Hi Phil,

I bought one G08 just now. Even cold and new, it's detail, soundstage and air around instruments is astonishing. Compared to my TEAC VRDS and Threshold high-end DAC from a decade ago, this player is one league higher. I'm very happy with it, the player solves quite a few shortcomings in my total system, which at first, I thought the amplifier was to blame. Not so, the source can make up for a lot of it. Suddenly my which for a new amp is not there anymore. Maybe in the future, maybe first some cable tweaking. But in summary, the player makes my set almost complete. A lot of my CD's have to be played again. Richard Strauss Alps Symphony sounded just wonderful, a lot of details came out of the speakers, which remained inside in the past. Your review was one of a few reasons to decide, to be convinced, that this player is a very good one. Thanks for that.

Regards from Holland,

Jeroen 

  I've read Wayne Donnelly's most interesting review on the new VTL TL-7.5 Reference line stage. As an owner of the Thor TA-1000 line stage I'm very curious whether the author refers to the TA-1000 MK I or MK II. Since he has it for seven years I guess it would be mark I ?

With best regards,

Ofer Shchori

Hello Ofer,

My TA-1000 was upgraded last year to Mk. II level, which improved its already excellent performance materially. Although I do believe that in absolute terms the VTL TL 7.5 preamplifier is slightly superior overall to the Thor, my admiration for Paul Marks' wonderful preamplifier is undiminished. My decision to adopt the 7.5 was made easier by its greater versatility as the centerpiece of a reviewer's system--especially the capability to run either balanced or unbounced, the ability to match input levels of different components, and remote polarity switching, which is very important to me. If I were simply listening to music, I'm not sure I would make the change, given the $5,000 price premium for the VTL. 

Best wishes,

Wayne Donnelly

  Alvin,

Why would you review a product like a K-1000 headphones with only CD as a source? These cans need a good analogue front end to hear what they are capable of doing. I don't under stand what kind of reviewer would only use CDs. You also did not bother to tell us what headphone amp you were using. Even after telling us that these phones need a good amp.

All in all you gave us pretty much a useless review. 

Ted Sparks

Dear Ted Sparks,

Thanks for responding to my review. Taking your points in reverse order, I used the AKGs mainly with conventional stereo amplifiers, the lead connected directly to the speaker terminals. I used various models, but much of the listening was with a Krell KAV400xi. Since I wrote the review, I have had a chance to audition the AKGs with a Musical Fidelity X-Can, a small tube powered headphone amplifier, with a 6.4mm plug wired to the AKG lead. This worked extremely well, with a volume ceiling high enough for sensible use, though it won’t drive the headphones as hard as they can be driven.

I did not restrict myself to CD source material. I also used a variety of material on SACD and DVD-Audio (using a Sony SACD and Arcam DVD-Audio players by the way). Indeed SACD was referred to in the text of the review. I simply do not accept that you need ‘good analogue front end’; to hear what they are capable of doing. My view is that a record playing front end usually works best with loudspeakers, and that the kind of microscopic view of the music delivered by headphones tends to show analogue sources in the least favorable light. You’re welcome to disagree of course, but if you were to use the AKGs with your analogue front end (which Indeed I did, using a Roksan TMS2/Artemiz/Shiraz, though this was not reported in the test since I did not feel it cast any additional light on the headphones) I am confident you would come to similar conclusions about the merit of the AKGs. 

Best regards,

Alvin Gold

Alvin,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comments. Upon reflection they may have been a bit 'harsh'. 

You make an interesting point about the value of using CD for head phone use. It seemed from your review that maybe you didn't use vinyl at all. That is what concerned me. I've lived this the AKG 1000 for a few years and just love them. I use them with the 'Audiovalve' headphone amplifier.

Cheers,

Ted Sparks

  Alvin, 

JMLab Grande Utopia... big reason why I am getting out of this ludicrous hobby ! $80k...Jesus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim Emons

Dear Tim Emons,

To me spending huge sums on hi-fi equipment never was a hobby worth pursuing for its own sake. Hi-fi is about reproducing music as realistically as possible within your means, whatever they may be. The Grande Utopia Be is a lot of money for sure, but nobody has to spend so much to achieve good sound. There are much less expensive models based on the same technology even within the Focal.JMlab range, and of course there are comparable models from many others. I had no illusion writing the review that many people would be able to buy them, and I’m sure the same goes for the manufacturer. It is, if you like, a demonstration of what can be achieved when cost is no object. I know that was their intention when designing the BU Be, and it was my intention to explain how well they’d done it when I wrote about it. 

