Abbas Audio Owners & Discussion Thread

[MattyW]

Ah, Lumin. I missed that. Probably no need to add a thing really.
 

Thought I might link my old Abbas 2.2SE review for ease of access for anyone interested. I’ll cross link this thread too. This thread has had greater longevity than my own….

 

Seems this thread on Dastereo has continued to grow also. Taking ages for me to catch up with it. Use Google Translate to read:

 

https://www.dastereo.ru/t/czapy-abbasa-abbas-audio-dac-ezoterik-iz-vasilkova/34967

Edited October 18, 2021 by MattyW

[maximus]

Thanks Matty, saves me burrowing into the blog

[wklie]

@gemini07 Although this is not necessarily true for your setup, I have another user with a TDA1541A based DAC who reported better SQ by forcing the U1 MINI to output 16-bit even for 24-bit materials, perhaps because the DAC chip is 16-bit only.  If you do this test, let me know whether you hear any difference between 16-bit and 24-bit/native settings for 24-bit music.

Edited October 18, 2021 by wklie

[MattyW]

8 hours ago, wklie said:

@gemini07 Although this is not necessarily true for your setup, I have another user with a TDA1541A based DAC who reported better SQ by forcing the U1 MINI to output 16-bit even for 24-bit materials, perhaps because the DAC chip is 16-bit only.  If you do this test, let me know whether you hear any difference between 16-bit and 24-bit/native settings for 24-bit music.

Strangely I’ve found the best performance in my system comes from letting software play in its native bitrate in Roon and having my Mutec MC3+USB handle the downsampling to 16bit 44khz. I’m using the ASIO drivers for the Mutec.

Edited October 18, 2021 by MattyW

[akjono]

@gemini07 Thanks for the ABBAS Dac review, and of course all the SNA community contributions. I am not able to buy one at the moment, but one day.... I am fascinated how a great music enthusiast with MAD skills like Abbas can create his exceptional products with 'old skool' multi-bit technology, very old skool wiring, germanium etc.

We bow before the lotus feet...

 

[gemini07]

It's a journey, and not necessarily one with a pre-existing endpoint....

[Artnet]

Every time I see the end point it moves again and yes thanks for the review @gemini07 more praise on the Abbas gear! I am feeling curious without a 2.3 to talk about.

 

[MattyW]

18 minutes ago, Artnet said:

Every time I see the end point it moves again and yes thanks for the review @gemini07 more praise on the Abbas gear! I am feeling curious without a 2.3 to talk about.

 

 

Curiosity is a dangerous thing. It's what has driven expenditure and real progress in my system once the desire to actually improve things was gone, and you no longer believe much by way of improvement is possible. Nice when uou prove yourself wrong though  

 

My latest thing is seeing if audio grade fuses make a difference, so I've SR Orange fuses coming for my Abbas DAC and Pass Aleph-M power amp, as well as Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme 3 Silver/Gold fuses for the Farad Super3 LPS that power my Mutec and OCXO clock. The other thing that was mind altering was finding that networking switches and cables actually make a difference, as do linear power supplies for networking and computer gear. Go figure right? I think I'm running out of tweaks now though, unless I somehow become interested in vibration damping weights for me equipment cut and polished by nude virgins in the Himalayas or some such nonsense 

 

I guess there's always vibration damping mats and room treatments but my wife won't stand for anything she can see. A rug and curtains are as far as it goes.

 

That said, I would love to hear about anyone comparing a 4.x 2.x, 5.x, U or 3.x vs a Denafrips Terminator. Two very different approaches and no doubt very different sonic signatures though each touted as giant killers in their own right. 

Edited October 20, 2021 by MattyW

[Artnet]

20 minutes ago, MattyW said:

comparing a 4.x 2.x, 5.x, U or 3.x

Comparing these against one another even. 

 

22 minutes ago, MattyW said:

SR Orange fuses coming for my Abbas DAC

Keen to hear how this goes have tried one but not in the DAC,  sold it with a power conditioner unfortunately. 

 

 

 

[MattyW]

9 minutes ago, Artnet said:

Comparing these against one another even. 

 

Keen to hear how this goes have tried one but not in the DAC,  sold it with a power conditioner unfortunately. 

 

 

 

Did you notice any real improvement with it in the power conditioner?

