The first Totaldac D1-Twelve Mk2 DAC in Hong Kong

totaldac

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Aug 17, 2012
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and more feedback on this tread:
"I’ve been listening to the d1-12 mk3 tonight after having a little of over 200 hours since getting the mk3 upgrade back from Vincent.

All I can say Holy Crap! As good as the mk3 sounded straight out of the box, after 200 hours the mk3 sound quality has gained another non-diminishing return on aliveness/engagement.

Because the sonic changes are so beyond the stereotypical audiophile yada-yada descriptions, let me just say that the sound is just so naturally alive, that it justs draws you effortlessly into the music’s emotional energy. The music just grabs you! No inattentive listening possible here! .

But this is not a near field experience. The entire room is energized yet disappears…transported to the recording venue space.

Kudos Vincent!! Upgrading to the TotalDac d1-12 Mk3 is truly a no brainer!"

 

totaldac

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Aug 17, 2012
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Hello,
Here is a thread about the new Totaldac d1-switch feedback:
 

seanzor

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Apr 3, 2019
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Hi cat6man,

I connected the Extreme USB out (with Taiko OS, Taiko USB driver, Taiko USB card) straight into the first MkII reclocker on Thursday, the day after receiving the MkII reclockers.

Going through straight to the receclocker bypassed the Berkeley alpha (usb to AES) converter and a slightly lesser quality AES digital cable (nordost Valhalla2 versus the Odin2s that is used in the rest of the totaldac).

Even with the totaldac mono d1-amps cold and with a low volume setting, I could immediately hear a perceptible increase in clarity and a further extension of the visceral acoustic pressure into the room, with yet a more natural/relaxed presentation.

Over the last few days, the uptick in performance produced by going straight from the Extreme USB into the first MkII reclocker continued to increase, reaching levels of emotional involvement on many albums that extend far beyond what I had previously experienced in my room with the MkI reclockers.

The Taiko tricked out Extreme and the Totaldac d1-12 MkII with dual MkII reclockers are a match made in heaven.
Hi cmarin,
Do you think connecting the reclocker directly via USB is better than connecting to the Berkeley alpha first and then connect reclocker?
 

cmarin

VIP/Donor
Jul 16, 2011
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Hi cmarin,
Do you think connecting the reclocker directly via USB is better than connecting to the Berkeley alpha first and then connect reclocker?
Absolutely yes.
 

cmarin

VIP/Donor
Jul 16, 2011
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525
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Texas
Thank you for your reply. It looks like we can save money on Berkeley alpha and cables.
To be clear, going directly to the reclocker vía usb is better than going to the reclocker through the Berkeley alpha when the source is the Taiko Extreme. I can’t speak to the preference for any other source.
 

seanzor

Well-Known Member
Apr 3, 2019
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To be clear, going directly to the reclocker vía usb is better than going to the reclocker through the Berkeley alpha when the source is the Taiko Extreme. I can’t speak to the preference for any other source.
I see what you mean, both transmit and receive. Thank you.
 

totaldac

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Aug 17, 2012
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702
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www.totaldac.com

totaldac

Industry Expert
Aug 17, 2012
567
702
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France
www.totaldac.com

jma6

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2020
15
39
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70
France
I was at the MOC in Munich this year and I have been very positively impressed by the Totaldac room in the MOC and the one also in hifi deluxe .
In the moc d12 was running the show and the d1 direct in hifi deluxe . Both rooms were a full Totaldac system, same set up except the dac and room size .
What really caught me was how natural sounding were Totaldac room .
I go often to classical music concert and I never heard digital music sound as close to the real events as in the Totaldac room .

I am in a hunt for an end game dac in my audio system , natural sounding being for me the top criteria. In the month of October , I was lucky to have home demo of some very nice dac ( dcs , APL dsd mr ,playback design mpd 8 , more modest set up holo ,Aqua la Scala , Audiomat ) and also totaldac d1 direct and d1driver .

