pete_mac Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 (edited) KOMPAKT II TDA1541A... an audio love story I'm a bit of an audio romanticist at heart. Not only do I love my music, but I love the gear that reproduces it. I love the back-story behind my gear... who designed it, the engineering philosophy that underpins it, and the ongoing quest for better sound. I become invested in these details and it adds a special magic to the listening experience. My allegiance must be earned by gear which does not just talk the talk, but also walks the walk. I not only listen with my ears, but also my heart. Enter Gieseler Audio. Clayton Gieseler's wonderful gear has played a key role in my system for over a decade now, starting with the original Klein DAC that, then a Klein III, and the original AKM-equipped Kompakt - and a few power supplies for good measure! Clay's formula seems simple yet others rarely manage to implement it as effectively - solid DAC chip implementation, quality components, robust electronic engineering, and GET THE POWER SUPPLY RIGHT! Each iteration of DAC improved upon the last and my system continued to evolve. After acquiring the original AKM Kompakt, I was very satisfied with the sound and stopped thinking about the "next big upgrade" on the digital front. Along came the Kompakt II TDA1541A. "Pete, would you be interested in having a listen to the TDA in your own system? You've heard a lot of my DACs and I'd love to hear your thoughts against the AKM Kompakt. No obligation, send her back when you're done. Enjoy!" An innocent flirtation, nothing more. I was already happy. I'd listen, the DAC would be returned, and that would be that. Too easy. Nobody would get hurt. Famous last words. Upon firing her up... I was immediately taken by this DAC's joint talents of nailing timbre/tone along with a sound stage that you simply swim within! My mind is blown with just how good a properly implemented non-oversampling DAC can sound. Pianos, brass instruments and violins - simply delectable! Vocals (both male and female) are beautifully fleshed-out. A few of my go-to demo tracks blew my mind - I've never heard Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" sound better, and one of my slightly more obscure references which brings tonally light-weight DACs to their knees is Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York. Kurt's anaemic rasp is not the friend of tonally deficient DACs! I also hear more well-presented and realistic detail than any of the hyped-up ESS Sabre DACs that I've previously owned. This combination of tone and resolution is the TDA1541A's one-two punch - it allows me to suspend disbelief, relax, and make me think "I am there". I don't need to work hard for this payday - the attributes of this DAC make listening sessions easy and oh-so-natural. I also listen to a lot of well (and not-so-well!) produced electronic music, including various iterations of house, techno, and hybrids of electronic/modern classical music. The TDA1541A weaves the same convincing story - superbly wide and deep sound staging, clarity and tone. It's all too easy to blow away an entire evening and listen well into the wee hours. Clay also sent me a Reinigen which elevates the Kompakt II to another level, especially when intervening between the USB output of my Squeezebox Touch and the DAC. All of my initial listening comparisons occurred between the Kompakt 1 vs II at first, with the Reinigen arriving later. Adding the Reinigen takes the Kompakt II to another level and it's not going anywhere. It's effect is not subtle. That is a story for another thread though. This is all about the TDA1541A. I also love a good nudie pic or three. Gotta love those Nichicon Fine Gold and Muse caps, along with Panasonic's finest but I'm equally happy to see a few Elna Silmic II caps in there! Robust CLC power supplies. Delicious Nichicon decoupling caps around the DAC chip. Last but not least, the Amanero 384 USB board working its magic. As I said earlier... quality designs, quality components, quality engineering. Kudos to Clay and his passion for extracting the most out his gear through careful design, sound engineering, and continuous improvement. I can confidently say that my system has simply never sounded better. The Kompakt II has been purchased. Cancel the return flight home Clay - this tourist is staying put. Thanks mate. System Squeezebox Touch with Gieseler PSU Gieseler Reinigen Gieseler Kompakt II TDA1541A Sansui AU-alpha 907MR integrated amplifier Legacy Audio Studio HD speakers Edited October 14, 2024 by pete_mac 8 6
MrBurns84 Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 Nicely said there @pete_mac I too have a problem disconnecting from my KompaktII TDA with the famous last thoughts of 'one last song...." and its well late into the night. 4 3
pete_mac Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 8 minutes ago, MrBurns84 said: Nicely said there @pete_mac I too have a problem disconnecting from my KompaktII TDA with the famous last thoughts of 'one last song...." and its well late into the night. Thank you sir! It's a special bit of kit, that's for sure. 4
