <0.04% Tube out (1KHz)
<0.0015% Balanced out (1KHz)

Does this mean the balanced connections does not use the tube stage?:confused5:

[Luvin Da Blues]

1000.

[Auricauricle]

I think Music Hall needs to give the upstanding members of this group a free DAC as a gesture of their good will and thanks for their support of the industry. As a service to y'all, I'll volunteer for taking one for m'self....Thank you.

Congrats, LDB....

[Luvin Da Blues]

[QUOTE=Auricauricle]I think Music Hall needs to give the upstanding members of this group a free DAC as a gesture of their good will and thanks for their support of the industry......../[QUOTE]

Even a nice deep discount would work for moi. Hell, I can't even put my digits on one for the foreseen future unless I order it "unheard". :nonod:

It's awful nice of you to volunteer your precious time with this unit, not many would. :cornut:


An' tanks.

[audio amateur]

1000.
Same here! :cornut: Never thought it would happen

[Luvin Da Blues]

Same here! :cornut: Never thought it would happen

Congrats aa, we now belong to the illustrious 1000 club. Does this mean we're a "somebody" around here now???

[Ajani]

Congrats aa, we now belong to the illustrious 1000 club. Does this mean we're a "somebody" around here now???

:nonod: Sorry to disappoint, but you're still a nobody... when you reach 1200 posts then you become important :ciappa:

[Luvin Da Blues]

:nonod: Sorry to disappoint, but you're still a nobody... when you reach 1200 posts then you become important :ciappa:


Now I'm depressed.:sad: At my rate of posting, this could take awhile. I'll be back!!!! :crazy:

[Luvin Da Blues]

Oh, and congrats.:6:

[audio amateur]

Congrats aa, we now belong to the illustrious 1000 club. Does this mean we're a "somebody" around here now???
Thanks, it took me long enough..

[audio amateur]

:nonod: Sorry to disappoint, but you're still a nobody... when you reach 1200 posts then you become important :ciappa:
By that time, I'll be an audio geek

[Auricauricle]

:nonod: Sorry to disappoint, but you're still a nobody... when you reach 1200 posts then you become important :ciappa:

1300. Who you callin' im-PO-tant?!

[evan1]

Just recieved my MH 25.2 dac and hooked it up to my SB classic and for a quick comparison my SB with upgraded power supply sounds better. Will let you know after a few days

[evan1]

ok I am letting this burn in and the dac is loosening up it is giving me a better soundstage and more transparency and depth from when first hooked up. I think I am starting to like this unit.Just remember I am only using this with my Squeezebox for internet radio.

[Ajani]

ok I am letting this burn in and the dac is loosening up it is giving me a better soundstage and more transparency and depth from when first hooked up. I think I am starting to like this unit.Just remember I am only using this with my Squeezebox for internet radio.

That's good... I'd really hope the DAC25.2 would be a step up from the Squeezebox's internal DAC....

If you don't mind my asking, what's the rest of your setup?

[evan1]

That's good... I'd really hope the DAC25.2 would be a step up from the Squeezebox's internal DAC....

If you don't mind my asking, what's the rest of your setup?


PS Audio Trio P200 pre
Ps Audio Trio A100 amp
Marantz Sa15s1 CD
Salk Songtowers
Squeezebox Classic with upgarded power supply
Music Hall 25.2 dac
Pure AV power conditioner
Blue Jeans interconnects
Audioquest Kiliminjaro speaker cables

[Ajani]

PS Audio Trio P200 pre
Ps Audio Trio A100 amp
Marantz Sa15s1 CD
Salk Songtowers
Squeezebox Classic with upgarded power supply
Music Hall 25.2 dac
Pure AV power conditioner
Blue Jeans interconnects
Audioquest Kiliminjaro speaker cables

Very Nice setup... Have you compared the sound of the Musichall/Squeezebox Combo to the Marantz? I'm guessing you haven't since you mentioned just using internet radio... but seriously, you might want to give it a try... rip a few of your favourite CDs to your computer using lossless or WAV format and compare them, played through the M/S Combo with the same CDs played on the Marantz...

[evan1]

I will give it a try. I have to get computer literate first. Just used to use the computer for surfing . Give me a few days.

[audio amateur]

I will give it a try. I have to get computer literate first. Just used to use the computer for surfing . Give me a few days.
I can't call myself computer illiterate but I've never used internet radio! lol

[blackraven]

Evan, if you decide that you do not like the MH DAC, take a look at Van Alstine. Frank Van Alstine uses Salk speakers with his equipment in his home and at Audio Shows with Jim Salk to show case his equipment and Salk speakers. Salk speakers have this great synergy with Van Alstine equipment which must be heard.

www.avahifi.com