[MrBurns84]

44 minutes ago, MattyW said:

That said, I would love to hear about anyone comparing a 4.x 2.x, 5.x, U or 3.x vs a Denafrips Terminator. Two very different approaches and no doubt very different sonic signatures though each touted as giant killers in their own right. 

Or even if someone who has a Holo Spring/May dac.. they're all within that league of dacs..

[MattyW]

1 hour ago, MrBurns84 said:

Or even if someone who has a Holo Spring/May dac.. they're all within that league of dacs..

 

The Holo is interesting in that I've read reports that a) It's not in the same league and b) Destroys the Abbas DAC's. Personal preference and system differences clearly at work here.

[Artnet]

1 hour ago, MattyW said:

Did you notice any real improvement with it in the power conditioner?

Yes but small.  Worth it for the money?  its cheaper than  expensive AC chords. 

I notice more difference changing  AC chords to Amp and DAC and with using power conditioner or Filter than fuses.  Same story I imagine as with your quality LPS in your digital chain but no harm in tuning!

My curiosity [again] is what benefit it may provide the Abbas DAC given its quality of power supply?  Let us know,   Could be tempted by the new purple.

[DrMikeOz]

1 hour ago, MrBurns84 said:

Or even if someone who has a Holo Spring/May dac.. they're all within that league of dacs..

I had a holo spring 2 level 2 - so around the same price point as my 2.3 SE and I don’t think it was even close for me in either of my two systems - I just never really enjoyed the sound. I got my wife to listen to the holo spring and also the musical paradise dac and we don’t preferred the MP over the holospring as well.  So maybe it wasn’t a good fit for my system

Edited October 20, 2021 by DrMikeOz

[Artnet]

 

2 hours ago, MattyW said:

I think I'm running out of tweaks

I imagine with the DAC some cyborg tube rolling with Kirk is the way to go!!

[MattyW]

2 hours ago, Artnet said:

Yes but small.  Worth it for the money?  its cheaper than  expensive AC chords. 

I notice more difference changing  AC chords to Amp and DAC and with using power conditioner or Filter than fuses.  Same story I imagine as with your quality LPS in your digital chain but no harm in tuning!

My curiosity [again] is what benefit it may provide the Abbas DAC given its quality of power supply?  Let us know,   Could be tempted by the new purple.

Yes I’m a sucker, ordered 2x Orange just yesterday and 2x Purple today. I swear there’s something wrong with me.

 

 The only ones I’ve come across preferred the Shilo were on the Dastereo thread I linked. They were in the minority though.

Edited October 20, 2021 by MattyW

[Artnet]

33 minutes ago, MattyW said:

and 2x Purple today

Even more Curios now

Wont be going there anytime soon but keen to hear.

Edited October 20, 2021 by Artnet
add on

[xlr8or]

As there is a group of us here ....

 

[cccrchairman]

Thanks @gemini07 for the review of the 2.3SE. I am going to have some time out from my 4.1SE soon with the transport off for a clock upgrade. From the comments here this should bring some improvements.

[MrBurns84]

57 minutes ago, MattyW said:

I swear there’s something wrong with me.

Audio nervosa

[Artnet]

I realise it is an add for Tung-Sol tubes but it could be for Tung-Sol Airlines? Great image @xlr8or thank you  and never leave home with out your Tung-Sol tool box ! I guess.

 

 

[MattyW]

When I asked Abbas about the fuse for the DAC he said 2-3A slow blow, but 5A sounds better. So the DAC will get the 5A SR Purple

[Artnet]

47 minutes ago, cccrchairman said:

the transport off for a clock upgrade.

Matt are you going internal or external? or is that not an option.

18 minutes ago, MattyW said:

So the DAC will get the 5A SR Purple

Stop my Bank account wont cope.

[cccrchairman]

2 minutes ago, Artnet said:

Matt are you going internal or external? or is that not an option.

Stop my Bank account wont cope.

Internal. Joe Rasmussen’s Terra Firma.

[Artnet]

6 minutes ago, cccrchairman said:

Internal. Joe Rasmussen’s Terra Firma.

Cool thank you I was thinking Trichord but may go down MattyW's path to give me streaming options Not urgent so will read some more as there is merit I understand staying internal unless you you go the higher path.