GIESELER AUDIO Kompakt II TDA1541A owners thread

[sdotmouse]

Hi ray,  I have no experience with this dac but I can tell you that:

 

1. in my Revox B226 (I think it is) the single crown chip gets quite hot so I have added a heat sink,  and

 

2. in my Cambridge CD3 (I think it is) which has 4 chips with heat sinking because the supply voltage is above spec (thanks Stan),  I will be lowering the voltage when I get around to fitting the 4 single crown chips I have saved for a rainy day. 

 

Regards,  s.m

[RockRolley]

  On 08/02/2024 at 8:28 AM, ray4410 said:

noticed in the Kompakt 11 TDA1541 manual that to preserve the dac chip it is recommended to power off after a listening session does anyone do this or is it ok too leave it powered on for better sound quality?  

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I power mine off, but just through my usual habit of powering things off..

[muon*]

Yes, the TDA1541/A runs pretty hot.

 

I'm sceptical whether leaving it on has much of a benefit.

[Gieseler Audio]

This is what Pedja Rogic from Audial who has a huge amount of experience with the TDA1541A mentions on his website.

 

TDA1541A RE leaving permanently powered on

From AYA dac As for the currents, the data can be found in the TDA1541A’s datasheet (typically 27mA for +5V, 37mA for -5V and 25mA for 15V).

TDA1541A dissipates typically 700mW (TDA1541 non-A 850mW) and it is normal for it to get warm. It will, and usually does work without heatsink, so no reason for panic but this is also the reason why it is not recommended to leave TDA1541(A) based DACs permanently powered on.

[chaddy]

  On 08/02/2024 at 8:28 AM, ray4410 said:

noticed in the Kompakt 11 TDA1541 manual that to preserve the dac chip it is recommended to power off after a listening session does anyone do this or is it ok too leave it powered on for better sound quality?  

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I use mine with a Musical Fidelity Int Amp which can only be power cycled by the front panel button. I'm in the habit of turning them both on/off together. The Bluesound Node streamer stays on.

[ray4410]

well to answer my own question which i asked earlier on if any one  had compared the Gustard R26 to the Gieseler  TDA1541 well having both now for comparison as much as i really like the Gustard there is something magical about Clays implementations'  of the TDA1541 dac chip i have had a Marantz cd60 also a fully restored Marantz cd94 which both use the same dac but this little black box just makes music musical and sucks you in ,now he is working on a valve based model can only imagine how that thing is gunner  sound,congratulations for your dedication and perseverance on your quest for lovely sounding dacs. 

[Kirby66]

  On 08/02/2024 at 8:28 AM, ray4410 said:

noticed in the Kompakt 11 TDA1541 manual that to preserve the dac chip it is recommended to power off after a listening session does anyone do this or is it ok too leave it powered on for better sound quality?  

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I turn mine off. I will generally warm everything up for at least 15mins and I've not noticed significant changes after an hour vs 4 or 5 hours - if there were any subtle changes I think they would be hard to identify ... I'll be following Clays sage advice 

[rafalc]

Just received mine bought from fellow SNA member.

 

Manual mentions USB provides best SQ, since my stream does not have USB, which is better coax or optical? My streamer is Primare NP5 mk2.

Be interested what streamers others are using and recommending for this DAC.

 

BTW I think my digital just surpassed vinyl  setup, based on short listen.

Thanks,

Rafal

 

[Kirby66]

  On 19/02/2024 at 4:45 AM, rafalc said:

Just received mine bought from fellow SNA member.

 

Manual mentions USB provides best SQ, since my stream does not have USB, which is better coax or optical? My streamer is Primare NP5 mk2.

Be interested what streamers others are using and recommending for this DAC.

 

BTW I think my digital just surpassed vinyl  setup, based on short listen.

Thanks,

Rafal

 

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Well done on grabbing what is a pretty new DAC second hand - gotta love the SNA classifieds !!! Mine sounds great with my Innuos streamer - I'd probably try S/PDIF coax first but trying both would be the go and stick with what sounds best to you in your system. Digital streaming can sound very very good but as with many things it's all about synergy - look to the weakest link ... if you have a good streamer and DAC connected by rubbish cables it will only sound as good as the weakest link allows it to. There are some very good reasonably priced LAN and S/PDIF cables out there. Enjoy 

[gemini07]

  On 19/02/2024 at 4:45 AM, rafalc said:

Just received mine bought from fellow SNA member.

 

Manual mentions USB provides best SQ, since my stream does not have USB, which is better coax or optical? My streamer is Primare NP5 mk2.

Be interested what streamers others are using and recommending for this DAC.

 

BTW I think my digital just surpassed vinyl  setup, based on short listen.

Thanks,

Rafal

 

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As the original owner of this dac I used both USB and coax. If you can't access USB, I recommend coax.

 

Aurealis make excellent (coax) cables , both copper and silver, that work very well with the Kompact 11. Feel free to PM me for more details.

