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Posted

I was lucky enough to recently acquire an Abbas Audio 2.2SE from a fellow SNAer. I have just spent the evening listening to CDs utilising a Meridian 206SigmaDelta as transport. This Abbas unit produces hands down the most right sounding digital sound I have ever heard. There is no hint of anything other than sheer musical enjoyment!

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Posted (edited)

Long shot here - but if someone in Melb who owns an Abbas dac, pls shoot me a PM.  Would love to have a short listen to one sometime over the easter break.  Ta

Edited by MrBurns84
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  • 2 weeks later...

Posted (edited)

Very interesting read - indeed.....

 

Just before the war, we finished work on a new DAC2.4SE model. This device coming soon for sale (Please note that we do not accept orders from Russia and the Republic of Belarus, neither now, nor after the war, ever. These countries are forever closed for our products. Also, we no longer provide any technical support to the owners of our devices from these countries, no consultations, no schemes, no answers to questions).

Edited by gemini07
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Posted (edited)

guys can i just double check again, beforeI spend £550 on a DDC (audio GD DI-20), why should I expect to hear any improvement?

 

My understanding is that DDC are good for cleaning up a poor USB source, but I'm using an Aries G2 with hoer-wege PSU upgrade, so close to end-game streamer...surely the Abbas dac won't benefit will it?

 

I can always order and return, however thanks to Brexit, it is a hassle as i would need to get the duty refunded. 

Edited by Psilonaught
Posted (edited)
12 hours ago, Psilonaught said:

guys can i just double check again, beforeI spend £550 on a DDC (audio GD DI-20), why should I expect to hear any improvement?

 

My understanding is that DDC are good for cleaning up a poor USB source, but I'm using an Aries G2 with hoer-wege PSU upgrade, so close to end-game streamer...surely the Abbas dac won't benefit will it?

 

I can always order and return, however thanks to Brexit, it is a hassle as i would need to get the duty refunded. 

 

Basically you're feeding a more accurate and noise cleaned up signal to your DAC. Even though DAC inputs are meant to be galvanically isolated it seems that cleaning up signal and improving clocking noticeably improves DAC performance just as reducing noise improves performance at pretty much every other part of the sound chain. It's worthwhile considering the significantly cheaper Gustard U18 (not the prior U16) as direct comparisons put it a hair away from the performance of the DI-20HE at a significantly lower cost. That and Audio-GD only guarantee performance with their own DAC's despite it working just fine with others. The U18 in comparison is comparable with almost any I2S configuration having user selectable pinout. I've recently found that it doesn't just mean greater compatibility with DAC, but also I2S cables too and those are also a not inconsiderable expense. Then again the quality of external master clocks and clock cables into a DDC also improve performance, even if the DAC and sources such as CD transports do not have clock inputs allowing the signal to be synced.

Edited by MattyW
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Posted

Ok I've ordered the Audio GD DI-20 so I'll see if it makes a difference. I'm using it with my musical paradise rubidium clock @ 50ohm 

Posted
11 hours ago, Psilonaught said:

Ok I've ordered the Audio GD DI-20 so I'll see if it makes a difference. I'm using it with my musical paradise rubidium clock @ 50ohm 


How do you find the clock compares to a good OCXO clock? I ask as I’ve been curious about the Musical Paradise clock for a few years though instead went with an Afterdark Emperor Double Crown

Posted
4 hours ago, MattyW said:


How do you find the clock compares to a good OCXO clock? I ask as I’ve been curious about the Musical Paradise clock for a few years though instead went with an Afterdark Emperor Double Crown

I've never compared TBH 

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Posted
On 14/03/2022 at 7:48 PM, Psilonaught said:

 

Quick update on the upsampling issue I had. I just received my Oyaide dr-510 coaxial cable today to replace my pretty old belden blue jeans cable and now all upsampling works fine. Very odd.

 

 

So it turns out that the sampling rate issue is nothing to do with the cable. When using the supplier 6x5 rectifier, the dac only accepts 44k, whereas a 6x5g allows a higher resolution. Very odd!

