Satch-Max Tube DAC

[Scotto83]

I wish somebody in Perth had a Satch-Max dac so maybe I could have a listen?

From the very little that I do know about dacs, the Satch-Max so far is front runner for me.

cheers, flemo.

Yeah someone from perth buy one so we can test it up against the gigaworks dac with tube output and see how they perform..

As I was gonna buy the tube output stage for my dac, but maby I should just look at getting a satch dac with the tube output instead, then look at selling the gigaworks dac..

[flemo]

Yeah someone from perth buy one so we can test it up against the gigaworks dac with tube output and see how they perform..

As I was gonna buy the tube output stage for my dac, but maby I should just look at getting a satch dac with the tube output instead, then look at selling the gigaworks dac..

So Scotto83, will you be the first in Perth to buy one???

Cheers, flemo.

[ozcal]

Ok , someone give me the $450 for the Satch dac board and I 'll test it against the Gigawork

[Scotto83]

So Scotto83, will you be the first in Perth to buy one???

Cheers, flemo.

Well I'm considering it.. Would have been great to have a listen to one first or atleast find some detailed reviews tho..

[flemo]

Well I'm considering it.. Would have been great to have a listen to one first or atleast find some detailed reviews tho..

You may have to decide soon mate? Rumour has it these are the last as production has ceased due to the limited supply of new old stock TDA1541 chips.

Cheers, flemo.

[Scotto83]

O I didnt know that..

I'm also considering these 2 options aswell...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...id=p2759.l1259

Quite interesting using 4x TDA1541A chips..
Plus he has some other interesting TDA1541A designs.. I've sent him a message asking a few questions about his products..

http://www.analogmetric.com/goods.php?id=102
Last one is quite interesting as it diy starting with an empty pcb, but I think you can buy it assembled aswell..

Anyone have any opinions on either of those??

[kajak12]

O I didnt know that..

I'm also considering these 2 options aswell...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...id=p2759.l1259

Quite interesting using 4x TDA1541A chips..

Plus he has some other interesting TDA1541A designs.. I've sent him a message asking a few questions about his products..

http://www.analogmetric.com/goods.php?id=102
Last one is quite interesting as it diy from a empty pcb, but I think you can buy it assembled aswell

Anyone have any opinions on either of those??

well 4xtda1541a no good as the chips sound diffrent.a big question is also do they use the real tda1541a.
more chips gives you no gain at all in the tda1541a family.

[Scotto83]

They seem to be getting a pretty good wrap on diyaudio.com, so I'd think they'd be using real chips and not fake ones..
I read on there some people prefer to just go with the dual chips and take out the other 2(think theres now a 2 chip model of this dac aswell).

They also mention that duel chips (TDA1541a's) have sounded better than a single TDA1541a.. ??

Just out of curiosity what makes you say that the extra chip would offer no gain in the tda1541a family? Their design?

But there is just so much information to go through on diyaudio.com
Plus the http://www.lampizator.eu/ site makes for some interesting reading on the mod's they've done to these dacs..

[flemo]

Hi Scotto83, the thing I like about the Satch-Max dac is the tubes.

I don't think the TDA1541 chips alone will cut it. I have a Rotel CDP with the same chip but I still can't listen to it.

I think the chip and tubes combined make the magic happen?

Without the tube component is it just another SS dac?

I have no idea how the Hi-End DIR9001 sounds, but it's quarter the price of the Satch-Max so my expectations (right or wrong) would be low.

Cheers, flemo.

[kajak12]

They seem to be getting a pretty good wrap on diyaudio.com, so I'd think they'd be using real chips and not fake ones..
I read on there some people prefer to just go with the dual chips and take out the other 2(think theres now a 2 chip model of this dac aswell).

They also mention that duel chips (TDA1541a's) have sounded better than a single TDA1541a.. ??

Just out of curiosity what makes you say that the extra chip would offer no gain in the tda1541a family? Their design?