Bricki Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 22 hours ago, pete_mac said: KOMPAKT II TDA1541A... an audio love story I'm a bit of an audio romanticist at heart. Not only do I love my music, but I love the gear that reproduces it. I love the back-story behind my gear... who designed it, the engineering philosophy that underpins it, and the ongoing quest for better sound. I become invested in these details and it adds a special magic to the listening experience. My allegiance must be earned by gear which does not just talk the talk, but also walks the walk. I not only listen with my ears, but also my heart. Enter Gieseler Audio. Clayton Gieseler's wonderful gear has played a key role in my system for over a decade now, starting with the original Klein DAC that, then a Klein III, and the original AKM-equipped Kompakt - and a few power supplies for good measure! Clay's formula seems simple yet others rarely manage to implement it as effectively - solid DAC chip implementation, quality components, robust electronic engineering, and GET THE POWER SUPPLY RIGHT! Each iteration of DAC improved upon the last and my system continued to evolve. After acquiring the original AKM Kompakt, I was very satisfied with the sound and stopped thinking about the "next big upgrade" on the digital front. Along came the Kompakt II TDA1541A. "Pete, would you be interested in having a listen to the TDA in your own system? You've heard a lot of my DACs and I'd love to hear your thoughts against the AKM Kompakt. No obligation, send her back when you're done. Enjoy!" An innocent flirtation, nothing more. I was already happy. I'd listen, the DAC would be returned, and that would be that. Too easy. Nobody would get hurt. Famous last words. Upon firing her up... I was immediately taken by this DAC's joint talents of nailing timbre/tone along with a sound stage that you simply swim within! My mind is blown with just how good a properly implemented non-oversampling DAC can sound. Pianos, brass instruments and violins - simply delectable! Vocals (both male and female) are beautifully fleshed-out. A few of my go-to demo tracks blew my mind - I've never heard Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" sound better, and one of my slightly more obscure references which brings tonally light-weight DACs to their knees is Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York. Kurt's anaemic rasp is not the friend of tonally deficient DACs! I also hear more well-presented and realistic detail than any of the hyped-up ESS Sabre DACs that I've previously owned. This combination of tone and resolution is the TDA1541A's one-two punch - it allows me to suspend disbelief, relax, and make me think "I am there". I don't need to work hard for this payday - the attributes of this DAC make listening sessions easy and oh-so-natural. I also listen to a lot of well (and not-so-well!) produced electronic music, including various iterations of house, techno, and hybrids of electronic/modern classical music. The TDA1541A weaves the same convincing story - superbly wide and deep sound staging, clarity and tone. It's all too easy to blow away an entire evening and listen well into the wee hours. Clay also sent me a Reinigen which elevates the Kompakt II to another level, especially when intervening between the USB output of my Squeezebox Touch and the DAC. All of my initial listening comparisons occurred between the Kompakt 1 vs II at first, with the Reinigen arriving later. Adding the Reinigen takes the Kompakt II to another level and it's not going anywhere. It's effect is not subtle. That is a story for another thread though. This is all about the TDA1541A. I also love a good nudie pic or three. Gotta love those Nichicon Fine Gold and Muse caps, along with Panasonic's finest but I'm equally happy to see a few Elna Silmic II caps in there! Robust CLC power supplies. Delicious Nichicon decoupling caps around the DAC chip. Last but not least, the Amanero 384 USB board working its magic. As I said earlier... quality designs, quality components, quality engineering. Kudos to Clay and his passion for extracting the most out his gear through careful design, sound engineering, and continuous improvement. I can confidently say that my system has simply never sounded better. The Kompakt II has been purchased. Cancel the return flight home Clay - this tourist is staying put. Thanks mate. System Squeezebox Touch with Gieseler PSU Gieseler Reinigen Gieseler Kompakt II TDA1541A Sansui AU-alpha 907MR integrated amplifier Legacy Audio Studio HD speakers I couldn't agree more with this review.... I just read it while listening to muddy waters playing on my kompakt II TDA and the ambience on the recording is superbly presented...it doesn't matter what the genre is the Kompakt II TDA gets out of the way and the music just flows out... I've had mine for 12 months now and I'm still late to bed every night... just one more track 7 1
MrBurns84 Posted October 17, 2024 Posted October 17, 2024 (edited) Just realised i posted in the wrong thread and now moved it to the owners thread.. Speaking of a nice change, I have a S1 double crown on loan which arrived today.. just installed it on the Kompakt II... and two weeks later i managed to twist the previous owner's arm to finally part with it... Edited October 17, 2024 by MrBurns84 6
