Musical Fidelity V-DAC II unboxing

[Vijay_s]

Just received Musical Fidelity V-DAC II ordered online from UK audio store. For time being sharing some pictures. Product specification and improvement over V-DAC is available in Musical Fidelity website Musical Fidelity V-DAC Digital-Analog Converter

Landing Cost - 182.83 + Conversion rate (Via royal mail signed for)
Ordered from - https://www.divineaudio.co.uk

 

[Santy]

Its a good VFM DAC you have got. Congrats. Did you pay any customs?

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

@svkndv

wow looking amazing, now tell me how does it sound?

 

[vasishta.sushant]

Man I really need to know some impressions about this DAC. Is it really a step up over the old VDAC ?

 

[Santy]

Is it really a step up over the old VDAC ?

Atleast in the aesthetics department it is.

okay this is what the wesbite says:

The design brief for the V-DAC?II

-Improved appearance and finish
-Add asynchronous USB input
-If possible, improve the technical performance.

"The original V-DAC had superlative technical performance. With very low
distortion (0.005%), low noise, excellent linearity and low jitter, it was equal to, or in many cases better than, DACs that were vastly more expensive.

The V-DAC?II improves upon the original V-DACs benchmark performance. We have halved the distortion (0.002%) and improved the stereo separation to an incredible 105dB."

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

Man I really need to know some impressions about this DAC. Is it really a step up over the old VDAC ?

From what I have read from so many user reviews who owned it and they say that it has an integrated v-link and it has slightly detailed sound, rest of the sound signature is the same as V-DAC

 

[vasishta.sushant]

So as was with vdac, the dynamic range is still compromised. I still can't decide what DAC to try now. All I am looking at is the crisp highs. Real crisp highs.

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

^^u mean to say bright sound?

 

[vasishta.sushant]

That doesn't necessarily means bright sound Only the highs should be crisp, the vocals should be warm an mellow. I dont really care much about the bass.

 

[santhosh]

Vashishta,
You have been changing so many DACs and still looking for the right one. What speakers do you own? Do you know if they are capable of producing highs crisply in the first place - given a good source?

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

Vashishta,
You have been changing so many DACs and still looking for the right one. What speakers do you own? Do you know if they are capable of producing highs crisply in the first place - given a good source?

+1

I know that DACMagic has an extended high frequencies which is very special in it's own without being too bright and not having an analytical presentation.

 

[vasishta.sushant]

Good point

I think they can. Have heard them singing with high end CDPs. I can't buy a CDP since thats not my way of listening so looking at the DACs.

Mordaunt Short Aviano - 2 Bookshelves btw. Coupled with Azur 550A amp.

 

[stevieboy]

Congrats svkndv!

Nice looking piece. Did divine audio reduce the 20% vat amount from the listed price? Cos they list with vat which is not applicable to export to india.

Regards


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ravi_d]

Congrats svkndv
Please post a pic of the adapter too.

@stevieboy
Retails for 199 including VAT.

That's cheaper than UK price :clapping:

 

[Vijay_s]

Its a good VFM DAC you have got. Congrats. Did you pay any customs?

Thanks, Not charged any customs duty. May be they are confused where to account a DAC or CN22 (value upto 270) they may not bother to open and account.hyeah:

@svkndv

wow looking amazing, now tell me how does it sound?

Initial impressions are good, tight bass and midrage came alive while connected to WDTV which was not the case before. Yet to connect and test with M-Audio Coaxial out. Awaiting for the cable.

Man I really need to know some impressions about this DAC. Is it really a step up over the old VDAC ?

This is the first hand experience with DAC, Didn't had a DAC before

Congrats svkndv!

Nice looking piece. Did divine audio reduce the 20% vat amount from the listed price? Cos they list with vat which is not applicable to export to india.

Regards


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, Yes they reduced VAT, Price was 165.83 + Paypal Tax 2.83+Shipping 14.17

Congrats svkndv
Please post a pic of the adapter too.

@stevieboy
Retails for 199 including VAT.

That's cheaper than UK price :clapping:

You are right we get it it cheaper than UK price.

 

[stevieboy]

Thanks svkndv!

Am planning to pick up a cart from them sometime so good to know the 20% VAT is indeed knocked off for exports.

Regards

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

Initial impressions are good, tight bass and midrage came alive while connected to WDTV which was not the case before. Yet to connect and test with M-Audio Coaxial out. Awaiting for the cable.

It's obvious, this is the trait of V-DAC of showing the full potential in mid-range with a smooth highs. I guess there won't be any improvement if u test with M-Audio Co-axial Out but let's see.

 

[abhijit15]

Congrats svkndv
what are the changes in music after and before this DAC

 

[olly42]

Congratulations svkndv enjoy and share your views. would be helpful for folks who have yet to go the DAC way - me included

 

[Hari Iyer]

That doesn't necessarily means bright sound Only the highs should be crisp, the vocals should be warm an mellow. I dont really care much about the bass.

Hi Vasishta,

Frankly speaking even if you modify some components in your DVD player you will be able to get the high quality you are looking for without spending tons of your hard earned money.

I am taking up a project of modifying certain components of my Pioneer DVD player DV-373S. I noticed in this DVD player which i had purchased way back in the year 2004 it uses the same Burr-Brown DAC chip BB-1742 which itself is a 24bit/192KHz sampling DAC. I also noticed that the output of the DAC is given to an OP-AMP which is an entry level BA4560 chip. I will be replacing this SOIC chip with a good quality National Semi-conductor LM4562MA dual OP-AMP chip which has a very high slew rate and THD is 0.0000003%. Also this OP-AMP has a band width of 55MHZ and the CMRR and PSRR is greater than 120dB. To sum-up this chip is used in very high-end CD player or for military or communication device audio application. The chip used in the Pioneer DVD is costing Rs.25/- each but the replacement chip will be around Rs.350/- which is a fair enough deal. Also i noticed that the output of the OP-AMP has a DC blocking capacitor of electrolytic type which i will be replacing with a bi-polar type. Making these minor modification will help me to get a better quality audio for the current DVD player. Will keep posted you guys with the end result by next week.
Cheers,