Article: Luxman DA-06 DAC Review

[The Computer Audiophile]

You can view the page at http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content.php?r=525-Luxman-DA-06-DAC-Review

[Guy La Rue]

Nice review!! Had a chance to listen to it at the Montreal SSI show in March and it was really impressive, the DSD demo on the Giya B1 was smooth and non fatiguing. Philiip O'Hanlon is a real gentleman.

[AudioDoctor]

Timely, as I am deciding if I want to get a DAC that plays DSD.

[labjr]

"I dare anyone to listen and deny the merits of DSD"

 

Charles Hansen is doing a pretty good job in your forum as we speak.

[AudioDoctor]

SO, this post made me get Shelby Lynne Just A Little Lovin playing... Then I was reminded I have always liked the vinyl copy better than the CD. There just seems to be more music there on the vinyl than the CD.

[One and a half]

Once you feel the velvet of a Japanese Hi End product, it's very, very difficult to slip into something else and be happy with that purchase for the long term. I've been there with amps, done that, would not consider anything else.

 

Japanese build quality is second to none, especially for audio, although I will put on my snob hat and say that the Accuphase product is built finer than the Luxman, just going that little bit further.

But Accuphase don't (as yet) have a standalone DAC with DSD capability over USB, like the Luxman DA-06. Find it strange, the DA-06 is not shown on the Luxman site, yet Google finds it on just about every other site!

[beetlemania]

"I dare anyone to listen and deny the merits of DSD"

 

Charles Hansen is doing a pretty good job in your forum as we speak.

I think you're misrepresenting Hansen's opinion on DSD. The way I read it, it's not that he doesn't think that DSD has merits, rather that he thinks well-done PCM sounds at least as good while at the same time having significant advantages including not needing new hardware on the recording and playback side. I haven't yet heard DSD but I have heard: a) SACD, which was fine but not amazing; and b) John Marks' recording made with a QA-9, which has some of the best sonics I've heard.

[junker]

Too bad no volume control... :.(

[mav52]

Out of my price range.

[DanRubin]

Chris,

 

I take it you used the Luxman's USB input for all playback, is that correct? At any time did you try using the Berkeley Alpha USB and then feeding the Luxman AES/EBU? This would reduce the variables involved and isolate the sound of the Luxman as a DAC.

 

Dan

[vdorta]

I agree with One and a half. I'm not familiar with Accuphase, but the Luxman sound is unmistakable, slightly warm and smooth as silk.

[MikeJazz]

I agree with One and a half. I'm not familiar with Accuphase, but the Luxman sound is unmistakable, slightly warm and smooth as silk.

 

Ah, it's velvet vs silk question then!!!

:-)

[cmonache]

I was waiting for someone to review this before I purchased but ended up not being able to wait after my first audition. I have had my Luxman DA-06 for about 1 month now. I did not think that I would hear such a difference but I have found that the DA-06 is definitely a component I have been pleasantly surprised for.

 

I am definitely enjoying Hi-Res and DSD file playback but I was surprised to hear the improvement on standard 44.1 files over USB. It is not a miracle worker on poor recordings but I must admit a lot of songs have become very enjoyable to listen too.

 

My BenchmarkMedia DAC has been benched.

 

Originally from Michigan but working in Japan. This is a $3400 list $2600 discounted DAC in Japan. Unfortunate for the US markup. Considering I was able to purchase for only the twice the price of the Benchmark and less than the

Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 2, I would say this is a very good audio bargain.

 

Associated equipment: Electrocompaniet AW250 Power Amp, Parasound JC-2 Pre, Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Bookshelf, MacMini Running Windows and JRiver Media Center via USB, SONO via PCM.

 

Back to my toe tapping enjoyment...

 

Chris

 

 

[Blu]

Thank you Chris, my first amplifier was an integrated 60 watt Luxman, which always made me want to listen to music for hours. I certainly want to hear the DA-06 DAC, which from your review indicates Luxman has still got the magic.

[wisnon]

Once you feel the velvet of a Japanese Hi End product, it's very, very difficult to slip into something else and be happy with that purchase for the long term. I've been there with amps, done that, would not consider anything else.

 

Japanese build quality is second to none, especially for audio, although I will put on my snob hat and say that the Accuphase product is built finer than the Luxman, just going that little bit further.

But Accuphase don't (as yet) have a standalone DAC with DSD capability over USB, like the Luxman DA-06. Find it strange, the DA-06 is not shown on the Luxman site, yet Google finds it on just about every other site!

 

 

Naw, NOTHING beats the Chord Dacs for build quality. There is youtube vid with a tank running over one and it emerged unscathed and played normally after.

[stewboss]

Does it have dual voltage like a lot of kit does these days?

 

A 110/230 switch so I could import it to the UK myself.

[One and a half]

Naw, NOTHING beats the Chord Dacs for build quality. There is youtube vid with a tank running over one and it emerged unscathed and played normally after.

 

If anything the Chord's frequency response would be flatter I like that, maybe there's some truth in there after it's been rolled by a tank.

[One and a half]

Does it have dual voltage like a lot of kit does these days?

 

A 110/230 switch so I could import it to the UK myself.

 

There's no switch at the back and the photo reveals a fuse for 125V only, so guessing there's a 230V board for EU regions. Unless you get the DA-06 form Japan and buy a 230V-100V 50VA transformer locally.

EU has a lot of weird rules on emissions though, and the Japanese/Asia version may not comply, so it should be best to get the localised version.

[Rusty Jefferson]

Chris,

 

The page you linked to "On a Higher Note" shows supported Windows operating systems only going through Windows 7. Your equipment list shows a Carbon C.A.P.S. with (presumably) Windows 8, as mine is. Any problem using it with Windows 8?

 

Thanks

[The Computer Audiophile]

Chris,

 

Any problem using it with Windows 8?

 

Thanks

 

No problem at all with Windows 8.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Chris,

 

I take it you used the Luxman's USB input for all playback, is that correct? At any time did you try using the Berkeley Alpha USB and then feeding the Luxman AES/EBU? This would reduce the variables involved and isolate the sound of the Luxman as a DAC.

 

Dan

This would test the Luxman's AES interface in an unrealistic way that wouldn't likely be used in the field.

I consider the Alpha / Alpha combo one piece compared to the DA-06.

[DanRubin]

This would test the Luxman's AES interface in an unrealistic way that wouldn't likely be used in the field.

Not sure why you say that, Chris; perhaps you will elaborate. My read of the current state of affairs is that many people prefer -- and feel they get better results -- using USB -> S/PDIF converters rather than going direct to the USB input on many current DACs.

[Archimago]

Not sure why you say that, Chris; perhaps you will elaborate. My read of the current state of affairs is that many people prefer -- and feel they get better results -- using USB -> S/PDIF converters rather than going direct to the USB input on many current DACs.

 

This makes no sense and subjects you to increased SPDIF jitter beyond that of async USB. Of course some parties want you to believe otherwise!

 

Unless your USB is bad...

[wisnon]

If anything the Chord's frequency response would be flatter I like that, maybe there's some truth in there after it's been rolled by a tank.

Video proof

[The Computer Audiophile]

Video proof

I consider that tough chassis design not build quality.