Abbas Audio Owners & Discussion Thread

[Silver Audiophile]

18 minutes ago, Artnet said:

Ouch,  I get it,  but it sounds like you have  some experience of and now own some choice Dac's!

...and had access to many others through friends, and knowing distributors. It's a collective journey of about 6 audiophile friends. 

Special thanks to Kirk @xlr8or. His guidance on tubes and tube gear has been the single biggest contributor to my journey. He has also wisely advised a couple of my mates, too.

 

[Artnet]

Dave what are you running in the 2.2SE tube wise?

[Silver Audiophile]

18 hours ago, Artnet said:

Dave what are you running in the 2.2SE tube wise?

Kirk's wise suggestion..

Abbas supplied tube was amazing.

But, this USA made Tung-sol.. has lower noise floor, ultra fast transiance, and tight bass. Similar tonal weight and glow. Very nice 5687 tube.

Edited June 6, 2024 by Silver Audiophile

[Silver Audiophile]

The sound.. Wow!

GEC 6X5 + Tung-sol flat ribbed vertical D-getter.

 

I'm gonna need another lid.

[Artnet]

5 minutes ago, Silver Audiophile said:

The sound.. Wow!

GEC 6X5 + Tung-sol flat ribbed vertical D-getter.

 

I'm gonna need another lid.

Fantastic, ran this combo in my 4.1, Lid off. very nice. 

[krazywaffle]

Thanks for sharing the wishlist of goodies. Has anyone here tried the Abbas tube phono stage? This is where my temptation currently lies. Reckon it would be stellar compared to other options for the same cost!

[xlr8or]

The thing to be mindful of with Abbas is he is absolutely flat out with a lengthy order list making a back log of builds. I spoke to him a few days ago and he suggested any board modules will work with each other for his line of DACs. Basically, he indicated he hasn't the time available to advise on overall unit features.

 

What I'd recommend is if you're considering a phono stage or DAC please share your proposed build here. Happy to share some advice on the tube topology and what combination of output stage tube, including tube rectifier and tube voltage line regulator, will sound best.

Edited June 9, 2024 by xlr8or

[muon*]

18 minutes ago, krazywaffle said:

Thanks for sharing the wishlist of goodies. Has anyone here tried the Abbas tube phono stage? This is where my temptation currently lies. Reckon it would be stellar compared to other options for the same cost!

@MattyW had one of his phono stages.

[Silver Audiophile]

46 minutes ago, xlr8or said:

The thing to be mindful of with Abbas is he is absolutely flat out with a lengthy order list making a back log of builds. I spoke to him a few days ago and he suggested any board modules will work with each other for his line of DACs. Basically, he indicated he hasn't the time available to advise on overall unit features.

To make matters worse, one hardly sees any used Abbas DAC come up for sale on a Global HiFi Shark search for "Abbas".

With a such a unique and esoteric product, and so much depending on Mr Abbas- part selection, orientation, combination, and build.

I can but help but being a little concerned given his obvious advance age. 

Life expectancy for a Ukrainian male is 70 years (about 11 years less than Australian males).

https://database.earth/population/ukraine/life-expectancy

 

 

Edited June 9, 2024 by Silver Audiophile

[xlr8or]

Price list PCBs:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-zQnI5KacdUTvF-UePkTKObed8fequTazOsVyMzi4n4/edit#gid=0

 

Price list completed devices:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UXtco4tKdmWm2wp5ALu5ZbVBYLNVnW8akFoBlbh7Z9s/edit#gid=0

[MattyW]

I preferred my Abbas DAC to my Abbas phono stage. Better getting a nice Chinese EAR 834 and upgrading caps and tube rolling. It’s more satisfying and costs significantly less. It’s his DAC’s that are special, not the phono stage. Well, it never quite did it for me anyway.

Edited June 9, 2024 by MattyW

[Artnet]

I haven't heard the Chinese EAR but have heard the Abbas SE  in someone else's system with a very good non Abbas built SUT and have to say I was impressed!!

There is a similar tone and saturation of a pleasant kind + slam   I think to his DAC.  I didnt want to leave.

Downside of buying the PCB boards is you dont get the Abbas SUT option but upside you  get the guiding hand of @xlr8or

[MattyW]

I found his DAC better than the phono stage…. It was the beginning of my failing or of love with control though. I ditched it all in favour of digital content after that. I think my problem is I always expected vinyl to sound better than digital content and of it didn’t I felt let down.

 

 The proceeds from sale of my analog chain and LP’s went back into improving my digital chain and everything after it so overall my system is considerably ahead of where it once was. So much of the running is in the digital domain though that if I were to get back into vinyl it would be using the digital output of something like a Parks Audio Waxwing into my MiniDSP DDRC-22D.

Edited June 9, 2024 by MattyW

[muon*]

Never mind.

Edited June 9, 2024 by muon*

[MattyW]

No, I stayed with the tubes the phono stage shipped with as his gear is all voiced a particular way. I think part of my problem is I loved the fine detail my prior Valab LCR1 Mk2 provided and it simply couldn't compete in terms of fine detail. The Hashimoto HM7 SUT I was running at the time gave a sense of body and solidity to the LCR1 Mk2 that it lacked on it's own. It was a special combination. If I knew then what I do now I'd have rewired the LCR1 Mk2 with solid core enameled wire and changed the RCA plugs for low mass for even better performance.

 

The phono’s naturalness was never the issue. Just retrieval of fine detail. I suspect that something like a Waxwing could better this though it really comes down to the quality of the ADC. If the ADC is of sufficient quality it should be rather stunning with a sufficiently good digital front end. A Waxwing > MiniDSP DDRC-22D > Abbas DAC could be a very interesting proposition. Especially one of his full size DAC's.  The DDRC-22D is wonderful as an input selector via a remote control as well as room corrections etc.

