Review on Shek d2 by innerAUDIO (Norway) * NEW *

LINK http://www.innerworldaudio.com/

Download the review in this link (no. 2/2007)

Reviews on Shek d2 by Roy Harris

(www.audiophilia.com) * NEW *

LINK

Comments from Alan * NEW *

Hi Derek

I got to audition the DAC over the last couple of days and i really am
amazed!

My system is Dynaudio Audience 42 speakers (?00) with an Arcam Alpha
8R amp (?80) and i've been using a Marantz CD67OSE CD player (?00)

I bought the DAC primarily for use with an apple airport express to
give me streamed (lossless) music from my computer and I must admit
that all i was really hoping for was for the dac to equal the quality
of the CD player i already have.
To audition the DAC I have been using my CD player as a transport, and
i am frankly amazed by the improvement in sound quality!? The sound
actually exceeds that of several CD players i've auditioned in the
?00-?00 range.
The main traits which jump out about the Shek DAC are warmth combined
with tight but weighty bass.? There's no loss of clarity or crispness,
but every instrument is more
3 dimensional and fuller with a lovely musical roundness to the sound.
I was expecting to trade crisp detail for this kind of warmth, but the
detail is just as great (if not more so) than with the CD player.
The full bodied music the DAC produces is pure pleasure to listen to
and had me toe tapping within no time.
I really did spend a whole evening listening to all my favorite tracks
from my music collection, as they ALL sounded so so much better and i
just wanted to keep on listening.? From driving celtic dance music
though brit-pop and blues to classical the natural musicality of
whatever was playing was a joy to listen to, and not fatiguing at all.?
Time and again I heard new nuances, new phrases, and in a couple of
songs whole new instruments in the background which i had never heard
before.
For musicality, warmth, detail, fabulous rhythm and good tight bass
this DAC is a real winner.? It has transformed my system and i'd not
hesitate to recommend it to anyone with a mid level hi-fi system like
my own.? Many thanks.

If you want to reproduce any of that on the website please feel free -
i really am amazed by the DAC - the only negative i've found is that
it's very very sensitive to the shielding on the digital cable, with
quite a lot of hiss produced when using cheap cable.? Easily solved,
though.

Cheers

Comments from Peter * NEW *

Hi Derek,
I recieved the D2 within three days and it sounds great..........I'm very happy with the D2.

Thanks

Comments from Bjorn

Hi Derek
 
I have been listening to the d2 quite a bit lately. I must say this is a very very good sounding DAC. Maybe the best I have ever heard. Good recordings and masterings (non remastered without use of compression) sounds absolutely stunning. Very nice work.

Bjorn

Comments from Chris

Just recieved the d2. All working sounds great with my mac mini on first listen.
thanks

Chris

Comments from Gaetan

Hi Derek,

Here is what I think of the dac, after a few days in my system.

About the dac:

The dac itself looks quite nice, very robust and well made. Everything seem to be of very good quality.

About the sound:

Surprisingly, The first thing I noticed, compared to my CD player, is the very similar sound level. I remember have read that the sound was significantly lower with the d1 (and a lot lower with the d2) compared to other devices. I can now say that wrong, and that the difference is very slight. The next thing I noticed, still compared to my CD player, is the great extend in the bass, while keeping them tight. Also, the percussions doesn't seem compressed as they were before. Finally, I noticed how the dac produce a very pleasant and natural sound. That's not something which seem obvious at the first listening, but it become absolutly obvious after several hours: I still have the same pleasure to listen my music.

I have also plugged my optical output from my macbook in the dac. The result is very very good. I'm rediscovering the pleasure to ear my music stored on my computer :-) Also, a really great thing is that I can now listen my old albums again.?

Led zeppelin or pink floyd for example, were sounding poor and flat. I can't say they now sound as good as some recent records, but they sound pretty nice compared to my CD player. I can listen them again - that's very nice :-) To give a conclusion, after a few days of listening, I can't say that's a revolution in the sound, as what I have read earlier in some forums (perhaps because I don't put myself in the group of the audiophiles), or as when I have bought my new amplifier and speakers, but I can say that the d1 is giving me the good bass which were lacking in my system, and a very natural sound that I can listen for hours with the same pleasure.

Also, the discussions we had by email were pleasant, and I really appreciate your offer to ship out a new power supply when I said you I had some problems with mine - that's definitively a good thing to have a good contact with the sailer while buying from an as far country as France.

In the next weeks, I'll try to compare the sound of different CD player with some friends. I let you know the results

Regards,

Gaetan

Comments from Alan * NEW *

Derek,

Just had a look at the new case - it looks perfect.? I will try fitting it tonight.? The DAC is sounding very good.

Regards
Alan

Comments from James & Diane * NEW *

Arrived on Tuesday morning. The Hong Kong postal service is obviously very efficient.

