Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 - valve pre-amp/Dac

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Hi all, I have ordered a maverick audio tube magic d1, pre-amp/dac.

I think the rca outputs are 1x valve and 1x solid state. Both seem to be variable via the front pot, but it also has a volume bypass.

I want to use the tube magic d1 as a "line in" device in to my quad pre-amp.

The quad pre-amp has a input sensitivity adjustment up to 775mv.

So my question is: will the output of the tube magic d1 be to high for a "line-in" input? And can I cause overload please?
 
Maverick Audio Online Shop
Seems to be great boxes, and at that price one can't go wrong! Please post impressions after some use.

Should work well connecting to any line in.
 
In bypass the output may be 1:1 ref input? If the case, then the actual output is only related to what feeds it, and the Quad line-in will see no difference from being driven direct from source. You'll have to try when it's in the house, and find the best setup. But why not drive poweramps directly with it, can't see (from here) the reason for 2 preamps in series.
 
Just had an email from Maverick Audio,

Hi Chris,

There is a delay in our shipper side, sorry about this. The good news is your order now has been processed and on the way to you. Tracking code will be available within next 2-3 days. And you will get the unit sometimes next week.

In order to compensate the waiting, we have put a GE5670W tube inside the unit as a small gift.

So I will have to wait a few extra days. But I get the upgrade tube :-)
 
Just had a text, from DHL... Looks like I have been clobbered with vat & import duty.

Another £16 on top!
 
Chris1979 said:
Just had a text, from DHL... Looks like I have been clobbered with vat & import duty.

Another £16 on top!
Click to expand...
Ouch ...but on the plus side ...perhaps not that bad..
You should try being in a group buy for Venture Actuators from the US ..
then you'll know what 'clobbered by duties' means....lol
Yes all 4 of us got shafted..
rgds
VS
 
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Vipersan said:
Ouch ...but on the plus side ...perhaps not that bad..
You should try being in a group buy for Venture Actuators from the US ..
then you'll know what 'clobbered by duties' means....lol
Yes all 4 of us got shafted..
rgds
VS
Click to expand...
I had similar, when I purchased my uniden scanner.

Only then the guy on the phone from h.m.r.c. Was laughing at me saying you think you found a cheap one!

But the last laugh was on him! I had to pay the £60 for my radio. But the model I had ordered covered different parts of the band. So with the U.K. One I have and the USA one I had full range.

I can imagine the duties on the acctuators must have been a small fortune. But worth it.
 
Some photos of the new unit :-)

image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp image.webp
And in the last 4 hours the valve seems to be warming up and improving :-)

So far this is a very cheap way to get that valve sound.
 
Now with over 24 hours on the new valve, and so far I am very happy with this new unit. They are handmade (in China) and then tuned by a scope, and then by a group of 10 people.

I had been tube rolled from the Jan 5670 W stock tube to the GE 5670 W. As time goes on the sound becomes much warmer and rich.
 
Excellent. This is value for money.
...and probably 99% of the audio quality of any of those ridiculously priced $ 10.000+ "high-end" units.
 
4wd said:
Excellent. This is value for money.
...and probably 99% of the audio quality of any of those ridiculously priced $ 10.000+ "high-end" units.
Click to expand...
So far it has given me the valve sound that I was after! I am using it as a stand alone dac in to my pre-amp. I can't rate this highly enough.

And for the money you can't really go wrong.

The tubes are n.o.s. Tube from the 70's.

I have also tried this unit with one of my integrated amps, and it reall bucks that up.
 
Asked the seller today, about the bypass the volume pot on the front of the unit.

That way it sounds so much better and sweeter (and only 64hrs) on the valve.

To bypass the audio pot you have to take the top off, and move 2 jumpers.
image.webp
 
I now have over a 100hrs on the new valve.

The sound is sweet, and well rounded, I am noticing a lot more detail in the music. And it has made even the dullest albums sound so much better!

I can't rate this unit highly enough. And for the money it's by far the best sound I have come across.

And imho would easily beat £5000 intergrated amp.

I am running mine as a "dac" and not in the pre amp setting.

Bypassing the volume pot really adds more detail. And I have dug out my project tube box s, to feed my project essential 2 (Ortofon om5e) in to the dac's analog input.

And now I finally have the proper valve sound.
 
Just ordered a pair of these bad boys

image.webp

It's a pair of burrbrown opa627

Really looking forward to pluging them in :D

And so far it's only cost me £23.52
 
congratulations Chris
hope you have fun
there are opinions from advanced diy audio fans that burr brown op627 got a very cloloured sound
what are original opas
did you think to try dexa modules _Op-Amps | Hifi Collective Instead of opa
 
samoloko said:
congratulations Chris
hope you have fun
there are opinions from advanced diy audio fans that burr brown op627 got a very cloloured sound
what are original opas
did you think to try dexa modules _Op-Amps | Hifi Collective Instead of opa
Click to expand...


I know burr Browns are coloured, but the long and short of it is love the sound of them.

I have a slim devices (pre Logitech) squeezebox that has the burr brown chips, and that thing never ceases to amaze me.

So I am lead to believe the burrbrown coupled with the GE5670 valve should be good.

But for the money I am quite happy to give them a punt.

This unit is still quite new to me (well over 400hrs on the valve)

Do the burr Brown opa627 give a clinical sound then?

Never come across dexa modules, will have a look at them, thanks for the tip.

I am quite happy with the original opa chips, don't know if I can see what they are, but Ryan the maker of the unit, is keeping that close to his chest.

You can see the opa chips in the photo below
image.webp
They are just over from the valve.
See the red jumper headers on the right of the valve, the opa chips look to be in a zif socket.

When I get the top off to fit the burr Browns I will see if I can get more information on the old opa chips.
 
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Just put the new chips in :D

This is the before picture
image.webp

And the after

image.webp

The burr brown chips, are on the red square.
 
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