14-Dec-2018, 21:16
Reading through this thread I get the feeling a few people feel that the phono stage could and should be better. Many integrated amplifiers come with phono stages that aren't as good as external phono stages. Is it so hard to just accept that a phono stage inside such a cramped box just might not be as good as the rest of the amplifier?
Normally, when a DAC is implemented in an integrated amp, it's not as good as an external one. Devialet just happens to have invented a way to integrate the DAC in such a way that it works better than quite a lot of external DACs. That (Magic Wire), and ADH amplification, are what makes the Expert special. There's no 'special' implementation for the phono stage in the Expert. The fact that DSP happens to be available to adjust for cartridges probably gives the impression the phono stage is a prominent part of the amp but to my mind, if you want the best of every aspect of your stereo, separates are the only way to go.
As you can probably guess, I don't use a record player. But I did take my Od'A to a friend who did use a record player for the first few songs he played. He just sat there listening to it quietly for a few songs, then stood up to change records and the only word out of his mouth was WOW!
So the phono stage can't be that bad.
I'm not saying you're a bunch of whingers. I'm just asking, is it realistic to expect more from the phono stage inside a little pizza box so full of digital stuff?
Normally, when a DAC is implemented in an integrated amp, it's not as good as an external one. Devialet just happens to have invented a way to integrate the DAC in such a way that it works better than quite a lot of external DACs. That (Magic Wire), and ADH amplification, are what makes the Expert special. There's no 'special' implementation for the phono stage in the Expert. The fact that DSP happens to be available to adjust for cartridges probably gives the impression the phono stage is a prominent part of the amp but to my mind, if you want the best of every aspect of your stereo, separates are the only way to go.
As you can probably guess, I don't use a record player. But I did take my Od'A to a friend who did use a record player for the first few songs he played. He just sat there listening to it quietly for a few songs, then stood up to change records and the only word out of his mouth was WOW!
So the phono stage can't be that bad.
I'm not saying you're a bunch of whingers. I'm just asking, is it realistic to expect more from the phono stage inside a little pizza box so full of digital stuff?
Lifetime Roon, Mac mini, int. SSD, ext. HDD, tv as monitor, key board and track pad on bean bag as remote,Devialet 200, Od'A #097, Blue jeans speaker cable,
Dynaudio C1 MkII.
Jim Smith's GBS.
Northern NSW Australia.
Dynaudio C1 MkII.
Jim Smith's GBS.
Northern NSW Australia.
