|
Lavry DA10 DACDA10 has no RCA outputs but you can find a curious feature inside: you can set each of pins 2 and 3 on the XLR outputs on "phase" or "earth", providing compatibility with imbalanced systems, and use RCA adaptors. Inputs include both types S/PDIF and AES/EBU. The selection is made by three-position switch that may seem to be old-fashioned, but this solution has advantages: full uniqueness and easiness of visual control. The other controls on the front p0anel are stereo/mono switch, polarity inversion (it is always useful to have it in the system) and three phase processing modes which are applied to the incoming data stream: crystal mode means the highest quality, wide mode - the most sparing variant. However, we didn't catch a special practical difference with different sets of external devices. Another useful feature of the model is a configurable level of output with the step of 1 dB. Purists will be interested to know that this process happens in analog part already after conversion of digital data into analog form. This function is more useful at calibration than at listening and moreover there is no the remote control. Highly-productive, carefully assembled set of chips is installed under the cover of DA10. An internal power supply source is pulse. In general, it is obvious that Lavry is very honest device, which transfers warts and all with faults and without making concessions to sonority or individual tastes. In this view it likely engenders respect than love of the users, but there will be those, who will love it. Obviously, one of our "blind" listeners referred to the latter category, who lauded improved clarity and density in piano tone and a new level of detailing in the orchestral track plus the perfect dynamics, subtle sense of the scale and clearly defined sound stage. At the same time another referee found the presentation too direct, when voices, in his opinion, "almost shouted at him". The accompaniment of Otis Redding seemed to dominate the singer and the music of Rachmaninoff was perceived as too hasty and less elegant than before. Attempts to bring these opinions together have no sense: this is a classic reaction to ultra-pure audio. Some users do not need it. There is a place for personal tastes in the field of technics for sound reproduction (otherwise why should High End components differ?). And such device, not imposing its character to the sound, is one of the versions of audio nirvana. Due to the fact that our system is often used for assessment of recordings made only few hours ago, we can confirm that this is one of those DACs that open the peculiarities of tracks very easily. In addition, it is completely impassive to a source. ![]() |