 

 

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Posted
On 02/04/2022 at 3:57 PM, Psilonaught said:

 

So it turns out that the sampling rate issue is nothing to do with the cable. When using the supplier 6x5 rectifier, the dac only accepts 44k, whereas a 6x5g allows a higher resolution. Very odd!

 

 

Rectifier limiting the sample rate?  Wow.. first i've heard, at least you've worked out the issue..

Posted (edited)

Yeah, the rectifier could have no influence on sample rate.

 

Edit: must be a coincidence?

Edited by muon*
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  • 4 weeks later...
Posted
On 26/03/2022 at 6:01 PM, gemini07 said:

Just before the war

Does anyone know how the ABBAS crew are going given the war and if they are safe? 

  • 4 months later...
Posted (edited)

Just wanted to post my impressions with my 2.3 Sig that I received about two months ago. 

 

I had the .1se for about 9 months before getting the 2.3sig. The .1se is pretty amazing for the money imo. I would rather have that than something like the bifrost 2 but I do understand that you need a decent DDC in order for the .1se to work. After getting the 2.3sig, I don't feel like anything is really missing. Vocals sound great and bass is nice and weighty.  There's a bit more space and separation and resolution is kicked up a notch.

 

In terms of pairing, I've found that an amp with width and depth really work well with the NOS nature of the DAC. I use the DAC for a nearfield setup so things might be considerably different in a mid/far field room. Amps that synergized well with the DAC were the Coda CSiB, AVA DVA M225, and Schiit Aegir. The added width and depth really lets the music breathe and gives a balanced sense of space and detail that might be a bit smeared with a lessor amp. Something that didn't work at all was the SPL S800.

 

I'm curious to hear what other owners have been using. I've tried Elekit amps (8200R, 8600, 8800) with the .1se but not with the 2.3sig. I felt like width was OK but depth was lacking at that point. 

 

Current chain - Audiobyte Hydra Z -> Abbas DAC 2.3 signature -> Bel Canto Pre3 -> AVA DVA M225 -> SB Acoustics ARA w/ BE Tweeter and Textreme woofers/REL Tzero mkiii

Edited by driftingbunnies
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Posted

That should be very nice indeed, Ben.

 

I had Matt's Abbas DAC 2.2SE in my system when he first got it with my gear in my sig, and it is still the most realistic sounding DAC I have heard to date.

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Posted (edited)

Apparently his 2.4SE is another big step with larger bottles in the output stage , options of 6BL7 or 6SN7. 

Sounding closer to the 3.** series   🙂

He is back at work taking orders! My understanding is some models only but have had communication with him recently.

Edited by Artnet
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  • 4 months later...
Posted (edited)

Hi all,

Good morning, It looks Abbas DAC are brilliant DAC based on the user feedback.

 

 

Bob

 

Edited by Digital

Posted

I received this price list back in October '22 from Abbas.

 

 

2600 version with toroid transformers

2900 se+ EI GD workshop

 

DAC Z   TDA1543  SOLD---------------------------------------------------

DAC 0.11 SE  TDA1543, EZ90, EZ90, 6N6P wooden front panel  850usd 

DAC X SE +output stage 7/1ver. 6BL7+5V4+EZ90+EB91+E180F   TDA1540P coming soon, price will be formed later------------------------------------------

DAC2.2  SOLD---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAC 2.3SE + output stage 7/1 ver. E182CC+5Y3 +EZ90+EB91+E180F TDA1541R1 ----------------------------------------------- -------------------------------SOLD

DAC 2.3SE  signature+ output stage 7/1ver. TDA1541A, black gate power tank WK caps , siemens power transformer in digital section -------------SOLD

DAC2.4SE  6X5+EAA91+E180F+ TDA1541+ 6BL7+5V4   2900 usd + EI power transformer "GD workshop".

DAC2.4SE  6X5+EAA91+E180F+ TDA1541+ 2X 6SN7+ EI power transformer "GD workshop" 2900usd wooden front panel.