[Guest]

  On 19/02/2024 at 4:45 AM, rafalc said:

Just received mine bought from fellow SNA member.

 

Manual mentions USB provides best SQ, since my stream does not have USB, which is better coax or optical? My streamer is Primare NP5 mk2.

Be interested what streamers others are using and recommending for this DAC.

 

BTW I think my digital just surpassed vinyl  setup, based on short listen.

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I will go left field, and suggest getting a Reinigen and use with your laptop/PC!  My testing suggests that laptop Reinigen combination will beat many streamers...

[Herbs]

Has anyone tried this TDA DAC through an android player or phone using USB out? I seem to have a problem when I skip a track the volume drops to very low and to get the volume back to normal I flick the dac on and off. Not sure what's causing it but the kompakt 1 doesn't do it. I setup USB Audio player pro on my phone aswell and the same thing happens as my Fiio M11, both android. If I let songs play the volume stays normal. Windows is fine.

[Gieseler Audio]

It may be due to the auto mute circuitry in the DAC.

During development I did find the occasional streaming app that did cause this.

Leave it with me & I will re check the mute setup in your unit.

[Herbs]

Hey Clay, If I let song after song play through it all stays normal and plays fine.

 

I've only just recently tried using the TDA with my fiio m11 again.

 

It's really weird, a full re-install of USB audio player pro used to sort it out for a while and I could skip tracks.

 

Windows is 100% fine. Not sure if it's something to do with android. My phones android aswell.

 

The fiio has coax output aswell but I don't have a coax cable to test if it's USB only.

 

Thanks

Edited July 12, 2024 by Herbs

[Gieseler Audio]

@Herbs  check your PM box

Cheers

Clay

 

For general info -  the DAC has a auto mute option to remove clicks/pops on track or sample rate changes.

For  some reason and just with certain streaming options there is false triggering of the mute circuit.

There is a jumper on the PCB to switch the muting off and that will solve the problem.

Edited July 12, 2024 by Gieseler Audio
More info

[Herbs]

Removing that jumper fixed the volume problem for me.

 

Thanks

[kiwibirch]

How would the TDA stack up against a  yggdrasil OG A2? 

 

Has anyone heard both and care to comment?   The Yiggy is for sale used for approx same price.

 

cheers

 

 

[Gieseler Audio]

@MrBurns84 & @Mickeydamouse  are the latest TDA1541A Kompakt II owners.

Any chance of a bit of feedback from you guys?

[RockRolley]

  On 11/09/2024 at 1:33 AM, Gieseler Audio said:

@MrBurns84 & @Mickeydamouse  are the latest TDA1541A Kompakt II owners.

Any chance of a bit of feedback from you guys?

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Tube version? Very keen to hear feedback

[MrBurns84]

  On 11/09/2024 at 1:33 AM, Gieseler Audio said:

@MrBurns84 & @Mickeydamouse  are the latest TDA1541A Kompakt II owners.

Any chance of a bit of feedback from you guys?

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Lol @Gieseler Audio - sure can Clay!  Just too busy listening to the Kompakt II to pull away from the system and to pen anything down lately.  But I will soon.  Stay tuned.

Edited September 11, 2024 by MrBurns84

[MrBurns84]

  On 11/09/2024 at 1:43 AM, RockRolley said:

Tube version? Very keen to hear feedback

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Not my version @RockRolley.  I already have a tubed MP dac and the MP preamp (tweaked out).  But short answer is that its pipped well ahead of the MP dac since I've had it in my system. 

[RockRolley]

  On 11/09/2024 at 3:11 AM, MrBurns84 said:

Not my version @RockRolley.  I already have a tubed MP dac and the MP preamp (tweaked out).  But short answer is that its pipped well ahead of the MP dac since I've had it in my system. 

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Yes I was wondering about the status of your MP gear

[MrBurns84]

Been meaning to put my thoughts and feedback down for my recently acquired Kompakt II TDA1451a dac, and Reinigen USB reclocker but as it happen’s, life and family in general just soaks up what little time we have.

 

I’ve had the Kompakt II for two weeks now, and its probably had around 50 hours or so of playtime, the Reinigen around 70 hours now.  Just as a point of reference, my system as follows:

 

Raspberry Pi4B streamer (Roon endpoint), powered by a Topping M50 Linear Power Supply.

Gothic Audio SemperFi Silver USB to Gieseler Reinigen Enhanced version

Curious USB link cable to Gieseler Kompakt II dac

Robertson Audio Elite Ultra Silver RCA’s to Musical Paradise Mk 2 preamp

Robertson Audio Elite Pure Silver RCA’s to SGR Audio CX4F mk2 actives + Rel subs

 

I guess its only fair to grade it based on the following ‘audiophile’ categories, just to give readers an idea and using my modded MP Deluxe MK3 dac as a baseline.

Not an apples to apples comparison, as the MP dac is a tubed dac and I have upgraded it running a pair of AKM4490s dacs, a GEC u52 rectifier, Jupiter copper foil caps, E80CC valvo tubes. Being a tubed dac, it already has an upper hand advantage of sounding airy and holographic.