Certainly happy with the product so far.

Thanks for your help.

James & Diane

Comments from Vasant * NEW *

Hello Derek,

Many thanks, in advance, for getting back to me.? In the meantime, I can report that first impressions of the D2 are very positive.? I was playing a Jan Garbarek cd the other day and my wife asked if this was something new, though she had in fact heard it before!? Sounded very good indeed.

Cheers,
Vasant.

Comments from Armin * NEW *

Dear Derek,

as I am not able (still) to give you a positive ranking in ebay, I put some info here (German): http://www.roehren-und-hoeren.de/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3480&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

kind regards
Armin

Comments from Alfredo * NEW *

Hi Derek,
the dac Shek d2, has been delivered after three days works to you, fastest. With respect to the sound the first impressions are optimal, a medium range much musical one, after hours of listen to no annoyance, good sign. The low range is present and invading never very articulate, at last the high, sweet and never annoying range, seems to listen to one analogic source.

Optimal things Alfredo * NEW *

Hi Derek,
il dac Shek d2, e stato consegnato dopo tre giorni lavorati, velocissimo.? In merito al suono le primissime impressioni sono ottime, una gamma media molto musicale, dopo ore di ascolto nessun fastidio, buon segno.La gamma bassa e presente e mai invadente ben articolata, infine la gamma alta, dolce e mai fastidiosa, sembra di ascoltare una sorgente analogica.?

Ottime cose Alfredo

Comments from Tat * NEW *

Hi Derek,

I have just received the DAC. Plugged it into the system, sounds good! I am sure it will get better when the caps have "warmed" up.

best regards

Tat

Comments from Pierre * NEW *

Hey!! You make myself redescovered my HiFi stuff !!! Amazing !! I would never tought my system was capable of that sound!

Thanks a lot!

Thanks again for you very good job,

Best Regards,
Pierre

Comments from John * NEW *

Hi Derek,

Received the D2 this morning - for once the UK postal service managed to do their job efficiently. Thanks for keeping me informed throughout the process.

I've only had a limited time to listen to the DAC but I am impressed so far. I'm using it as part of a wireless HD system using Apple's Airport Express to the D2 (optical) into a mid level Naim system (282/ Hi/Hi/250). Instantly I noticed a crisper top end and extended sound stage. Timing and pace are improved as well. Being overly critical I noticed some harshness at higher frequencies with poorly compressed material, but I know that is more to do with the compression than the DAC.

I'm looking forward to having a proper listen tonight if I can resist the vinyl! The D2 is already booked to go to a couple of friend's systems for an audition so you may be keeping the Glaswegian posties busy.

Thanks again,
Regards,

John

Comments from Eric

Hi Derek,

I have received DAC d2 wednesday at 12, very fast ! Only 2 days ! I will receive the invoice later?

I'm listening to it every day, and it goes better and better, on any source : directly from my Rega Planet (I can't recognize), from my computer (even mp3 are transfigured) much clearer, big soundstage, great voices, high dynamics.

I'm going to show it to my friends, I'm sure they will be amazed. This is my best HiFi upgrade!

Is there an interest to look after a bigger PSU ?

Very good "matos"
Best wishes from France

Thanks
Cheers

Comments from Harri

Hi Derek,

I picked up the dac from customs on wednesday. It had survived the trip safe and sound. I hooked it up to my system (Rotel RA-03 & RDV-03, B&W 704's, Tara Labs Prism 5500i, Prism 201d & Prism Omni) on friday and have now been listening almost 48 hours non stop. I feel that it needed a break-in period (or just my ears getting used to it). After the first 8 hours of listening non stop, I got the feeling that something opened up. This is my first standalone dac, so I can't compare to other standalones. But compared to the dac inside my Rotel RDV-03, the d2 sound is much cleaner, purer and more transparent throughout the spectrum. Especially female vocals sounds beautiful. d2 - best upgrade to my system so far. Thanks!!

Best Regards,
Harri

Comments from Fraser

Hello Derek,

DAC arrived safely today - thanks.

Initial listening suggests better focus than original and wider sound
stage. Bass also seems to be tighter.

On the whole very satisfied.

Comments from Mike

Derek,

I have the D2. I think I find it is sounding better already. The thing I notice is it sounds wonderful during simple passages of music, but in heavy music is a bit congested, lack of separation of instruments. Would the larger power supply help on this? Am I expecting too much from the nos dac? Hey thank you for your help and fast responses, I really appreciate it.

My best to you,
Mike

Comments from Jaakko

Hi Derek,

DAC arrived. A brief testing verified: sounds great, does not slide on the
mat You included:)
More listening results coming when I have them...

