T+A DAC 200

[droffen]

On 4/23/2023 at 11:39 AM, OE333 said:

 

Well, as promised:

I have uploaded the Update Tool, instructions and the current firmware for DAC200 and HA200 to Github.

 

https://github.com/OE333/DAC200-HA200-Update-Tool

 

Have fun.

 

-OE-

 

Was able to do the firmware update of a HA 200 with the original USB-network dongle (sold by T+A) and this software.

Worked flawless.

[Lokesh]

Thanks @barrows. I am

not a Roon user at this stage so unfortunately can’t try this for now. 

However, I can understand how the solution above can help Roon users achieve the upsampling using HQP. 
 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Guys, you have yourselves to thank for this sight. The T+A factory is sold out of DAC 200 units, in both colors :~)

I’m here today talking to the team and the one and only @OE333 !

 

[LowOrbit]

I can account for one  schwarz Dac200 - it's less than a metre away caressing my ears with Miles Davis tunes as I type. Fantastic.

[h128]

I, too, have a schwarz edition of Dac200 which replaced a broken Resonessence Invicta after serving me for 7 years.

[droffen]

4 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi Guys, you have yourselves to thank for this sight. The T+A factory is sold out of DAC 200 units, in both colors :~)

I’m here today talking to the team and the one and only @OE333 !

 

And only 2 Solitaire P left

[The Computer Audiophile]

I just got back to the hotel after dinner with the T+A team. What a lovely group of people, who also happen to really know their stuff! I don’t think I’ve ever been out to dinner with a manufacturer and talked about HQPlayer, NAA, single board computers, DACs, upsampling, etc… like we did tonight. So much fun. 

[SPAZ]

I cannot believe the amount of realism I am getting from this DAC when using DSD or PGGB through HQPlayer. I was just listening to Miles Davis - So What, and it felt like I was there next to them. Amazing. 

[Nkam]

15 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi Guys, you have yourselves to thank for this sight. The T+A factory is sold out of DAC 200 units, in both colors :~)

I’m here today talking to the team and the one and only @OE333 !

 

 

cool

good for them, for making such a good product 

[OE333]

22 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

The T+A factory is sold out of DAC 200 units, in both colors :~)

 

Don't worry too much about that - T+A devices don't arrive in big containers - they are produced in-house in the T+A factory. So replenishment comes on a daily basis (as long as T+A gets enough electronic components from the suppliers).

 

[OE333]

16 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I just got back to the hotel after dinner with the T+A team. What a lovely group of people, who also happen to really know their stuff! I don’t think I’ve ever been out to dinner with a manufacturer and talked about HQPlayer, NAA, single board computers, DACs, upsampling, etc… like we did tonight. So much fun. 

 

Yes, it was a wonderful evening, I enjoyed it very much.. Thank you again for your visit and the good discussions we had.

Have a safe trip home.

 

[Woolf]

I was about to order a DAC 200 and the dealer told me that currently the minimum delivery time is three to four weeks.
My thanks to all the forum members who have praised this DAC so highly  🤣

[Allan F]

3 hours ago, Woolf said:

I was about to order a DAC 200 and the dealer told me that currently the minimum delivery time is three to four weeks.
My thanks to all the forum members who have praised this DAC so highly  🤣

 

If you don't order one, you will be without a DAC 200 for a lot longer.

[1125FPS]

A friend considers getting DAC 200.  He finds it strange that firmware update requires USB to DB9 IC > DB9 to RJ45 adapter.  Can anyone explain the logic in T+A's choice for firmware update connection?  Why not just USB?  Why not a LAN connector?  

[LowOrbit]

I don't understand the angst around firmware updates for the Dac200. This isn't a software defined dac like a DCS or Chord, nor a partially finished product from some small company needing to shift a beta product to get some cash flow.

 

It's a fully developed hardware product which sounds fantastic. Updates are likely to be utility changes of no great urgency. Not everything needs constant tweaking so why worry about it.

 

If you choose not to buy a dac like this because firmware changes are a pain you're truly missing the point.

[1125FPS]

4 hours ago, LowOrbit said:

I don't understand the angst around firmware updates for the Dac200. This isn't a software defined dac like a DCS or Chord, nor a partially finished product from some small company needing to shift a beta product to get some cash flow.

 

It's a fully developed hardware product which sounds fantastic. Updates are likely to be utility changes of no great urgency. Not everything needs constant tweaking so why worry about it.

 

If you choose not to buy a dac like this because firmware changes are a pain you're truly missing the point.

