Maverick Audio - TubeMagic D1 DAC | TubeMagic D2 DAC | TubeMagic A1 Hybrid Integrated Amplifieradmin

Lunar New Year sale! Store wide $40 off!

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:54:51 +0000

Hello folks,

We just launched our biggest sale ever, $40 off per time during Lunar New Year holiday (Chinese New Year). This discount applied to all units (excludes the upgrade pack). Please take this rare opportunity and kung hei fat choi to all my dear customers!

-Ryan
Maverick Audio

Very rare “factory matched” Raytheon Military grade 6AK5 tube upgrade now available for order!

admin — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:40:10 +0000

We have managed to acquire a batch of beautiful Raytheon 6AK5 tubes. The unique part of these tubes are that they are matched in the original Raytheon factory and the value of two tubes are perfectly matched. Yes, that means the output readings of the two tubes are exactly same, which is almost impossible if it is not done in the original manufacturing plant. Furthermore, the Raytheon tube sounds wonderful, and we’ve decided to use the Raytheon as our future tube upgrade option for the A1 amplifier.

The handwritten number on each of the box are the output readings of the two 6AK5 tubes in the box. They are perfectly matched.

Each pair of the tubes are in the original military style white box.

The Raytheon tubes are in excellent condition.

Tube Magic D1 DAC is almost ready to ship

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:11:16 +0000

Our production of tube magic D1 DAC is reaching the final stage. Starting from next Wednesday ( Nov.25th, 2009), we will start to ship out D1 for pre-order customers. There is only have limited number available next week, therefore, we will ship the DAC in “first come first serve” principle. We will have more units coming after next week and will end the pre-order end of next week. If any one want to try one, please pre-order now!

Tube replacement options for Tube Magic DAC

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:03:47 +0000

As you all know, the fun of any tube equipped audio device is the possibility of enhancing sound quality by switching another brand/model vacuum tube. Oh yea, that’s the beauty of “analogue”, nothing is 100% fixed.

Let me put my 2 cents on the available tube replacement candidates for our Tube Magic and Tube Magic D1 DAC.

The DAC uses a Chinese made NOS 6N3 tube, which is a clone for western 5670 tube. There were quite a few factories manufacturing 5670 tubes in the past. Even for the same factory, there have been different versions. For example, GE, Sylvania, Raytheon, WE (Western Electric) they all made 5670 tubes.

It is believed western made 5670 has better sound quality than the Chinese/Russian clones.

For a start, you can try GE and Sylvania JAN (Military) version 5670 tube. They are widely available and reasonable priced. I believe most our customers replacing the stock tube with GE/Sylvania JAN tube. You can expect a certain degree enhancement on sound quality.

GE 5 stars 5670 tube

GE 5670 JAN tube

For better performance, you can try WE396A or Raytheon windmill getter, they are more expensive than above 2 models. The WE396A is probably the best one, but it is also the most expensive tube ( ~ $40 per tube).

Raytheon Windmill Getter 5670 tube

There is also Russian 6N3P-I, a 5670 clone made for Russia military. I’ve never tried this tube and don’t know if it is any better than the Chinese tube used in our DAC. The Chinese tube comes with the DAC was manufactured by Beijing Tube factory in the 70’s for Chinese military.

Why do I need a standalone DAC?

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:43:44 +0000

In this digital age, we know almost every kind music formats come in digital format: CD, MP3, AAC and etc. However, on the contrary, every type music “playback” devices are analog: speakers and headphones. Therefore, no matter how high your digital music file’s Bit-rate is, the audio device will have to convert it to analog audio signal before you can hear it. We call this process “Digital-to-analog Converter”, in short, “DAC”.

But wait; isn’t DAC already included in the audio devices? Why do I need a standalone DAC?

Answer is simple, standalone DAC offers the easiest and probably the cheapest way to upgrade your music listening experience.

CS4382 DAC on Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty

Why? Because the “build-in” DAC in most audio devices are not good enough. Let’s take computer sound card for an example: the cost of the DAC in 99% sound card is less $1. For $1, how good can the digital to analog conversion be? Not to mention the “noisy” power supply in the computer, the signal interference, the “non-audio grade” components and etc. As the result, the audio output on computer is noisy, lack of clarity and not very transparent.

Same thing happened to most of other audio devices: DVD player, Blu-ray player, network media player and laptops.

We are all too focused on the “digital” specifications, and forgot the “digital-to-analog converting” part is as important as the digital part, and the DAC is the key element to the sound quality. A properly designed external DAC will greatly enhance your music listening experience, it is not an assumption, it is a fact.