 

Soundstage width, height and depth

Both dacs equal each other in these areas, both present a wide, tall and deep scene, but the bonus points easily goes to the Kompakt II for depth.  The MP dac seems to have a slight haze to the sound, that seems to blur the perception of this trait, but the Kompakt II clearly defines and articulates this space better.

Eg: Sara K’s If I could sing your Blue’s track at the start, the space where the trumpet occupies in the far right corner, it sounds far more recessed and deeper than the MP dac.

 

3D Imaging, placement and instrument focus

The MP has shamed and sent off a few dacs in this particular area.  The Kompakt II keeps up with it and gives a clearer view of the singer’s voice, and just effortlessly allows me to discern the whole scene where the band is playing.

Eg: Hadouk Trio’s Baldamore album – track 3 Train bleu des savanes, the placement of the stringed instrument at the start on the left comes through very nimble and has a lot of tonal textures to it.  The bongo drumming has a good amount of heft and thump to it on the Kompakt II, where else on the MP dac, its more like a slap sound, with less impact.

 

Refinement and Air

In these areas I found that I was going back and forth quite a bit to see if I could discern differences between both dacs, and at the end, I felt the MP dac did edge out the Kompakt II here as I said previously, a tubed dac will be more airy, more holographic sounding. I do feel that the tubed version of the Kompakt II will level this and then some. The level of refinement is better with the Kompakt, and seems to be resolving finer details a bit better than the AKM based MP dac.  Not at all surprised by this as the TDA1541a more analogue sounding.  The MP sounds more etched, being a Delta Sigma based dac.

 

Midrange, vocals

Extra points to the Kompakt II and here edges out the MP dac.  Using the ‘Grandma’s Hands’ track sung by Livingston Taylor, the  finger snaps sounds quite meaty and has texture to it, the MP sounds more simulated.  Voices and how it is projected from the centre image sounds more real, has a bit more forward presence than the MP.

 

Bass

Kompakt II is a bit of a bass monster!  Lots of heft, punch and depth with the bass and it does out ‘punch’ the MP dac here.  The MP dac is no slouch, but being tubed rectified, it sounds a little bit ‘spongy’ in comparison, which can be nice for some styles of music.  I don’t think there’s a winner here, just what you would prefer.

 

Dynamics, Tone and Transparency

The Kompakt II was surprisingly quite effortless and agile.  Level of transparency that it puts out is just amazing. Low level details that sounded a bit smeared on the MP dac, are now clearly defined, and quite easily heard. Does this make it more analytical? No by all means, its just there, you either notice it or not.  With the MP dac, these details are a bit etched and more forceful, and therefore sounding a little less musical in its presentation.

 

Where to from here?

Well I have to say that I’m well impressed with Clay’s modern interpretation of the TDA1541a NOS based dac.  It is now my mainstream dac, and will be for a long time as I do love the TDA1541 sound.  I did toss the idea of getting the tubed version of the Kompakt II, but I do have a tubed preamp already.  Maybe food for thought for the future!

I have a small collection of a TDA1541a R1 and S1 somewhere in my stash that I’ve lost when I moved house a few years ago.  Im sure its still packed in some boxes down in the garage in somewhere.  Still punching myself for selling off my S1 double crown ten years ago.. (sigh)..

On another note, I tried the Kompakt II via a toslink cable to my Gustard U18 reclocker and happy to report that there was no loss of resolution, or negative impacts to the sound at all.  Quite surprised by this, so for those who would use a toslink cable to the dac (dunno why you would) but rest assured you’re covered!

From memory, my build is a slight variation off the original I believe, has Nichicon FG caps and OPA1656 opamps, but Clay @Gieseler Audio can chime on this more.

My suggestion is that if you were sitting on the fenceline like I did a year ago, dont wait, coz Clay's got a limited run of TDA1541a's, (10 left)?

[ray4410]

has anyone compared the Gustard R26 to the Gieseler Kompakt 11 TDA1541a dac?

[MrBurns84]

  On 11/09/2024 at 5:58 AM, ray4410 said:

has anyone compared the Gustard R26 to the Gieseler Kompakt 11 TDA1541a dac?

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Glad you asked as I was interested to hear the differences too.  So I went over to a mate place today, who has an R26 for two years as his main dac. I brought my pi4 streamer and Reinigen enhanced to try to keep them at level playing field via usb.

 

To sum it up - The R26 had

- a bigger soundstage, both width, height and depth, but the soundstage was more diffused

- was a little less resolving, especially with the lower end and finer upper end details.

- was a little less dynamic, bass control seemed better with the Kompakt II.

- a smoother tonality over the Kompakt, but the Kompakt was more organic?

He runs a decent Stax & Woo Audio headfi setup.  I;ve always thought the R26 was the one to beat around the $2k - $4k mark.  Got to know now that the TDA Kompakt II can easily keep up with one of the best within that range.

 

 

Edited September 15, 2024 by MrBurns84