48 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

@brodricj, give this track a listen! 

It sounds so wide, with a big scale and speed of the bass, so yummy!

Yeah I know....I own the CD....I have to get that PS-550 (or something) because the Grandioso CD transport is without a place to connect on the fully occupied Everest 8000 power distributor.

2 hours ago, AccMagi7s said:

I see that the Esoteric N1 uses four chips, two per channel..

No! N1 is FPGA based. It does not use DAC IC chips.

The Master Sound Discrete DAC G2 in N1 is probably close to parity with D1X. So what you heard with D1X + N1T is probably very close to what you will get with N1 (aside from that setup being clocked). And without the need for extra cables. The PS1 is a future upgrade path so the initial outlay with N1 by itself is more affordable.

44 minutes ago, brodricj said:

No! N1 is FPGA based. It does not use DAC IC chips.

The Master Sound Discrete DAC G2 in N1 is probably close to parity with D1X. So what you heard with D1X + N1T is probably very close to what you will get with N1 (aside from that setup being clocked). And without the need for extra cables. The PS1 is a future upgrade path so the initial outlay with N1 by itself is more affordable.

What are these ICs? 

 

Edited November 7, 2025Nov 7 by AccMagi7s

These are IDM-01 amplifier elements. They first appeared in C1X, and they appeared in the D1XSE upgrade.

25 minutes ago, brodricj said:

These are IDM-01 amplifier elements. They first appeared in C1X, and they appeared in the D1XSE upgrade.

Then these must be the ones.

I prefer a discreet implementation. It's going to be interesting. Do you know if the output stages are also fully discrete? 

 

MSB developed a ladder DAC ecosystem. 

 

Edited November 7, 2025Nov 7 by AccMagi7s

That is the analog board, you have circled the resistor ladder. To the left is the DAC FPGA (not circled). It's a discrete design. After the ladder then the low pass filter and the IDM-01 to drive the output. There are two analog boards, one per channel.

This adds new meaning for an audiophile. The story could offend some here. If you’re a highly sensitive by nature, I recommend you not to watch it. 

 

I've scratched the Accuphase PS-550 off my acquisition list. Payment in full on order and then a 6+ month wait for delivery is ridiculous. Most of my Esoteric and some Magico orders have been a 6+ month wait but they are done with a 20% deposit. A box shifting dealer wanting 100% to place an order shows a total lack of faith in the customer and does not deserve my business. TELOS is now at the top of the list.

1 minute ago, brodricj said:

I've scratched the Accuphase PS-550 off my acquisition list. Payment in full on order and then a 6+ month wait for delivery is ridiculous. Most of my Esoteric and some Magico orders have been a 6+ month wait but they are done with a 20% deposit. A box shifting dealer wanting 100% to place an order shows a total lack of faith in the customer and does not deserve my business. TELOS is now at the top of the list.

 

Interesting. In a previous post you had mentioned you were planning on grabbing one (Accuphase) overseas. I would assume a dealer outside of Australia would demand payment in full before they ship the goods to an unknown in another country.

13 minutes ago, brodricj said:

I've scratched the Accuphase PS-550 off my acquisition list. Payment in full on order and then a 6+ month wait for delivery is ridiculous. Most of my Esoteric and some Magico orders have been a 6+ month wait but they are done with a 20% deposit. A box shifting dealer wanting 100% to place an order shows a total lack of faith in the customer and does not deserve my business. TELOS is now at the top of the list.

I'm with you. Don't go for the Accuphase; choose the Telos instead. We need more options in Perth. Most importantly, I want to hear the Telos firsthand before spending a lot of $$.

29 minutes ago, art of SOUND said:

Interesting. In a previous post you had mentioned you were planning on grabbing one (Accuphase) overseas

 

Correct, overseas dealer. Almost $5K cheaper than local price. But I'm not paying 100% deposit and then wait 6+ months for it. It seems the Accuphase sales model is don't demonstrate anything, box shift whatever the customer orders and charge full retail. And then have him wait 6+ months for delivery. This little black duck 'aint gonna play that game. TELOS dealer gave me a good discount and could have one here within the week from Taiwan. I far prefer that sales model.

20 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

I'm with you. Don't go for the Accuphase....

It's more the case of Accuphase not going for me. I reached out via two Accuphase sales channels and they really had no interest in selling me anything. Whereas TELOS dealer sharpened his pencil and pulled the strings to close a good deal. Sorry Accuphase, you not gonna sell me anything ever with that approach.

When I said before that acoustic panels on the side wall matter naught it's because my room is very small (slightly smaller than 6x4m) and I'm listening in the near field. My stereo system is beside the listening position and I run long cables to the 3 x power amps at the front of the room. My home theater system hardware is in a server rack in the adjacent room which ties in to the stereo system HT bypass input on the C1X.

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, brodricj said:

It's more the case of Accuphase not going for me. I reached out via two Accuphase sales channels and they really had no interest in selling me anything. Whereas TELOS dealer sharpened his pencil and pulled the strings to close a good deal. Sorry Accuphase, you not gonna sell me anything ever with that approach.