My sentiments match yours exactly. I doubt anyone supports and endorses this DAC more than myself. I also have no control over the fact that a lifetime audio file approaching 80 years old has anxious feelings about updates. At the same time I do not want him to miss the pleasures of ownership, hence my questions. Plus I also want our dear friends in Georgia to make another sale.

 

I presume the brilliant engineers that designed this DAC had very good reasons for using the RJ45 input for updates, which just happens to be a little bit different from the norm.

[OE333]

@LowOrbit answer really "hit the nail on the head". The DAC200 is a DAC with a fixed functionality so normally there will be no reason for software updates.

 

When designing this DAC one of the main design goals was to keep electromagnetic interference as low as possible. So for control of the device a microcontroller (TI MSP430) with extremely low electro magnetic emission was selected. This controller does not have USB or ethernet interfaces - if it had, the elm interference would be much higher...

 

However, updates are possible if required - either via the MP200 streamer or via an electromagnetically "clean" RS232 interface.

[kishoreburidi]

Hello everyone, This is Kishore from Singapore.

I just placed my order for DAC 200 with HDMI Module... Excited and waiting for the unit to arrive in a month's time hopefully :)

Awesome forum and keep it going with useful suggestions.

I use Antipodes S40 as my Roon core, so I can setup HQP embedded in it, need to figure out that part now...

[1125FPS]

The more I hear DAC 200 the more impressed am I.  If anyone in the vicinity (75 mins. NE of Salt Lake City) wants to AB my HQ Player > DAC 200 rig vs. any cost no object DAC, the system here is more than worthy of such comparison.  

 

A friend GH looked long and hard @ HQ Player but unfortunately decided it's just too much to setup and maintain.  So this system stays:

Qobuz > $16k Aurender N10 music player/server AES/EBU output (solely bit for bit PCM, whatever is Qobuz resolution for any particular music program up to the AES/EBU limit of 24/192) > $25k MSB Premier DAC (no $14k "Director" upgrade). 

 

What do members think of DAC 200 replacing MSB Premier?  Upgrade, downgrade, about the same...? 

 

TX! 

[CharlieR]

On 6/5/2023 at 5:23 PM, kishoreburidi said:

Hello everyone, This is Kishore from Singapore.

I just placed my order for DAC 200 with HDMI Module... Excited and waiting for the unit to arrive in a month's time hopefully :)

Awesome forum and keep it going with useful suggestions.

I use Antipodes S40 as my Roon core, so I can setup HQP embedded in it, need to figure out that part now...

I hope you are patient, I just heard that they have been very busy with Munich and that nothing is leaving the factory until at least next Friday. I had placed my order on the 16th but I have no idea what place I might be in the backlog, they say patience is a virtue...

[Woolf]

On 5/23/2023 at 4:12 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi Guys, you have yourselves to thank for this sight. The T+A factory is sold out of DAC 200 units, in both colors :~)

I’m here today talking to the team and the one and only @OE333 !

 

I hope that will be filled up soon so that they can send me my ordered black one.

[kishoreburidi]

On 6/7/2023 at 9:21 PM, CharlieR said:

I hope you are patient, I just heard that they have been very busy with Munich and that nothing is leaving the factory until at least next Friday. I had placed my order on the 16th but I have no idea what place I might be in the backlog, they say patience is a virtue...

Do I have a choice? 🤣 

[nekky]

Chiming in finally to say how pleased I am with this DAC 200. It was a significant upgrade for me and a month wait, but now after pairing with Lumin U2 upsampling DSD256, I feel I truly have now quite a good sounding system… I think the DAC is approaching 100 hours give or take, and I really feel like it needed quite a bit of time to burn in. At least a couple days anyway, and I think it keeps sounding better still. Elipson P1/A2700 feeding MA PL200II is the rest of the chain. 
 

I am now looking for any free moment to turn on the system. This setup has tons of “richness” and most importantly, excellent low volume texture, body and detail. I’m quite smitten.
 

if I had one criticism, it is that the HDMI ARC port is directly above the IEC inlet and there is a little more pressure on the connectors with an upgraded Furutech FI-28 connector against the HDMI cable. Any recommendations on a good power cable for the DAC 200 that has a slim enough IEC connector?

 

Either way, wonderful piece this is. 

[kennyb123]

2 hours ago, nekky said:

Any recommendations on a good power cable for the DAC 200 that has a slim enough IEC connector?

The Shunyata Delta NR v2 should be a good fit.  Here you can see one plugged into an Antipodes K50. 

 

 

 

[droffen]

3 hours ago, nekky said:

Any recommendations on a good power cable for the DAC 200 that has a slim enough IEC connector?

Why not try the T+A power three HD cable?