MO: HA INFO NG27, USB DAC

wwenze · 08:01 AM

Maverick Audio - Home of the amazing Tube Magic DAC + Headphone Amplifier + Tube PreAmp

USD$199 free shipping

But... this is a Hong Kong company, so... yeah...

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As usual, a product from Hong Kong has its clone in somewhere in China.

翔声's taobao shop

I have to say that I saw the China version on taobao before I saw the Maverick Audio version. (That was the case with the Miniwatt vs APPJ amp too)

Don_cross · Oct 25th, 09, 11:39 AM

been reading about this for a week. Nice little package but from the info I gather online, the headphone stage doesnt go through the tube. Minor shortcomings aside, its quite cool at that price.

The internal shots I found on head-fi.

weib · 10:18 PM

The D1 is for 210 with shipping.
The normal one they have some issues with the preout.

found some interesting information -

Quote:

Rachel of Grant Fidelity addressed the issue as follows - Note English isn't her first language

"I would like to contribute some facts on the various version of the Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-09 and some discussion raised around it. Hopefully it will help confused readers to get closer to the truth rather than guessing:

1) Maverick Audio is based out of Shanghai, China and is run by an individual. Maverick DAC is designed and manufactured by Xiangsheng out of China.
2) Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-09 is also manufactured by Xiangsheng - we choose to distribute under Grant Fidelity brand as Xiangsheng is not a common English word for branding. Xiangsheng is following our quality control request in fulfill Grant Fidelity DAC orders.
3) Grant Fidelity and Xiangsheng has reached agreement to be the sole distributor of Xiangsheng DAC product in Canada and USA.
4) Maverick Audio has sold their existing stock DAC back to Xiangsheng and those stock will be re-printed for Grant Fidelity. Maverick Audio will no longer sell the DAC product to North America nor other international market after November.
5) Grant Fidelity's coming DAC shipment will have both silver and black faceplate for customers to choose from.
6) Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-09 MSRP US$390 is priced with consideration to allow audio retail stores to carry the product and allow consumers to 'touch, see and listen' to the product in-store before making a purchase
7) Before retail network is set up for the Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-09, it will be on special price of $300 including free shipping in Canada and continuous USA - this will benefit internet shoppers who do not request a must-have audition before making purchase
8.) Xiangsheng has confirmed to Grant Fidelity that Pacific Valve doesn't have any Xiangsheng DAC product in stock. Xiangsheng has never sold any DAC product to Pacific Valve and will not recognize Pacific Valve's sale as authorized resale so no manufacturer warranty will be provided.
9) Many eBay sellers (out of China or Hong Kong) list a product for sale but has no stock of the product at all. Be aware of low priced eBay listings out of China or Hong Kong. When they get a sale on eBay, they will purchase one on Chinese market to fulfill the order. This practice is against eBay policy but still prevail in Asia. If the seller cannot spot a unit upon receiving a buyer's money, there is high chance that a buyer will be left without delivery for a long time. Grant Fidelity recently received a customer's email about an eBay seller with 100% positive feedback scammed him $700 on a Grant Fidelity brand tube amp (retail for $1900) but never deliver and disappeared off eBay. Be cautious when purchasing from sellers in Asia - 100% feedback doesn't mean it's a safe transaction all the time.

Grant Fidelity will continue service Canadian and USA customers with high quality products along with top level service.

If you have further questions on the Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-09, please feel free to contact us through http://www.grantfidelity.com or call us at our toll free number. We will be more than happy to help you with any questions you may have related to our product.

Thank you.
Rachel - Grant Fidelity

weib · Nov 15th, 09, 10:08 AM

I've got some quotes for this dac/pre-amp for bulk purchase.

Anyone interested?

wwenze · Nov 15th, 09, 12:14 PM

Hello rebranding...

This is making even less sense now... the Maverick Audio stock is relabelled Grant Fidelity and sold for twice the price if at MSRP?

Just buy from Xiangsheng lar. =.=U

Anyway this is the first time I've seen a rebrander disclosing who the original Chinese maker is. Applaud.

weib · 12:37 PM

The new D1 is an updated design but I don't know the innards as of yet.
What I gathered was swappable OPamp but they don't want to tell me what chip is the dac..maybe until they release it.
XS is redoing the A2 circuitry.

Apparently the A2 has some problem with the pre outs and is a design flaw which I'm hesitant and the main thing why I'm getting it - that and the source switch/DAC.

Quote:

IMHO Ryan's new DAC is even more a no brainer: You get the 5670 tube, swappable opamps, sleek design for the same price as or even cheaper than the Xiang Shen...

Plus the brush black metal is more appealing to eyes i must say.

Price is about $250SGD shipped if I can get 5.

zzzMonster · Nov 16th, 09, 05:46 PM

Interested

weib · 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzzMonster

Interested

Awesome!
need 1 more..after pre-order it'll be $229 if you get it yourself.

wm2003se04 · Nov 17th, 09, 01:41 PM

Yes, also interested in the Maverick D1

Duffyx · Nov 17th, 09, 03:05 PM

Which model are you all getting? Different models being mentioned.

zzzMonster · Nov 17th, 09, 03:17 PM

Should be the updated D1

Don_cross · Nov 17th, 09, 06:59 PM

I grabbed the one from stereo. Dac beats the zero(with moon HDAM) in terms of details. I'm. Hearing bass notes. In seperate notes in a way I never heard b4. But the background is not as clean.

weib · Nov 17th, 09, 07:05 PM

Stereo sells the D1 or the old A2?

wwenze · Nov 17th, 09, 07:16 PM

D1 not out yet right.

weib · 07:21 PM

Never know, maybe had some NDA stuff lol

anyway I went on Head fi and probe Ryan further -

Quote:

It's a long story.
I try to make it short -- the design I use, was co-developed by my manufacturing partner. He doesn't feel comfortable to disclose this info -- as it will make the design too easy to be copied by somebody else (Yes it still can be copied, but you'll need to spend extra effort). In the end, we agree to keep this information for a period of time.

In my opinion, DAC chip model is not "that" important just as it's not that important if the DAC is capable of 96Khz or 192Khz. It's the circuit design, the analog stage, the power source which makes the bigger impact than the chip model. We already have sold quite a few units, the feedback so far has been great. I don't see much "uncertainty"

looks like no choice but to get from him and we'll know...

So who's in?

I need 3 people, 5 if possible.