BTW, I can’t afford a Ferrari either, and probably never will. Doesn’t make them any less interesting though, or detract from my enjoyment driving much more prosaic models. And don’t get me started on watches….

Alvin Gold

  Steven,

Why was the name changed? Is this covered in an article that I may have missed? Also, I don't see anything by Miles Astor at this time even though his name is mentioned.

Mike

Mike,

Thanks for your e-mail. Myles has been very busy with moving into his new humble abode after his very recent divorce. No worries as he will be penning new articles for us shortly. As for the name change, having Ultimate Audio appear within our pages was truly desired by Myles Astor, yet we later learned it had two owners and one of them preferred otherwise. It is only a name and a logo, the content will always cover the uppermost echelon of our hobby :-)

A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin

    Wayne,

Concerning the Hallograph... "the scientific method is essentially to observe a phenomenon and then work to discover what causes it -- not to reject anything that doesn't conform to the present state of knowledge"

True, but first you need a phenomenon to observe. Perhaps a tinfoil hat is required to appreciate this product. Would you recommend the shiny or dull side out?

WVK

WVK,

Clearly, that is a question best decided empirically, without the passionate partisanship so commonly observed among both shiny-siders and dull-siders. And of course this test, by definition, should be blind! 

Thanks for writing in and so eloquently demonstrating the mindset I was referring to. I hope you at least enjoy listening to those things that don't challenge your beliefs. 

Wayne Donnelly

   Hi Wayne,

You have a very impressive list of components in your system. The Shakti made that much of a difference? Will it fit in a small New York City apt.?

Thanks,

Todd

Hi Todd, 

Yes, the benefits of the Hallographs In my listening environment are far more and dramatic than I had anticipated, even after the demo at CES. As far as I can tell, a small apartment is probably a good place to try them, as long as you have room to put them behind and flanking your loudspeakers. Since Shakti will return your purchase price if you are not satisfied, I would urge you to give the Hallographs a try. 

Best wishes,

Wayne Donnelly

   Wayne,

I enjoyed reading you review of the Shakti Hallograph system... their effects seem to jive with what many of us audionuts crave in our systems, the realistic portrayal of the recording space.

Being of modest means, my question involves their effect on a more modest system (like your 'secondary system'). Your second system is more akin to my (and I am sure many readers') main systems.

Could you have a listen on that system and publish a 'follow-up'? (yes, I admit to being a Stereophool subscriber!).

Alas, even if they open up the secondary systems' presentation to an alarming degree, it is doubtful I could justify (read: get away with) spending $1,000 on a couple of wavy wooden towers ...

Thanks !!!

Rick Young

Hi Rick, 

Your suggestion about placing the Hallographs in my second system is a good one, and I did so briefly before writing my review. But unfortunately the smaller system is set up so that I can place the Hallographs either behind OR outside of the loudspeakers, but not both. With the Hallographs placed inside and behind the loudspeakers the effects were audible but not natural-sounding. I would be surprised if there were not a few postings on the Web describing the Hallographs in relatively modest systems. 

Best wishes,

Wayne Donnelly

   Wayne,

I read with interest your R of Dodson 218 DAC. Except from your R there is nothing on the web about this DAC. Everybody talking about EMM labs DAC 6. Have you any experience with DAC 6?. I'm interested if Dodson is equal or better on Redbook. How do you rank your Sony/Dodson rig comparing to one box players like WADIA 861,ML 390S, Capitole etc?

Regards,

Stefan Vejdemo

Hi Stefan,

Your question concerning the Dodson DA-218 vs. the Meitner DAC6 on Redbook CD performance is natural and quite relevant --  and I wish I had an answer for you. Unfortunately I have not yet laid hands (or ears) on a DAC6, but I intend to keep trying. 