The top three for me were the Totaldac d1 direct , APL and playback design . The Totaldac d1 direct was very clearly the most natural sounding and so it is now in my system :)
A special mention for the aqua la scala which was very good at a more modest price also a r2r dac by the way .
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,421
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I was at the MOC in Munich this year and I have been very positively impressed by the Totaldac room in the MOC and the one also in hifi deluxe .
In the moc d12 was running the show and the d1 direct in hifi deluxe . Both rooms were a full Totaldac system, same set up except the dac and room size .
What really caught me was how natural sounding were Totaldac room .
I go often to classical music concert and I never heard digital music sound as close to the real events as in the Totaldac room .

I am in a hunt for an end game dac in my audio system , natural sounding being for me the top criteria. In the month of October , I was lucky to have home demo of some very nice dac ( dcs , APL dsd mr ,playback design mpd 8 , more modest set up holo ,Aqua la Scala , Audiomat ) and also totaldac d1 direct and d1driver .

The top three for me were the Totaldac d1 direct , APL and playback design . The Totaldac d1 direct was very clearly the most natural sounding and so it is now in my system :)
A special mention for the aqua la scala which was very good at a more modest price also a r2r dac by the way .
Great insights...I look forward to hearing the Totaldac some day. I have spoken with Arnie (Arrakis and REL 6-pack fame) in TX about his SOTA Totaldac system which he absolutely loves.
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
3,058
3,190
1,410
Hong Kong
I was at the MOC in Munich this year and I have been very positively impressed by the Totaldac room in the MOC and the one also in hifi deluxe .
In the moc d12 was running the show and the d1 direct in hifi deluxe . Both rooms were a full Totaldac system, same set up except the dac and room size .
What really caught me was how natural sounding were Totaldac room .
I go often to classical music concert and I never heard digital music sound as close to the real events as in the Totaldac room .

I am in a hunt for an end game dac in my audio system , natural sounding being for me the top criteria. In the month of October , I was lucky to have home demo of some very nice dac ( dcs , APL dsd mr ,playback design mpd 8 , more modest set up holo ,Aqua la Scala , Audiomat ) and also totaldac d1 direct and d1driver .

The top three for me were the Totaldac d1 direct , APL and playback design . The Totaldac d1 direct was very clearly the most natural sounding and so it is now in my system :)
A special mention for the aqua la scala which was very good at a more modest price also a r2r dac by the way .
Dear jma6,
Congratulations!

Your next step must be adding a Reclocker Mk2 to your D1 Direct.
It will then come closer to the Twelve Mk3!
;)
 
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jma6

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2020
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In fact the evaluation was easy ... I have listened for about 10 days with the reclocker feeding the D1 direct and I like it so much that I did not bother to try with the D1 direct alone .
I did that yesterday ... listened to a few songs ...and very quickly revert with the reclocker with the D1 direct . A total no brainer !

What is the digital cables that you will recommend . Both the reclocker and the D1 direct are extremely responsive depending on the digital cable feeding them.

I have on loan from Vincent , two of the Totaldac digital cable .
I own myself a Jorma digital and also a Kubala sosna Elation .

What will be your recommendation ?
 
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totaldac

Industry Expert
Aug 17, 2012
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702
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www.totaldac.com
The listening room in totaldac headquarter in France has been improved:
-large diffusors between the speakers
-new rack for the electronics, with electronics inside the rack and on top of the rack
-speaker placed close to the rear wall to be closer to the configuration that most customers use
-more sound absorbers in the ceiling and in the back of the room
-reference analog source, for direct comparison to the Totaldac digital source (Analog Audio Design TP-1000)
Be welcome for a listening session!

d100_installed_in_totaldac_auditorium.jpg

ceiling.jpg
 

totaldac

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Aug 17, 2012
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www.totaldac.com
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totaldac

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567
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www.totaldac.com
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Kris

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Mar 4, 2019
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TotalDAC uses Crystek clocks
Vincent is so kind to provide good AES cables for all users.
You can get much better Bibacord cables from Vincent,

But I tried many other AES cables as well and the best by far are
Absolue Creation Tim Ref Signature.
They dont use temperature and no Solgering for connectors.
As far as I know they use special glue,
I have 6 AES cables from them .

If you need BNC cables I have 2 of them that I could consider selling .
just sent me PM.
 
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