Marihart Audio

I have been comparing cables lately, specifically SPDIF and AES/EBU. Both of these cables are digital cables, usually used to connect a CD transport to a DAC. The cables in question are a Cardas Clear AES, 1m and an Atlas SPDIF. Both use single crystal copper conductors, different internal layout. After switching back and forth on my DAC there was a distinct but subtle difference. On Modern Cool (Patricia Barber) Touch of Trash (which is highly dynamic) the AES cable had m...ore texture to the music and a bit more depth-things were layered out in space a bit better- esp the drums and cymbals behind the bass and guitar. Patricia had a bit more weight and realism to her voice. The reed in the trumpet was a bit more pronounced. I noticed more of the same on every recording I heard. The SPDIF a bit more flat, the AES a bit more depth and esp. more texture to the notes. It is interesting to note that the retail on the Atlas SPDIF is $390, the retail on the Cardas Clear AES/EBU is $600. System notes: CD transport: Levinson 37T, DAC Unison CD Duo w upgraded tubes, Decware amps and preamp, Cardas and Acoustic Zen cabling, and Quad ESL (rebuilt). See more

I am trying out a vintage DAC, the Levinson 360, which was rebuilt completely by George Meyer in LA. My initial impressions are that it is very analog sounding with a deep soundstage. Most importantly it is very timbre accurate. Source is the Levinson 37T which I think is one of the absolute best sounding Transports I have ever heard. The DAC is very smooth, very quick, and capable of very delicate nuances normally lost in most DAC's. Compared to my reference, the Uniso...n Duo DAC with Psvane T2 12AX7 tubes, it is very close in timbre and depth. Difference lies in the soundstage width, the Unison has that edge. Unison is a bit more forward and a bit more dynamic. Interestingly enough the layering is very similar in both, they both recover very fine detail in the recordings lost in most DAC's. I must comment that the CD section the Unison is okay, the Levinson 37T is much better. As a friend put it: "the Unison CD has the separation of the instruments, deep layering, and very musical. The Levinson 37T you are at the performance front row center." This all being said-the Levinson 360 is 20 year old tech, the Unison is current production. I am not sure much progress has been made in 20 years. I must say that the Levinson was a benchmark piece for its day in 1999. Also $4500, which is the same price as the Unison today. See more

Pictured below and sideways (even though corrected in the pictures section) is my forever system. I say this because for the last 14 years I have been working toward coming up with a system that is totally nuetral, big stage, lots of air, musical yet detailed. Has been very difficult to say the least. This system as it stands does all of that. I found a mix of old and new was the way to go. The Quads are the ESL's and totally rebuilt by Kent at Electrostatic solutions. ...Amps are Decware along with the preamp. Subs are 1980 Pioneer w 15" TAD AlNiCo drivers, sub amp is a McIntosh 2002. Sources: LP 12 Linn, Exemplar Audio eXception phono, Unison Research CD Duo, Levinson 37T, and a Laptop for streaming. All wiring either Acoustic Zen or Cardas SCC copper. Active crossover is a Nelson Pass First Watt BAT4 at 68Hz and 18DB. Of course not shown is the extensive acoustic work courtesy of Tony Grimani at MSR Acoustics.

My forever system. Really love the way it sounds. totally natural, unforced, lots of depth and air. Music sounds exactly like music.