As for the Sony/DA-218 combination against the 3 one-box CD players: I am fairly familiar with all three of those fine players, although I have not listened to any of them recently or in direct comparisons.. Relying solely on my audio memory, I believe the Sony/Dodson combo clearly outscores them in purity of tonality and resolution -- as I wrote, that setup redefines for me the possibilities of Redbook CD playback.

Stefan Vejdemo Replied:

Are your mods to your Sony bettering its transport function or only its playback functions?

I have on several occasions visited various discussion boards and asked if anyone has experience on Dodson 218 and got zero answers. This lack of interested puzzle me? I hope your review will change that otherwise I think this DAC will fail commercial.

Stefan Vejdemo,

Most of the modifications improve single-player performance. Transport performance benefits from the use of Bybee quantum purifiers on the incoming AC and on the DIGITAL OUT. 

I can think of several reasons for the lack of interest you have experienced thus far: 

The DA-218 is new and rather expensive, and mine is the first review of it. It is specifically NOT aimed at the hotly promoted SACD, DVD-A and multichannel trends, and for that reason alone it will be ignored by a large percentage of audio hobbyists. (Right now most of the Internet buzz is about the EMM DAC6.) Ralph Dodson spends almost nothing on advertising and promotion. 

On the other hand, Dodson does not need to sell large numbers because he is virtually a one-man company with correspondingly low overhead. The Dodson marque is known and respected among many knowledgeable and sophisticated audiophiles--particularly, I have found, those more interested in music than hardware--and word about the 218 will, as with his previous DACs, spread via word-of-mouth. So anyone whose buying decision needs the reassurance of a critical mass of Internet commentary just needs to wait a while. 

Best wishes, 

Wayne Donnelly

   Hi Wayne,

I enjoyed your review of the Dodson 218 a great deal. Have you been able to compare it to the 217II-D; or do you know anyone who has? I ask because I own the 217II-D. I assume the 218 is better, but the question (when price for the 218 is considered) is, of course, how much better. I'm sure there are many of us who would be interested in this comparison. Thanks for any thoughts you have. Again, I enjoyed the review and am glad to see that Ultimate Audio (and Myles) is back!

John Zellers

Hi John, 

I am very sympathetic to your dilemma. I wish I could give you a credible answer, but I really can't. I have not compared the DA-218 against its very good-sounding predecessor. But even if I had an opinion on the relative sonics of the 2 DACs, I still wouldn't know the right answer for you--or anyone else, for that matter. Different individuals' attitudes about "Bang for the buck" vary so considerably. For one audiophile, making a clear step up in sound quality might be worth thousands; for another, maybe a few hundred dollars. 

As you probably already know, Dodson offers various 217-series upgrades including a $995 swap out to a 24/96 daughter board that will narrow the performance gap vs the 218. I suggest you get on the phone with Ralph Dodson and ask him to describe the degree of improvement with this and/or other mods. Based on my dealings with him, Ralph is a man of integrity who will not BS you for the sake of a sale. I think that exploring your situation with him is the best way to figure out whether you need to pop for the 218. You might also try other Web forums to see if anyone out there has done the comparison. 

Wishing you a happy outcome,

Wayne Donnelly 

Editor's Note: Ultimate Audio's dual ownership easily won over one party to agree to having it launched here, the other legal owner politely asked us to refrain from using the name. What truly matters is that Myles Astor is indeed back in full swing in our now titled Superior Audio magazine :-)

Steven R. Rochlin

   Wayne,

Do you enjoy Peter Belts's tweaks too? You must be joking. Am I correct?

Regards,

Gustaf

Dear Gustaf: 

It's the wrong time of year for April Fool jokes, so I suppose the other possibilities are either that the Hallograph has the effects I describe in the review, or I am a deluded fool. Since your point of view seems to preclude the former, I guess you have opted for the latter. I am comforted by knowing that a dozen experienced audiophiles to whom I have demonstrated the Hallographs--virtually all expressing great skepticism ahead of time--immediately heard the effects, and about half of them declared their intentions to purchase the product. One listener declared that he could not hear ANY sonic effect from the Hallographs. That might have something to do with his being deaf in one ear and impaired in the other.

Assuming that you have normal hearing, perhaps you should avoid exposure to the Hallographs. I would not want to be responsible for the mental and emotional trauma that might result from having your senses contradict your a priori beliefs. 

Happy listening!

Wayne Donnelly