DAC4.1SE  5687+EZ90+EZ35   PCM58P  ( we have the last set of pcbs)       1980 usd

DAC4.2SE   5687 +EZ80+5Y3   PCM58P  price will be formed later---------------------------------------

DAC 5.0 SE + output stage 7/1 ver. 5687 +5Y3( 5V4 ), EZ80, AD1865 / AD1864 i/u=niobium resistors 2280 usd

DAC U.1 SE + output stage 7/1 ver.  5687, 5Y3 ( 5V4) , EZ80  PCM63P i/u=niobium resistors                          2280 usd

DAC3.1SE  --------------- SOLD

DAC3.2SE  + 6080 output stage, + 5Y3+ 5V4+ EZ81+ EF12+EZ11, TDA1541A---------------------------------------- Temporary we do not accept orders

RIAA tube preamplifier SE version 2X EF86, 2X EL84, EZ80 2400 usd
RIAA tube preamplifier 2 X EF86, 6N6P, 6X5 wooden front panel  780usdMC SUT 1:10 280usd ( Only as an option when ordering RIAA preamplifier)
Tube clock EF12/EZ11 in the metal housing  580 usd
Tube USB SE converter in the metal housing EAA91/EAA91/EC86/ECC88----- 620USD

Hybrid headphone amplifier  2X 6N6P, AD132/AD148 siemens, 6X5 tube rectifier, two switched inputs, BG caps, 1280 usd

Tube headphone amplifier 2X EC86, 2X 6080,BG caps ,audio note tantalum resistors 400/410/170/   two switched inputs 12kg!  no output transformers, headphone impedance 60...600ohm 1780 usd

Tube headphone amplifier 2X EC86, 2X 6080,BG caps, audio note tantalum resistors  400/410/170/   two switched inputs 13kg!  output transformers, headphone impedance 6...60ohm 2080 usd

1m power cable 220 usd
2m power cable  280 usd
1m cable spdif 220usd
1.5m cable spdif 280usd
1m stereo interlink cable 360 usd ( non screened)
1m  stereo interlink balanced XLR 480 usd
1m stereo interlink cable with the screen 420usd


Regards,Abbas

 

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Posted
1 hour ago, krazywaffle said:

Does anyone know the approx cost of an Abbas phono stage? According to website there are 4 types available (plus one MC step-up).

 

Anyone try any of the available phono stages?

 

I havent tried one, but have heard one (EL84) and was mighty impressed.

Best to send him an enquiry from his contact form. He will respond but power outages mean it might take a few days for a reply.  Seriously its a war zone and build times are extended, but in my opinion worth investigating.

I would be interested in his phono agaist my Tron seven, but have a DAC in construction so will wait.

Posted
2 hours ago, Digital said:

It looks Abbas DAC are brilliant DAC based on the user feedback.

 

Yep im a happy 4.1 owner.

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Posted (edited)
11 minutes ago, Artnet said:

Yep im a happy 4.1 owner

Thank you for your feedback. Currently using Gieseler Klein lll+ Kraftwerk PSU. Was planning for new kompakt DAC which Mr.Clay is going to release in couple of weeks.

 

Reading all the Abbas DAC comments. Much interested towards Abbas DAC now.

 how much it costed to delivered to AU? If possible.

 

had you compared 4.1se with any other DAC?

 

Thanks 

Edited by Digital
Posted
28 minutes ago, Digital said:

Thank you for your feedback. Currently using Gieseler Klein lll+ Kraftwerk PSU. Was planning for new kompakt DAC which Mr.Clay is going to release in couple of weeks.

 

I think it depends on what you want from your DAC. As in what you listen to and how.

I only use mine connected to a CDT and dont stream as yet.

 

28 minutes ago, Digital said:

had you compared 4.1se with any other DAC?

 

No is my fisrt stand alone DAC and maybe biased, I have heard other more expensive and am happy with what I have.

Have taken a plunge on an Abbas 3.2  my first TDA1541 experience but a few months away and dont have shipping charges yet. I think his current 2.4SE is around $US.2900 as posted above but the war means real delays and risk so be ready to wait. Mine has been nearly 4 months and am hoping for late feb.

The 2.3 in the classifieds very interesting and a good price.

 

 

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