Thank You:

JaakkoE

Comments from Aleksy

Hi Derek,

Thank you for the perfect transaction. the d2 arrived. I had to pay £á8 toll fee. I told them, I'd like to make distribution,
and this would be a probe....(they asked me for invoice...)

Well, I tried it for some hours and I can say, that I am completely satisfied of the sound. It's absolutely like what i had expected.

Here you can find my comment on the german hifi forum. I think it's one of the biggest in europe, and there was no thread about
shek till now. Maybe you have someone to translate it for you? I described my primal situation, and the positive results after putting the shek between.
http://www.hifi-forum.de/index.php?action=browseT&forum_id=100&thread=832

I did not mention two things in the thread: the shek does not stand securely because of the weight of my cinch cable. Now I have a "two-feet-angular-shek".
Therefore a fourth foot would be necessery. The haptic quality of the power supply is not accordant to the price respectively to the "high-end" expectations.
Does a change to a e.g. tft-power supply makes degradation/improvement, or doesn't make it any difference? have a look at the attached pic.

Now I have to listen all my CDs again,- thanks for that!

Goodbye,

Alex

Comments from Kassy (Japanese)

Comments from Mr. koumatsu (Japanese)

Comments from Shek

Hi Derek,

The DAC broke in more.  And I like it much more now.  The upper end opened up more, and the mids are not so far "relatively" anymore (it's got a certain fat there I didn't quite like only a week ago).  It's more evenly distributed the way I like it.  It's more balanced.  Compared to the Musical Fidelity A324, "MY" Shek (mine now) is good in different ways.  The imaging is better.  Guess the Shek resolves the music better, which some people call layering.  The soundstage is more expansive also.  The MF, however, still has its virtues though.  The Shek, for its price, leaves one without much complaint.  Can't pick on the price.  If I have to choose, I probably may choose the Shek, and save $900 (the MF, when new, retailed for $1,200 I think).  Interesting experience today.  The Shek is well worth the money.

Now, another twist.  This afternoon, I happened to be at a Virgin store, and spotted a AC/DC 12V converter.  This one has a 1000mA rating.  I picked it up right away.  I put it into the system, doing an A-B test of the two wires.  The added 200ma giveth what?  It actually made the sound more energetic, with more urgency.  High current rating does make a difference I guess.  But... the sound is a bit on the bright/dry side.  May be this baby needs to break in now? 

May be you had already experimented, when designing the Shek, with various loadings, and settled on the 800mA as it is now?  Somehow, the 2 wires really give the music different personalities indeed.  There are people out there who still don't believe in wires.  Wonder if it's because of bias or their ears?  If I could hear differences between wires, everybody else SHOULD be able to tell also?  Yet, some will always deny wires make a sound difference.

Shek

Further comments from Shek

Hey Derek,

Listened to my setup with my (now) Shek DAC pretty extensively these last couple of days.  I also A-B'ed between it and the Musical Fidelity A324.  The reason I say these are my final comments is that I think the Shek has all broken in.  I haven't noticed any significant changes in sound characteristics.

Advantages - The Shek of course is rounder in the middle (fatter, whatever, however one says it).  Prior to this week, I think it was a bit leaner, so the holographic effects were more obvious.  Now that it's really grown older, the holographic effects are not as obvious.  Actually, I would have liked it better a week ago, when it was leaner, and hence the holographic effects (front to back, overall soundstage) is more "feelable".  But, one cannot stop it from maturing, can I? 

          The Musical Fidelity, may be because it's AC powered, is somehow a bit more dynamic.  The primary difference is still the upper frequency extension.  The MF definitely has an edge over the Shek.  So, is it possible to do something about the Shek's upper extensions?  May be it's just the harmonics that's at play, causing such an effect.  I definitely feel that the MF is more dynamic, may be simply because of the (I personally think) edge on the upper frequencies.

          Now, you may ask me which one do I like more.  I simply must say it's a hard decision.  If pressed hard, I would pick the MF, simply because of the dynamics.  I think may be that's because I listen to classical music more, and the high band area is more prevalent than say if I am play Choy Kum CDs, which pretty much don't have that much high frequency content compared to a symphonic ensemble.

           If this something that may give you thoughts about design modifications.  I doubt it.  After all, it's one person's opinion.  And, my observations could be all wrong.  But..... IF, IF, you have a way of modifying the Shek to give it more dynamics at the top, I definitely would want to know.  Perhaps I can follow your recommendation to make a modification to the Shek to make it more the way I'd like it, while maintaining the mid-band fullness, and yet make the upper extension better (according to my psychology).

          That's it.  This is, as I said, 1 man's opinion.  You definitely are much more an expert to these things.  You probably may think that all the nonsense is not worth your time. 

