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Rick Cullen-Modified PS Audio Digital Link III DAC At the time of writing [2008], this is the finest sub-£1K DAC we know of, and it's only available in the UK from Item Audio. Many claims are made on behalf of modestly-priced DACs: 'analog-sounding, high-end, etc', but Rick Cullen's modifications to PS Audio's Digital Link III DAC genuinely lift it clear of the mundane to serious levels of fidelity. Yes, the converter delivers Information and well-tempered tonality, in common with many cheaper DACs, but it goes way beyond even the Benchmark's 'information-first' philosophy, with a superbly engineered direct-coupled output stage that yields a huge, solid soundstage populated with uncommon presence and verve. In contrast to the Benchmark's somewhat 'objective' presentation, the Cullen DLIII effortlessly imbues music with a natural dynamism and palpability that makes it somehow irrelevant that you're listening to 'data'. No other DAC we know at this price point can pull off this trick with such a breathtaking sense of realism. Turntablists queue here . . . Don't assume that this stress on 'rightness' and 'musicality' and 'non-analytical presentation' is a euphemistic way of saying that the top end is rolled off and it all sounds a bit polite: actually, the modded DL3 unquestionably outresolves, outperforms and out-funks the Benchmark and its unmodified ancestor on every count. Cullen Circuits are a highly respected Californian company formed around Rick Cullen in 1990, who was instrumental in the design of the original PS Audio Digital Link III. The Stage III modification of the stock unit consists of the follow upgrades:
The Stage IV upgrade adds . . .
Although other levels of upgrade are available, realising subtle improvements, the clock modification and isolated coax unlock its full potential and are highly recommended. Please note that this is no lightweight: under the skin there is a weighty toroidal and 48,000uF of filtering, and the unit is deceptively large. Check the specification (right) for full details. One area in which we disagree with the otherwise excellent 6 Moons review of Rick's modifications is with reference to PC sources. Their February 2008 review opines: “With the USB link, music sounded slightly vague, thin and lacking in tonal richness. My guess is that computers, while convenient, are hardly ideal for music reproduction.” In our experience, the converse is true. The review states that USB is 'nowhere near as good as a coaxial digital connection on a standalone transport/player’. However, we've auditioned dozens of high-end digital coaxial cables, and haven't found one that unleashes the Cullen-modified DLII as freely as the Locus Polestar. A good USB cable will really make this DAC sing. It also responds well to power cable upgrades. “Unforced clarity, resolution of low level detail, and evenness of presentation across the audible frequency range are on par with some of the better analog systems with which I have become familiar . . . and remember that I am a devoted analog fan. This clarity offers a sound that is not at all fatiguing, allowing long listening sessions without feeling “rode hard and put away wet”. The DLIII is superior to the Benchmark in this important character. Often, we choose a component on the simple basis that it sounds better than another one. Hopefully, the criteria for “better” is more emotional involvement with the musical performance, notwithstanding the particulars of better bass, a warmer midrange, more extended or crystalline highs, or a comparatively deeper stage. With this in mind, I would rather listen to music with the even handed musical performance of the [Stage IV modified] DLIII than suffer through the various particular strengths, and attendant weaknesses, of many phonograph cartridges previously reviewed on 10 Audio.” – www.10audio.com "The stock [DLIII] version was clean, crisp and detailed, with well defined bass and good pitch definition. While the DL III presented a warmish tonal balance, highs were extended and airy. There was a good sense of space and soundstage layering on large-scale classical recordings. However, I did note a hint of sizzle and a sense of electronic artifice up high. Textures were a tad on the dry side but not quite what I'd consider thin or threadbare. Overall I thought the stock DL III was excellent value. "Listening to the Cullen[-modified] DAC revealed two areas in which I heard differences between it and my Perpetual Technology [P-1A and P-3A] reference. The first was bass performance. The bass seemed subjectively deeper and more dynamic than I was used to hearing. The second area was soundstaging. The Cullen DAC offered a slightly wider soundstage with about the same depth as I was used to, which is to say that both width and depth were very, very good. Treble, mid-range, low-level detail and other sonic parameters were the same between the two DACs. Both DACs, to my ears, sounded dead neutral. |
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