Eastern Electric Tube DAC Plus Digital-to-Analog Converter

The “DAC Declarations”

When a product sounds good I immediately begin processing the consequences, or implications, of its capacity for influence upon a system. In this particular case I found myself drawing some far reaching observations. I share them here with you as a tentative list of “DAC Declarations”, but I’ll try not to pontificate as I wouldn’t want to end up like a physicist with quantum-egg on his face. I have now heard in my room four 32 bit DACs and players. While these experiences do not necessarily constitute a trend, I cannot help thinking that the Tube DAC Plus is part of a new trend in digital audio. Here are some of my thoughts in regard to the Tube DAC Plus:

State of the Art digital stereo sound is on the move and is being led by 32 bit processing, specifically implemented with the ESS Sabre Reference 32 chip.
The DAC is the new game changer component. In comparisons I have conducted a competent transport with such a DAC outstrips an unnerving number of 24 bit players/DACs.
Any number of 24 bit players are now best utilized as transports, not as players. They as a player sound impoverished compared to the tube DAC Plus.
With the Tube DAC Plus finally, streaming audio is good enough to use for more critical listening and reviewing.
The cost of this change is low compared to amps, speakers, etc. It’s a sea change for the better which will help drive the migration to file playback and could draw more listeners into the audiophile fold.
Definition is never a problem in an audio system; when a person thinks there’s too much definition they’re wrong. You can never have too much clarity/definition. The problem is usually with tonality when someone feels there’s too much definition.
For the everyday listener perhaps a truce in the “Loudness War” might be attainable by 32 bit technology. When heard through a DAC like the Plus what was previously considered a hotly recorded, barren landscape of music has far more appeal.
Choice of Digital Coax cable has never been more critical, and comparison between all cables has become far easier. Will this, finally, convince cable skeptics that there are actual differences between cables?

I lament that I have not much to report on the USB input performance of the Tube DAC Plus. Until now I have not used a Mac in my audio system, though I have attained very fine results from using the coaxial digital output of the Sonos Digital Music System running into DACs like the Plus. A nagging wireless signal problem has also plagued my laptop usage. It seems when I built my dedicated audio room I built it too well; the signal from a wireless bridge struggles to reach my laptop in the room, even with a signal repeater right outside the door! This makes for fantastic listening experiences, as the room is exceptionally quiet, much like a recording studio, but difficult for accessing streaming audio. There often seems to be one aspect of an ever-evolving system technically amiss, lest we audiophiles be completely content!

Currently Redbook is still on the throne in my room as a source, as it is more pristine than file streaming through the Sonos. One drawback of the Sonos is its incompatibility with 24/192 files. If Sonos doesn’t get on the HR (high resolution) bandwagon it could end up the Bose for a new generation. I certainly wouldn’t want that, as I love the user interface, but any streaming music which is going to be worth having as an audiophile preference will sooner rather than later need to be HR compatible.

Having said that, up until now I have not used streaming media for reviewing; it has not been good enough sounding. But I think I will when using the Tube DAC Plus. To give a sense of how profoundly improved the Plus is with native streaming 16/44.1 data over the previous version, fed to the BNC input of the Plus the result is better than CDs played through the Opamp-enhanced original unit! There have been many who have claimed that file playback is superior to CDs. If they have a 32 bit DAC along the lines of the Tube DAC Plus I can understand why they reach that conclusion. But, unless you are using HR files my results cause me to conclude that Redbook is still better through the Plus than streaming or file playback (Lossless FLAC) from a NAS through Sonos.

Who is going to love this DAC?

Tonality freaks will love the organic nature and oh-so-sweet correctness of the timbral relation between instruments; trios, quartets, orchestras will sound more matched, more “tonally coherent”.

Bass bad boys will get meatier, more informationally-rich low end than before; even synthesized bass will take on form versus flatness.

Detail denizens will adore the innumerable nuances. Every system will sound cleaner than with the previous model, but top end systems will be absolutely saturated with microdynamics.

Venue/Event visionaries will be seated more relationally appropriately than can scarcely be imagined; you will note your position in relation to the performers and their relation to each other in the venue almost instinctively. Crowd interaction and band interplay will be heard intimately.

Individuals seeking to emotionally connect with the performer/performance will be moved profoundly. Having assembled dozens of rigs over the past few years it takes a lot nowadays to thrill me to action when listening, but as I heard the Tube DAC Plus I couldn’t help but realize I was bodily involved, singing, foot tapping, closing my eyes and nodding my head. The spirit of the music was powerfully communicated by this DAC!

Value component lovers will think there are still some “good designers” in the world because they will feel very shrewd for getting so much sound quality for just over $1K.

Unless a national catastrophe reduces the audiophile population to the level of beggars standing in food lines (God forbid!), Bill O’Connell isn’t going to be able to keep these in stock. The community will know soon enough, and it’ll be too late to get your hands on one quickly. So be it; get your hands on one more slowly.

Conclusion

How many ways can you evaluate the impact of a component upon a system? Emotionally; it moves you to tears or makes you want to get up and dance. Fiscally; it costs relatively less than other options like players and sounds satisfying. Aesthetically; it fits your lifestyle, has good WAF for its diminutive physique, and looks good as well as sounds good. My highest priority, though these others are well considered, has always been “relative performance”, the intersection between cost, operational flexibility and extreme sonic performance not only in a particular system but in any system. Listening rooms are littered with pieces which sound terrific only in certain contexts, only with particular attending components or with niche music. As lovely as that is, it’s not what gets me most fired up in terms of evaluation of gear. When a component is found to be sensational for use in nearly any rig even up to state-of-the-art level and at a particularly enticing price, it is a cause for me to rejoice.

Rejoice with me, my friends, for I have found such a component, the Eastern Electric Tube DAC Plus!