ULN-8
Barry Diament -- Tue, 05/05/2009 - 16:18
Look's like the cat's out of the bag, the horse's out of the barn.
http://www.mhlabs.com/metric_halo/
More in a few days.
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
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Looks great Barry - now what is it ? :)
Hi Zeb,
http://www.macmusic.org/news/view.php/lang/en/id/7976/
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
It's (another) pro audio unit - not for audiophile playback.....
No wonder, it's decently priced! :)
Hi Zeb,
Actually, one listen reveals that it is considerably better than decently priced.
There is a lot of pro gear (e.g. ADCs, DACs, mic pres, software) and a lot of audiophile gear (e.g. DACs) that costs several times the price of the ULN-8, yet cannot begin to approach its performance. In blind shootouts against lots of pro and audiophile gear, the beta team found it pretty easy to pick out the '8 from amongst some erstwhile "state of the art" devices. And most of those are two channel. The '8, as its name implies, offers up to 8 digital inputs and outputs (not to mention the mic preamps and software for recordists, mastering engineers, etc.).
Yes, it has much more capability than most audiophiles will ever use. However, used as a simple DAC (or DAC and preamp, because it does that too), it will make most of the 5-digit priced audiophile DACs (and preamps) in my experience, sound downright silly by comparison - and simply beat all of the others.
I wouldn't have believed it without hearing it. It just does way too much, way too well, in way too small a box for way too little money.
All I can suggest is an audition. But be well prepared to do a lot of smiling.
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
Thanks Barry.
Is there a 2-channel version of it?
What are you using to drive it?
Forgive the basic questions, but looking at the back, there is a weird looking Line in connector, Firewire (presumably for PC connections), SMPTE, presumably on 1/4" jacks and Clock in/out. I've skipped the stuff which would be more related to pro-audio. Where would you hook up Transport X and which clock would you use?
I'm looking to change my EMM Labs transport / DAC6e, and one of the things I was looking at is their new 5-digit combo. I have tried the Esoteric X01 with clock, CD8, Puccini (sans clock) without being enticed to spend any money. This leaves the Meridian 808.2 from the well-rated units for trial, before going to the more 'pro' looking units.
Hi Zeb,
Metric Halo makes a ULN-2 but excellent as it is, the ULN-8 is something else again. So there is no 2-channel version of the ULN-8 that has the same characteristics.
To access its software, a Mac is needed. PC users can still use it as a standalone and feed its analog and digital connections.
While there are paralleled 1/4 analog outputs (for channels 1 and 2), BNC word clock connectors and MIDI connectors (the latter for control surfaces), along with the Firewire ports, most connections on the ULN-8 are made via DB25 connectors. I made short adapters, each a few inches long, so I could use the cables of my choice, rather than resort to the snakes that are commonly sold for these connectors.
I feed my transport, via one of the adapters I made (XLR to DB25) into the AES inputs on the ULN-8. I use the internal clock. If my transport had a word clock input, I'd still use the internal clock on the ULN-8.
It might not be as easy to set up as a typical audiophile device (and having a Mac certainly makes it easier in my view, though Metric Halo say it isn't necessary) but if you can audition one, you may find as I did: I've never heard anything like this box and it isn't leaving the system.
And Metric Halo service is exemplary. I am a fan.
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
Hi JR-1,
Yes, it is a pro unit.
And it is absolutely fabulous for audiophile playback.
More in a day or two.
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
More info:
http://www.mhsecure.com/v5mm/ULN-8.html
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
Specs have been posted:
http://www.mhsecure.com/v5mm/ULN-8Specs.html
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com
Finally got to compare the ULN-8 with a Berkeley the other evening.
My feelings? With the ULN-8 in other comparisons I've done, I've been here before:
I don't fully trust the comparison yet and am trying to see if something I did put the Berkeley at an unfair disadvantage.
I heard better extension, better definition of microdynamics, better low level definition, MUCH better focus on the space and a more open soundstage with the ULN-8.
We tried changing the filter setting on the Berkeley and that certainly made the differences appreciably smaller. But I still heard the same things I describe above.
The initial filter setting, which my guest, who brought the Berkeley, told me is the recommended one, sounded like there was a long slow roll-off at the top, which while quite pleasant, was not the "mic feed" sound I hear from the ULN-8 (strange to see that used in the marketing literature for the BADA, as it was one of the first things I said about the '8).
I wonder if this is an apodizing filter. ? If so, I believe many audiophiles (and audio writers) are jumping on the "no pre-ringing" bandwagon, without considering what is exchanged in order to achieve this.
Earlier, I said I've been here before because that is the feeling the ULN-8 continues to engender in all the comparisons I've engaged in so far.
It always makes me wonder how the "other", highly rated DAC might be at some disadvantage... or is perhaps a defective unit. But so far, it has always turned out to be a fair test and just another demonstration of the achievement that is the ULN-8.
Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com