MrBurns84 Posted October 17, 2024 Posted October 17, 2024 And how does it sound? What you will notice at first is the midrange is just beautiful. This is very apparent when you boot it up for the first time. Retains the TDA1541a DNA but a much more warmer, smoother and refined version of it. It is a bit quieter, more holographic, and you hear better microdetails easily. To sum it up, a slightly better version of the standard chip maybe gives that last 10% at best? 8
Popey the Sailor Posted February 8 Posted February 8 (edited) Firstly, I would like to thank Clay for his wonderful customer service and helping me with all the questions. Recently joined TDA1451a Kompakt ll DAC bandwagon. I would like to write two words please. Guys, anyone in the market for a DAC with in the price range around $2000 mark this is the one to consider for demo. TDA1451A DAC fits amazingly well in my set-up chain and it elevates my system performance to an another notch. Also, I like the way how its packed in a card board box. When we open the box and take the DAC out, we feel the quality from there on and all the way up till its fired up and listening to the music.. quality is every where. Top notch design, top notch performance. top notch customer service. What would I want more! Any one looking to buy a new DAC just demo and buy one if its your right DAC before TDA1451A chip runs out of stock from Clay. This DAC has amazing micro details, vocals are good. Bass is great. Last but not the least made in AU. Thank you Clay. Edited February 17 by -Prince- 9 1
Kirby66 Posted February 8 Posted February 8 15 hours ago, -Prince- said: Firstly, I would like to thank Clay for his wonderful customer service and helping me with all the questions. Recently joined TDA1451a Kompakt ll DAC bandwagon. I would like to write two words please. Guys, anyone in the market for a DAC with in the price range around $2000 mark just buy this DAC to feel it. TDA1451A DAC fits amazingly well in my set-up chain and it elevates my system performance to an another notch. Also, I like the way how its packed safely in a card board box. When we open the box and take the DAC out, we feel the quality from there on and all the way up till its fired up and listening to the music.. quality is every where. Top notch design, top notch performance. top notch customer service. What would I want more! Any one looking to buy a new DAC just buy one before TDA1451A chip runs out of stock from Clay. This DAC has amazing micro details, vocals are life like. Bass is great. Last but not the least made in AU. Thank you Clay. Terrific to have another super happy SNA member in the Kompakt II TDA1541A club ... I'd happily go head to head with DAC's selling for 2 or 3 times the price ... congratulations @-Prince- 3 1
Artnet Posted February 9 Posted February 9 5 hours ago, Kirby66 said: I'd happily go head to head with DAC's selling for 2 or 3 times the price ... That could be interesting if done well. Keen to hear a Kompact II. Two systems 3 or 4 Dac's choice!! 1
Kirby66 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 11 minutes ago, Artnet said: That could be interesting if done well. Keen to hear a Kompact II. Two systems 3 or 4 Dac's choice!! There are a couple down there in VIC - I suspect you'll be pleasantly surprised when you do hear one I've not heard one but I have read very good things about the Abbas DAC's
Kirby66 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 That was poorly worded ... "I've not heard an Abbas DAC but I have read very good things about them"
Artnet Posted February 9 Posted February 9 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Kirby66 said: That was poorly worded ... "I've not heard an Abbas DAC but I have read very good things about them" IMO no one DAC does everything so in some repects a DAC off is not the point. The Abbas is the best central heating device money can buy and it plays music very well to my ears. What interests me in Clays device is in fact SS output a summertime TDA1541 Ahhhh Edited February 9 by Artnet 1 1
pete_mac Posted February 11 Posted February 11 On 08/02/2025 at 3:30 PM, -Prince- said: Firstly, I would like to thank Clay for his wonderful customer service and helping me with all the questions. Recently joined TDA1451a Kompakt ll DAC bandwagon. I would like to write two words please. Guys, anyone in the market for a DAC with in the price range around $2000 mark just buy this DAC to feel it. TDA1451A DAC fits amazingly well in my set-up chain and it elevates my system performance to an another notch. Also, I like the way how its packed safely in a card board box. When we open the box and take the DAC out, we feel the quality from there on and all the way up till its fired up and listening to the music.. quality is every where. Top notch design, top notch performance. top notch customer service. What would I want more! Any one looking to buy a new DAC just buy one before TDA1451A chip runs out of stock from Clay. This DAC has amazing micro details, vocals are life like. Bass is great. Last but not the least made in AU. Thank you Clay. Welcome to the Kompakt II TDA1541A club! They are a special beast indeed. We definitely need to organise member's cards and special t-shirts methinks! 4 1
Kirby66 Posted February 11 Posted February 11 2 hours ago, pete_mac said: We definitely need to organise member's cards and special t-shirts methinks! Hell yeah !!!