Edited June 10, 2024 by MattyW

[RockRolley]

I have two ABBAS phono stages, one ABBAS DAC, also EAR 834P and several other well regarded tube phono stages (too many,, I know), and while I haven’t done extensive A/B tests yet, my ABBAS phono stage is in my main system. I LOVE it and would recommend one. 

[Silver Audiophile]

Just a question regarding the Abbas accessories- does anyone have experience with the interconnects and power cords (if Abbas does them in AU plugs)?

 

 

[Artnet]

33 minutes ago, Silver Audiophile said:

Just a question regarding the Abbas accessories- does anyone have experience with the interconnects and power cords (if Abbas does them in AU plugs)?

 

Only seen his power chord with US or Schuko.  I like mine feeding the DAC and was put onto a convertor socket US to AU by a friend,  nice quality and available at VH audio

I have a pair of his Speaker cables  that get a rotation now and then,  a SPDIF cable that was a little short and has since been replaced by a 1.5m Synopsis.  Also a set of RCA plugs that I like and convey the solid body Abbas sound.  Not using them ATM.

[krazywaffle]

On 10/6/2024 at 10:38 AM, RockRolley said:

I have two ABBAS phono stages, one ABBAS DAC, also EAR 834P and several other well regarded tube phono stages (too many,, I know), and while I haven’t done extensive A/B tests yet, my ABBAS phono stage is in my main system. I LOVE it and would recommend one. 

Thanks heaps for the feedback. Will keep this in mind when it comes time to explore bringing another phono stage into the stable 

[Silver Audiophile]

I'm still thoroughly enjoying the Abbas DAC. Just a message to anyone here with an Abbas DAC or Abbas accessory, if you are thinking of offloading it, please PM me first with an offer thanks 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 21, 2024 by Silver Audiophile

[Silver Audiophile]

With other bits of gear, my only source of music (Tidal streaming), wasn't getting as much monthly use as it should. Maybe 40-50 streams per month average.

 

Now is different- let's call it "The Abbas Effect"

 

 

Edited July 2, 2024 by Silver Audiophile

[Silver Audiophile]

Just had a lovely 3 hour listening session with the Abbas 2.2SE+ DAC. It is supposed to fitted with a TDA1541 DAC chip.

I looked up and discovered there are so many variants of this chip!

Under the hood of mine, guess what I found.. a TDA1541A S1 Crown. 

No bloody wonder it sounds amazing! 

 

Below, ChatGPT explains the different variants:

 

The TDA1541 series by Philips includes several variations, each with subtle differences in sound quality and characteristics. Here's an overview of the main TDA1541 variants and how they compare in terms of sound:

 

TDA1541

**Sound Signature:** Warm, musical, and smooth with a full midrange. 

 **Strengths:** Known for its analog-like sound and musicality. It's a favorite for those who appreciate a vintage sound signature.

 **Weaknesses:** Slightly less detailed and precise compared to modern DAC chips, but still beloved for its musical engagement.

 

TDA1541A

 **Sound Signature:** Similar to the original TDA1541 but with improved resolution and slightly more detail.

 **Strengths:** Enhanced performance over the TDA1541 with better signal-to-noise ratio and lower distortion.

 **Weaknesses:** Still retains the warm and smooth characteristics, but with a bit more clarity and precision.

 

TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown)

**Sound Signature:** More refined than the TDA1541A, with better detail and resolution.

**Strengths:** Offers a higher level of performance with tighter tolerances, resulting in improved sound quality.

**Weaknesses:** Relatively rare and more expensive, but sought after for its superior sound.

 

TDA1541A-S2 (Double Crown)

**Sound Signature:** The pinnacle of the TDA1541 series, offering the best resolution, detail, and overall sound quality.

**Strengths:** Known for its exceptional musicality and clarity, with even tighter tolerances and better performance metrics.

**Weaknesses:** Very rare and expensive, often considered a collector's item among audiophiles.

 

 TDA1541 R1, R2, R3 (Rare Variants)

**Sound Signature:** These rare variants, marked R1, R2, or R3, are rumored to have subtle differences in sound quality, though specific characteristics can vary.

**Strengths:** Generally believed to offer unique sonic qualities, with enthusiasts often seeking them out for particular sound signatures.

**Weaknesses:** Hard to find and usually expensive, with variability in performance due to their rarity and possible inconsistencies.

 

Comparison

**TDA1541 vs. TDA1541A:** The TDA1541A offers improved technical performance with a bit more detail and clarity while maintaining the warm and smooth character of the original TDA1541.

**TDA1541A vs. TDA1541A-S1:** The Single Crown version provides better resolution and more refined sound compared to the standard TDA1541A.

**TDA1541A-S1 vs. TDA1541A-S2:** The Double Crown version is the best of the series, offering superior detail, resolution, and overall sound quality.

 

In summary, the higher you go up the TDA1541 series, the better the performance in terms of detail, resolution, and clarity, while still maintaining the characteristic warm and musical sound that the TDA1541 chips are known for.

 

 

Edited July 14, 2024 by Silver Audiophile

[muon*]

Don't forget they didn't test all chips, so you can have a plain Jane chip that may be as good as a single crown.

[Silver Audiophile]

4 hours ago, muon* said:

Don't forget they didn't test all chips, so you can have a plain Jane chip that may be as good as a single crown.

I'm a numbers man. What's a realistic probability this is the case for a the plain Jane chip? 

 

 

[Silver Audiophile]

A quick ChatGPT request to search the Web yields no available data from Philips. Seems to be a low number, perhaps?

 

 

Edited July 15, 2024 by Silver Audiophile