Totaldac new DACs

[totaldac]

Paul said about the Triunity DAC : ""It is the BEST one box DAC I ever heard, NOT one of the best but the BEST"".

However IMHO "He ain't seen the real thing yet! ".


In Hong Kong, one of the D1-Twelve mk3 owners recently sent the dac to Vincent for upgrading to Sublime, the current Totaldac flagship.

I was so lucky that I could have a short listen at the showroom of Volent Audio HK, the local Totaldac dealer before the Sublime was delivered to the client.

Here it is :

View attachment 105858

Sublime is also extremely unassuming and can be identified only by a small model name at the back.

View attachment 105859

When it started playing, I had to pick up my jaw from the floor.
It's a quantum leap!


View attachment 105860

However when I asked Ben, boss of Volent HK to add two xlr D1-Drivers to the Sublime, I realized that my favorite dac the MSB Select+Digital Director now had a real rival.
They are on par but with diff characters but I personally rate both of them equal in absolute performance.

They both are now my favorite top dac in the market.


Dear Vincent : you are Super!

Thank you CKKeung!

 

[cat6man]

A first review of the Totaldac d1-triunity DAC has been released!
Volent Audio, the Totaldac retailer in Hong Kong sent a d1-triunity to AudioTechnique magazine.
The reviewer Paul LEUNG released his article in the current issue of March 2023, issue number 498.
He writes:
"It is the BEST one box DAC I ever heard, NOT one of the best but the BEST"
Thank you!

View attachment 105698

did he use a new reclocker when testing/reviewing the triuniity?
i'd love to know how the d1-triunity+sublime reclocker compares with the d1-sublime stack

(but i'm not waiting and will be sending my d1-direct and reclocker back for upgrades in about a week)

 

[totaldac]

did he use a new reclocker when testing/reviewing the triuniity?
i'd love to know how the d1-triunity+sublime reclocker compares with the d1-sublime stack

(but i'm not waiting and will be sending my d1-direct and reclocker back for upgrades in about a week)

No the d1-triunity was used without sublime reclocker.

 

[cmarin]

I sent my totaldac d1-12 mk3 (with a second reclocker) to Vincent a few weeks back to be upgraded to the sublime version. I’ve had it back and running a little over a week now.

At the same time, I just upgraded my Taiko Extreme server to the new switch/network card which is supposed to improve not only the sound quality of streamed files, but even files played from the server’s hard drive.

Without getting into technical details, today, even though the new taiko/switch had not yet been properly installed, I heard the most engaging sound I’ve ever heard in my room before. This was a major non-linear leap in sound quality - an infectious level of engagement.

I won’t get into the usual left brain-analytical descriptors - amazing layering, bass definition, harmonic richness, all musical elements regardless of how small now fully revealed, fully embodied voices etc.

All you need to consider is that you can’t possibly listen to the Totaldac sublime/Taiko server combo and not be completely absorbed in the music. - it’s that real!!

Bravo Vincent!! Now I know why you decided to call it “Sublime”

 

[totaldac]

I sent my totaldac d1-12 mk3 (with a second reclocker) to Vincent a few weeks back to be upgraded to the sublime version. I’ve had it back and running a little over a week now.

At the same time, I just upgraded my Taiko Extreme server to the new switch/network card which is supposed to improve not only the sound quality of streamed files, but even files played from the server’s hard drive.

Without getting into technical details, today, even though the new taiko/switch had not yet been properly installed, I heard the most engaging sound I’ve ever heard in my room before. This was a major non-linear leap in sound quality - an infectious level of engagement.

I won’t get into the usual left brain-analytical descriptors - amazing layering, bass definition, harmonic richness, all musical elements regardless of how small now fully revealed, fully embodied voices etc.

All you need to consider is that you can’t possibly listen to the Totaldac sublime/Taiko server combo and not be completely absorbed in the music. - it’s that real!!

Bravo Vincent!! Now I know why you decided to call it “Sublime”

Thank you cmarin!

Here is another review of the d1-sublime DAC:

* Test * Prova del TOTALDAC d1-sublime: c'è un nuovo sceriffo in città - QuotidianoAudio

Perché il TOTALDAC d1-sublime si chiama in questo modo? Forse perché la sua tecnica di interpretare la trasformazione digitale-analogica è così grande che si spinge al di là di ogni comparazione.

www.quotidianoaudio.it

 

[totaldac]

If someone has a suggestion of track to be played in Munich High End show he can send it to me.
We have now less than 2 month before the show!
I should use the d1-sublime, with a brand new RoonReady streamer software.

 

[arnies]

If someone has a suggestion of track to be played in Munich High End show he can send it to me.
We have now less than 2 month before the show!
I should use the d1-sublime, with a brand new RoonReady streamer software.