crtexcnndrm99 Posted February 11 Posted February 11 (edited) It’d be interesting to hear a ‘DAC off’ in SEQ… Impressive to see these positive feedback posts consistently - I’m still running the Wiim mini in my digital side and haven’t bought into dacs yet (had a mojo years ago) Edited February 11 by crtexcnndrm99 1
Kirby66 Posted February 21 Posted February 21 On 11/02/2025 at 1:31 PM, pete_mac said: We definitely need to organise member's cards and special t-shirts methinks! Something like this perhaps .... Gieseler KII TDA Tshirt V1.pdf 5
pete_mac Posted February 22 Posted February 22 Nothing to see here folks! Move along! I’ve snaffled a Holland S1 single-crown from the same batch as the original TDA chip. Thank you to @muon* for making this possible. A pair of IC removal tweezers thingies (technical term!) makes swapping chips a breeze, but you’ve gotta be careful with the pins. I’ll share my thoughts soon. 6 2
pete_mac Posted February 23 Posted February 23 So, my thoughts on the 1988 "standard" TDA1541A chip vis the S1 single crown: Back to back in my system, I found that the standard chip has a sightly more forward presentation in the vocal/presence region and seems to give voices a bit of an extra "pop" in the sound stage. It's quite addictive really! The single crown puts voices a bit further back in the sound stage relative to the standard chip (not too far back overall - just compared to the standard chip) and provides a slightly cleaner and more polished overall presentation. There's a little more clarity and space/separation around elements of the music. To be clear, we're talking about relatively small differences here - tweaks to the sound of what is a simply magnificent DAC. The beauty of these two chips is that I can swap between them to tweak the sound and presentation of my system. For the time being the single crown will remain in there. I think it's a credit to Clay's design that it can show the differences between these chips. Nothing is being obscured or hidden. That's part of the beauty of this DAC in my opinion - it lets the chip shine in all its glory. To throw a spanner in the works... on the topic of different chips and "crowns" it is worth reading up on what this all actually means. There are some good websites and forum discussions on the topic and as I understand it, a single crown is not a guarantee of superior measured performance. Not all chips were graded during any given production run, so there's a chance that ungraded chips could have performance specs that meet the single or double crown specs! It's a bit of a lucky-dip regarding what you get. I can only speak for my personal experience which has been positive - it may not be the same for everyone. 4 1
MrBurns84 Posted February 23 Posted February 23 (edited) 1 hour ago, pete_mac said: To be clear, we're talking about relatively small differences here - tweaks to the sound of what is a simply magnificent DAC. Agreed. Well said there @pete_mac Personally though, i dont think i could go back to a standard TDA1541a though Once you hear the difference and understand it, its hard to unhear it as it has imprinted a new 'baseline' to now beat in my head. 1 hour ago, pete_mac said: The single crown puts voices a bit further back in the sound stage relative to the standard chip (not too far back overall - just compared to the standard chip) and provides a slightly cleaner and more polished overall presentation. There's a little more clarity and space/separation around elements of the music. Mirrors my impressions too. And with the Reinigen in the chain before the KompaktII TDA, you add more clarity, refinement and a blacker background for the music. 1 hour ago, pete_mac said: Not all chips were graded during any given production run, so there's a chance that ungraded chips could have performance specs that meet the single or double crown specs! It's a bit of a lucky-dip regarding what you get. I can only speak for my personal experience which has been positive - it may not be the same for everyone. As a baseline, you can't go wrong with any of the Holland 1987-1988 year DACs. Clay supplies all his TDA Kompakt II's with units sourced from a selected batch once owned by the Killer DAC crew. Those of us who have been around for a while are aware of their reputation for having some of the best implementations of the TDA1541a DACs around. Edited February 23 by MrBurns84 2 2
MrBurns84 Posted February 23 Posted February 23 (edited) As the legendary electronics designer Thorsten Loesch wrote: "If you can find a well put together DAC with TDA1541 set up for "non-oversampling" and with a tube output, that would still be my favorite." mirrors my ultimate TDA dac would have Jupiter copper foil output coupling caps, GEC u52 rectifier and E80cc tubes... Edited February 23 by MrBurns84 2 1
Popey the Sailor Posted February 23 Posted February 23 (edited) Hello Everyone, Good day, does anyone have a TDA1451A S1/S2 Holland chip, which you want to sell? Thanks in advance. Edited February 24 by -Prince-
Popey the Sailor Posted February 24 Posted February 24 (edited) On 23/02/2025 at 9:51 AM, MrBurns84 said: TDA1541 set up for "non-oversampling" and with a tube output, Jupiter copper foil output coupling caps, GEC u52 rectifier and E80cc tubes TDA Kompakt lll (Tube DAC) @MrBurns84 @Gieseler Audio Edited February 28 by -Prince- Edit 1 1
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