          Oh, you commented last time that the wire (coaxial) definitely may have an impact on the sound.  Definitely.  Given that I'm talking about the same system, but only with 2 different DACs, I wouldn't think the PS Audio Statement coaxial is at fault.  It gives me good dynamics  with the MF, so I wouldn't think the coaxial is the reason.  This I must make a note.  Last week, I actually put in a Canare also.  Canare is a good wire (touted at one time in Stereophile as a good cheap wire one should consider before sinking hundreds of dollars for a name brand, except it's on the cool side.  The PS Audio is a rounder-sounding wire.  Outside of that the Acoustic Zen WOW interconnects are quite dynamic.  The Audience PowerChord gives excellent dynamics.  So, I would conclude that the differences are indeed in the 2 different DAC units.

Take care.  I would love to hear from you, about your future products.

Shek

Comments from Adam

Derek,

I've had the D2 for a while now, and am very positive.? Since I use it
with my Squeezebox, I've been posting stuff on the Slim Devices forum here:
http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=30034

It is frequently better than my Shanling on much material, but lacks the
scale of the Shanling, for example on large orchestral pieces.? However,
the fact that the ¢G400 SB3/D2 competes with the ¢G1,500 Shanling is quite
remarkable.? As I put in the forum post, there is no absolute winner.?
Given the ease of use of the SB3, I may well end up doing most of my
listening through that.? Before the D2, it simply wasn't good enough.

Thanks - and have a good New Year!

Adam

Comments from Aart

It is like listening to Vynil but without the cracks and tickles.....smooth, very easy listening and transparent without getting tired, After all these years I am hearing and feeling the music again. Thanx Derek....superb Job

Comments from Andrew

Hi, just plugged it in. EXTREMELY natural, smooth and easy. Bags of detail (presence) but not sharply etched. I hope it runs in and gets even better ! I am not sure about the lower registers yet though ¡V bass is all there but a bit too smooth ? I need to let it all settle in for a couple of weeks I think.

Normally with new kit it all sounds a bit sharp until it burns in but this is the opposite ! My last three DACs were an Audio Synthesis DAX, wonderfully open but somehow not very rhythmic, weird but it did not appear to hold a tune (and therefore not exiting enough), a Lite Audio DAC60 ¡V what a little wonder ¡V possibly because the valve output stage has really good drive ?, and then a Lite Audio DAC AM ¡V rhythmic but a tiny bit too sharp sounding (electronic) in my system. The D2 appears to have a similar character to the little Sonic T Tripath amp that everybody raved about recently. I have one and, like the D2 it is open, natural and revealing but very subtle with it.

To get reasonable listening levels I have the NOH pre up to full ¡V (which is fine) but I can¡¦t help wondering if I need a buffer stage to drive the amps a bit more ¡V possibly an impedance mis-match ? The trouble is that the D2 is so good that is becomes really easy to pick out the areas that appear less than perfect. Acoustic guitar and vocals are absolutely brilliant ¡V hard to believe that the output is not biased towards the mid band.

If the D2 were in the hifi shops in the UK at this price then the dealers would quite simply not sell any other DAC.

Have you tried it with a bigger PSU ? What DC voltage can I feed it up to ?       

Anyway, a resounding success and many thanks. I am keenly awaiting its burn in to see if it gets even better !

Many thanks,

Comments from Robert

After a quick listen I think that it's improved things as I expected - I now
have better bass, very improved soundstage, more detail, and an altogether
much more listenable experience. Mellow.

Regards,

Comments from Adam

Comments from David

To my ears NOS DACs sound much better than oversampling or upsampling DACs and in my view this DAC really does represent an audiophile bargain, capable of taking CD replay to a whole new, almost analogue, level. Indeed, it even made me question whether I needed to keep my own very much more expensive Audio Note NOS DAC.

Comments from Harri

Hi Derek,

I picked up the dac from customs on wednesday. It had survived the trip safe and sound. I hooked it up to my system (Rotel RA-03 & RDV-03, B&W 704's, Tara Labs Prism 5500i, Prism 201d & Prism Omni) on friday and have now been listening almost 48 hours non stop. I feel that it needed a break-in period (or just my ears getting used to it). After the first 8 hours of listening non stop, I got the feeling that something opened up. This is my first standalone dac, so I can't compare to other standalones. But compared to the dac inside my Rotel RDV-03, the d2 sound is much cleaner, purer and more transparent throughout the spectrum. Especially female vocals sounds beautiful. d2 - best upgrade to my system so far. Thanks!!

Best Regards,
Harri

Comments from Tamik

Hi Derek,

I received the DAC today in excellent condition and in record time; it takes longer to receive items within California so I was pleasantly surprised when I received this from Hong Kong less than a week after purchasing it.

The DAC itself is a dream and my husband and I are enjoying it. Thanks for the wonderful product. We're looking forward to some of your other developments.

Tamik