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TEAC UD-501: Dual Mono DAC with DSD Streaming


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I think this question was posed somewhere else but never got answered: how can support of the PCM 384KHz sample rate be achieved using the PCM1795 chip which has a max sampling frequency of 200KHz?

 

352.8/384 is supported by the PCM1795 in external digital filter mode, intended for use when external digital filter is used. This disables and bypasses the DAC chip's internal digital filter. Just perfect for performing upsampling in the player software. PCM1795 supports max 32-bit input data in that mode.

Signalyst - Developer of HQPlayer

Pulse & Fidelity - Software Defined Amplifiers

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That's more like it: can't have something cheaper in UK than in US (£699 is around $1100).

 

I regularly compare prices on Amazon.com vs. Amazon.co.uk for all sorts of items, it is rare that the UK price is competitive.

Main listening (small home office):

Main setup: Surge protector +>Isol-8 Mini sub Axis Power Strip/Isolation>QuietPC Low Noise Server>Roon (Audiolense DRC)>Stack Audio Link II>Kii Control>Kii Three (on their own electric circuit) >GIK Room Treatments.

Secondary Path: Server with Audiolense RC>RPi4 or analog>Cayin iDAC6 MKII (tube mode) (XLR)>Kii Three .

Bedroom: SBTouch to Cambridge Soundworks Desktop Setup.
Living Room/Kitchen: Ropieee (RPi3b+ with touchscreen) + Schiit Modi3E to a pair of Morel Hogtalare. 

All absolute statements about audio are false :)

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For us popcorn eaters out here the quotes above seem a little confusing...at least to me. We have one member who has talked to both a TEAC US sales rep. and a US dealer who have both reiterated the $799 cost of this dac. Then we have another member who says that he talked to to another US dealer who says that the $799 cost is a "misprint" and that the actual US price is about a $grand. I gotta say, "misprint" sounds a little fishy to me, but maybe it's just because I really want it to be $799, which is a much easier sell on the old lady.

 

Yup easier to get it by "customs".

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[...] I noticed that the Teac USA site has a store, but the link seems to be dead. Anybody know if it will ever be operable?

 

Yes, it has been dead for quite a while and I have contacted Teac USA both by email and phone for that and other things, and got nowhere. The pre-sales person that I had on the phone yesterday told me that the UD-501 was only to be sold on line, and recommended I should look on Amazon. When I objected that it was not offered there, or anywhere else in the US for that matter, and please could I just order it direct, she indicated this was not possible either, and offered no solution for a willing buyer.

 

I even contacted J&R in New York because I noticed that they were selling the Teac HA-501-B Headphone Amplifier on Amazon, which is part of the same product offering, but they also respectfully declined, saying that "at this time we have no information as to when we will get this item into our inventory", but they would indeed happily take my order for anything else that I liked in their catalog...

 

It is just beyond me to see how disorganized this product launch has been.

 

As for the question I had earlier on firmware updates, they responded that "the firmware update would either be a physical upgrade or through the USB port, but usually these devices do not require firmware upgrades."

 

Well, let's hope so then. I guess this makes sense if we consider that the software primarily contained in the DAC chip and there is not much anywhere else.

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A japanese review is out on the web at phileweb. Can be quite irritating to understand the translated text with google translate but for those who do understand Japanese, perhaps you would like to do a better translation for the benefit of all. It is supposedly a part of a 7-way shootout of current favourite DSD DACs which includes the Mytek:-

 

TEAC UD-501

Google Translate

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The only thing that concerns me about the Teac is whether it is firmware upgradeable, as well as whether Teac has a history of providing firmware upgrades.

 

Mytek seems to be very good about this.

 

If you had read the earlier posts, I had pointed out that firmware updates are not likely possible for such mass consumer products... And from what I had observed with their lower end UD-H01, the only updates will come in the form of windows/macosx drivers.

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The only thing that concerns me about the Teac is whether it is firmware upgradeable, as well as whether Teac has a history of providing firmware upgrades.

 

Mytek seems to be very good about this.

 

Mytek had (has) an obligation to correct for bugs, explains the various updates, to their credit. There comes a time where you draw the line in the sand, and say, the design's done. Until the next model comes along, keep the format and don't 'improve' other than to provide a feature that couldn't be shipped in time, happens. I find Japanese made product usually to be impeccable engineering and build quality, well superior to any US/UK/KOR/EU (ex SWE) for the boutique market anyway. This usually means long product life, and built to last.

 

The majors just make the $ happen, not interested in them. They specialise now only in home theatre and have boxed themselves into a corner to manufacture the same power AVR over and over with very little innovation. The current Sony 'hi-fi' catalogue is trash, have a look.

 

TEAC used to be bottom of the range gear early -mid 80's, but also had some very good top end gear, lucky they kept the top end going, this DAC is a prime example. Other examples of top Japanese made gear to always keep lookout are Leben, Luxman, Kondo, (older ES) Sony, Accuphase, (older) Kenwood.

 

DACs aren't computers that need constant updating, to keep up with twitter or facebook pages!

AS Profile Equipment List        Say NO to MQA

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Do U mean Sweden, Switzerland or both?

 

I can assure that Swiss build quality is top-notch and you have to pay dearly for it too. LoL

 

Nagra/CH Precision/Weiss/Souulution/Goldmund/Datzeel/Colotube/Piega/Revox/Heil AMT/Klangwerk/ Rowen/activAudio/LumenWhite/ etc, etc.

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Can't wait for the Teac to show up in the UK. I spoke with Onkyo (UK Teac disributor) and they had no knowledge of the UD-501 despite it being on Teac's european website!

I listened to a Chord QuteHD today with some dsf and hires pcm flac files played through J River MC18. Far too bright and at times harsh with my amp and speakers. I've been used to my Rega DAC putting a more musical slant on things.

Also listened to the Resonessence Invicta, now that sounded good, but at £3500, way out of my reach!

I'd love to hear the Mytek and Simple Design Sonore/exd, but not much hope of that in the UK!

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The Mytek is all over the UK and Europe. Check around, some pal is bound to have one.

 

Pity you said the Qute is harsh, I was thinking its one to get. The teac should be out in weeks. It is already selling online in France at 2 retailers. Hifissiomo.fr is one. Price is Euro899.

 

Where did you hear the Invicta?

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