I have not dealt with the new importer, so I won't comment. Pierre has been very good to me in the past. With Pierre, it was a 50% deposit to lock in the deal. Often, it is the exchange rates that play a key role in the dealings. I usually paid him in full, which was a reason he took me seriously and was very switched on. I suppose you need to break the ice with the first transaction. When I first stepped into Pierre’s shop, a quick glance and insecurity left a lone attendant asking what I needed.

Personally, I won't import grey-market audio gear anymore after my DC-37 incident 13 years ago. No one here can fix it. I ended up selling it to Doncentric for $4k or less, and he fixed it for himself. It was a $12k unit at the time. There’s so much stress when things go wrong. 

40 minutes ago, brodricj said:

When I said before that acoustic panels on the side wall matter naught it's because my room is very small (slightly smaller than 6x4m) and I'm listening in the near field. My stereo system is beside the listening position and I run long cables to the 3 x power amps at the front of the room. My home theater system hardware is in a server rack in the adjacent room which ties in to the stereo system HT bypass input on the C1X.

 

 

 

 

I see you blocked the access to the main door. Did it improve the acoustics? 

 

That $45k YG rack looks very sexy

53 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

I see you blocked the access to the main door. Did it improve the acoustics? 

 

That $45k YG rack looks very sexy

 

The door is not blocked. That acoustic contraption is on hinges mounted on each door frame. They swing into position as required. When stowed they do not interfere with entry to the room.

Yeah, that YG rack 1.8 is as sexy as, but it's a love/hate relationship because it's a major job changing the shelf spacing, and changing components on a shelf that shelf needs to be recalibrated for the new weight. And by the way, the price for one of those YG racks is now is $82,300 RRP. 🤑

 

1 hour ago, AccMagi7s said:

I have not dealt with the new importer, so I won't comment.

I initially reached out to the importer and they in turn had a local dealer contact me. It's that local dealer that had little interest in making the sale. I then had a look at other sales channels and whilst they were responsive they don't get my business when charging full retail, have nothing to demonstrate, expect a 100% deposit and have me wait 6+ months delivery. I'm prepared to pay more to get a TELOS and support the local guy.

Based on my past experience, it usually takes a maximum of 4-6 weeks after the fund clears. Checking again, 6 months isn't realistic. 

 

 

Yet TELOS can get a Foundation Power here from Taiwan in a week and give me a discount on RRP. So they make the sale, Accuphase does not. I like to keep my business with those dealers who look after me, but when you want to buy a brand they don't represent you are back swimming with the sharks.

Running a business in Australia is never easy. They need to pay staff and overheads, not to mention income and business taxes.

 

I suppose there's no point in doing it if there’s no incentive. I fully understand your perspective but also feel for those guys. They are also doing it tough.

 

With your Telos, have you factored in the import duty and GST? 

 

4 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

With your Telos, have you factored in the import duty and GST?

No need. TELOS Australian distributor deals with all that. The quoted price is delivered incl GST.

I'm really enjoying this N1T + D1XSE + C1X combination. It's beyond incredible. And isn't this hobby totally crazy???  I'm listening to $200K electronics sitting in an $80K rack driving $250K amps/speakers and I'm listening to free lossy Spotify and the sound is thoroughly enjoyable. And I collect empty drink containers on the side of the road to claim the 10 cent deposit at the recycling depot. Lucky my psychiatrist is free.

Edited November 8, 2025Nov 8 by brodricj

12 minutes ago, brodricj said:

I'm really enjoying this N1T + D1XSE + C1X combination. It's beyond incredible. And isn't this hobby totally crazy???  I'm listening to $200K electronics sitting in an $80K rack driving $250K amps/speakers and I'm listening to free lossy Spotify and the sound is thoroughly enjoyable. And I collect empty drink containers on the side of the road to claim the 10 cent deposit at the recycling depot. Lucky my psychiatrist is free.

While on welfare as a recipient! 😁🤪😂

Just now, AccMagi7s said:

While on welfare as a recipient! 😁🤪😂

Yeah. I can claim my superannuation from January next year but considering nothing has been paid into it since 1997 there is hardly enough there for a whopper, thick shake and fries. I'd really like a Titan-15 and MXO as a retirement present but it 'aint gonna happen. Be satisfied with what I have to take me to the grave.

Last night, I spent some quality time listening between my turntable and DIY audio server. Both sounded fantastic, but lately, I've been really enjoying the turntable with the new cartridge installed. I find myself savoring the ritual—standing up every 20 minutes to select a new record, carefully replacing the one just played, placing the fresh album on the deck, brushing and de-staticing the vinyl, and then gently dropping the needle. It’s such a satisfying process!

 

There's a certain warmth, speed, and realism in the turntable's sound that feels so alive—almost holographic in its depth and presence. Digital formats still seem to fall short in projecting that immersive, three-dimensional soundstage. It’s this magic that keeps me coming back to vinyl night after night.