But there is just so much information to go through on diyaudio.com
Plus the http://www.lampizator.eu/ site makes for some interesting reading on the mod's they've done to these dacs..

just because they have a good wrap means nothing.
the circuit is important
did they dig up a whole lot of 20 year old chips in the middle of the desert.
a lot of chips are fake they appear all the time on ebay.
come over and i will demo chips for you....
you can have 2 chips and they sound diffrent,if you use 1 for each channel then their will be a mismatch(system dependent)
i live by a rule less is more in a audio system.expecialy in dacs.
they require a great circuit to make them sing other wise they are just another chip

[ozcal]

Scott before you spend up big on the Satch Max you really should here the improvement just adding the valve output stage from the Satch dac has made to the Gigawork dac.
Most of the time when a new component goes in there is the initial excitement followed by a period of coming to terms with it's limitations.The addition of the valve stage to my gw dac has transformed my system to the point where it is difficult to focus on the sound because you keep getting drawn into the music.
If the Satch max dac is an improvement over the GW BD satch valve stage then it must be awesome in the right system
Pete , the DIR9001 is just a digital input chip , from what I know.The GWBD can use this chip in place of the CS8416 but the 9001 has a 96khz oversample compared to 192khz for the 8416. Which is better , well I don't know

[flemo]

the DIR9001 is just a digital input chip , from what I know.The GWBD can use this chip in place of the CS8416 but the 9001 has a 96khz oversample compared to 192khz for the 8416. Which is better , well I don't know

Cheers mate, thanks for clarifying that for me.

I just wish this stuff was available in Perth so we could audition it, I miss the old days!

[Scotto83]

Hi Scotto83, the thing I like about the Satch-Max dac is the tubes.

I don't think the TDA1541 chips alone will cut it. I have a Rotel CDP with the same chip but I still can't listen to it.

I think the chip and tubes combined make the magic happen?

Without the tube component is it just another SS dac?

I have no idea how the Hi-End DIR9001 sounds, but it's quarter the price of the Satch-Max so my expectations (right or wrong) would be low.

Cheers, flemo.

Yeah you can also purchase the tube output for that dac aswell.. wouldnt say the dac is a quarter or the price, as the satch is a finished product with transformer, board, case, tube output stage etc, where as that other dac was just the board..

But these things aside I'm leaning towards either the satch with tube output or the diy dac from analog metric and also add a tube output stage.. But to be honest I'm not in any real rush, as new power amp is priority atm..

[flemo]

.. But to be honest I'm not in any real rush, as new power amp is priority atm..

Hey me too, 1- finish speakers, 2 - preamp, 3 - power amp (if my still being delivered Yaqin doesn't work out), and then the dac!

But I like to have a plan!

[Perth-Ed]

So has anyone bought a Satch Max DAC yet ?

Undoubtably like a few others i had been following this thread with particular interest.

[mcb]

Perth Ed,

I think we are all waiting for someone else to lead the way.

[shanedudddy2]

Someone be a test bunny at get the Satch Max dac please :P

[flemo]

I'm really keen on the Satch-Max but I need to finish my DIY speakers, purchase a preamp, sort out which power amp to suit, but then I'll be in the hunt for a dac - most likely the Satch-Max.

I'm thinking the DIY version for me as it's about $400.00 less - about a third off the cost.

Cheers, Flemo.

[shanedudddy2]

When you do, can you please let us know how it is...we need information on this potentially great DAC which has like 0 feedback on the net

[flemo]

Will do mate.

[eltech]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Hi-End-CD-DAC...item4149d5bd5c

try this TDA1541 kit with the satch output stage. should be good...

[Grainy]

Hi, can anyone tell me if the Satch-Max has a USB connection, I could'nt find out via Google but I'm assuming not. I have been looking for a Valve DAC to audition around the $1k mark, but the only ones I can find are 4 times that price. I have had good service out of my Valab DAC but I'm ready to upgrade now I have ripped most of my CD collection.

[DanFi]

Id be up for getting the satch as long as all i had to do is solder all the things in place. Does it come with everything you need?

[DanFi]

Because i really need a source. My Squeezebox duet is really bringing me down at the moment

[shanedudddy2]

You can get it in Kit form and also preassembled on Ebay I believe.