Hi Vincent, here are a few suggestions of some demo tracks for you for Munich.
1. Doug MacLeod - A Soul to Claim - A soul to Claim
2. Patricia Barber - Clique - Shall We Dance
3. Malia - Convergence - Celestial Echo
4. Madeleine Peyroux - Secular Hyms - Tango Till They're Done
5. Allen Toussaint -- American Tunes - Viper's Drag
6. Dexter Gordon - Doin' Allright - I was Doing All Right
7. Keb Mo - Blues Americana - Move
8.Ginger Baker - Cyril Davies - Cyril Davies
9. Dave Alvin - Eleven Eleven - Harlan County Line

 

[totaldac]

Hello,
The magazine Haute Fidélité has just tested the d1-unity DAC and says:
"This generation is not a small upgrade or a simple update, but takes you musically to unsuspected sonic horizons, as close as possible to the original concert."

This DAC will be used as their REFERENCE.

 

[matthias]

Will Totaldac be exhibitor at Hifideluxe this year?
Thx

Matt

 

[totaldac]

Will Totaldac be exhibitor at Hifideluxe this year?
Thx

Matt

No, Totaldac will be at the Munich High End show only, in a large room (F123 in the Atrium of the MOC).

 

[matthias]

If someone has a suggestion of track to be played in Munich High End show he can send it to me.
We have now less than 2 month before the show!
I should use the d1-sublime, with a brand new RoonReady streamer software.

Will you have online access to Qobuz at HE Munich?
If yes, we can choose our favorite songs in room

Matt

 

[totaldac]

Will you have online access to Qobuz at HE Munich?
If yes, we can choose our favorite songs in room

Matt

Yes I will have a Qobuz streaming access.
Yes you can choose your music, possibly with my censorship

 

[eskamobob1]

Yes you can choose your music, possibly with my censorship

So I cant play barbie girl? /s

 

[totaldac]

At the Munich show the band new Amp-1-mk2 amplifier will be used.
The input and voltage amplifying board is new and the mechanical isolation is improved, for an even more realistic sound.
The frequency bandwidth is now 1MHz at -3dB.
https://www.totaldac.com/amp-1-en.htm

 

[VPN]

If someone has a suggestion of track to be played in Munich High End show he can send it to me.
We have now less than 2 month before the show!
I should use the d1-sublime, with a brand new RoonReady streamer software.

A few suggestions. Some at the end of the list are not typical of High End shows, but fun anyway:

Track Album. Artist.

S.M.F. Joe Satriani. Joe Satriani 24/96k tidal

Keith don’t go. Accoustic Live. Nils Lofgren DSD or Tidal

Tritico: III Allegro marcato. Trittico dallas wind symphony

Take five. Talking book. The Dave brubeck quartet. Dsd

La vie en rose. Dreamland. Madeleine Peyroux. 24/96k. Tidal

Hey Now. If you wait. London Grammar.

Walking on the moon. Star Tracks. Yuri Honing Trio.

Fugata. Soul of Tango. Kathryn Stott. 24/96k Tidal

Vivaldi Storm. Ler there be cello. 2cellos. 24/96k. Tidal

Liberty. Liberty. Anette Askvik

No sanctuary here. Roadhouses & automobiles. Chris Jones.

Tenderly. Ella and Louis. Ella Fitsgerald and Louis Armstrong. Dsd

Isn’t she lovely. Ink. Livingston Taylor. Dsd

Fire and rain. Sweet Baby James. James Taylor. 24/96k tidal

Hit the road jack. The Genius. Ray Charles.

The Business. The Business. Tiesto 24/96k. Tidal

Another love. Another Love (Tiesto remix). 24/96k Tidal

 

[NICO]

At the Munich show the band new Amp-1-mk2 amplifier will be used.
The input and voltage amplifying board is new and the mechanical isolation is improved, for an even more realistic sound.
The frequency bandwidth is now 1MHz at -3dB.
https://www.totaldac.com/amp-1-en.htm

Hello Vincent
you know if the amp-1 mk2 will be presented in monobloc or stereo version? THANKS

 

[totaldac]

Hello Vincent
you know if the amp-1 mk2 will be presented in monobloc or stereo version? THANKS

Hello Nico,
Probably the stereo version but I am not sure yet.

 

[totaldac]

Michael Lavorgna, ex Stereophile and now chief editor of twitteringmachines.com has released a review of the Totaldac d1-unity DAC.
He will now use a d1-unity as reference DAC.
https://twitteringmachines.com/review-totaldac-d1-unity-dac/

 

[matthias]

Michael Lavorgna, ex Stereophile and now chief editor of twitteringmachines.com has released a review of the Totaldac d1-unity DAC.
He will now use a d1-unity as reference DAC.
https://twitteringmachines.com/review-totaldac-d1-unity-dac/

ML's DAC reviews must be taken with a grain of salt.
He always reviews DACs with a streamer. Quite often the streamer is subpar in comparison to the DAC.
Maybe you should send him your new Sublime streamer for evaluation

Matt

 

[totaldac]

A review of the d1-triunity DAC by Soundstage Australia:
https://www.soundstageaustralia.com...dac-d1-triunity-digital-to-analogue-converter