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Before the Vega falls by the wayside with any premature conclusion, a few words on it. As preamp it's the digital equivalent to the analog Taurus. Where the latter makes the utmost of any analogue signal, the Vega does the same for the digital domain. The choice of inputs is very practical – USB, Toslink, AES/EBU, two coax. One feels armed for any occasion. Worth mentioning too is that the successful Orfeo class A output modules appear here again to serve up the same kind of loupe-pure high-contrast ultra dynamic sound. And let's not forget the Femto master clock. This proprietary beastie reclocks the signal at such precision that residual jitter is said to be down to 0.082 pico seconds. Way out there? This clock can only be activated after an hour of power up. It takes that much time to thermally stabilize. But it's no joke. Play hi-rez stuff and the femto difference could be picked out in a blind audition. There's appreciably more cleanliness in the treble and the stereophonic panorama locks in at even higher lens focus.
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Conclusion. The takeaway message already shone through the above: headfi can be real fun not just on a reasonable and sane level but in the domain of outright unreasonable lust. The AURALiC Vega/Taurus twins plus Audeze LCD-3 guarantee unblemished musical satisfaction with proper tonal balance, impeccable micro and macro dynamics and fine staging. These components reach down deep into the hifi goodie bag and in combination come up for a wondrous audition. Assessed individually we arrive at...
Psych profile for the Taurus MkII
straight-line response. Only on the very top there's perhaps a minor tendency for the golden-hued rather than silver metallic.
very nuanced high-contrast rendition which doesn't omit the most minute of details.
a well-lit sizeable virtual stager with realistic not static sorting of individual performers.
dynamically very live.
flexible i/o make for dual use as headfi amp and preamp.
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Psych profile for the Audeze LCD-3...
tonally beyond criticism even in the low bass where competitors particularly with smaller drivers cave in.
very good dynamics.
unusually good soundstaging for a headphone.
high wear comfort given that its fighting class isn't exactly bantam weight.
AURALiC's Vega is the ideal completer for both and for users without headphones an excellent DAC/pre. Due to shared class A output stages it's sonically very reminiscent of the Taurus.
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Facts.
AURALiC Taurus MkII
Concept: Headfi and line-level preamp
Dimensions and weight: 33 x 23 x 6.5cm WxDxH, 3.6kg
I/o: XLR/RCA in, XLR/RCA out, 6.3mm out, 4-pin XLR out
Warranty: 2 years
AURALiC Vega
Concept: DAC with digital volume
Dimensions and weight: 33 x 23 x 6.5cm WxDxH, 3.4kg
I/o: 1 x AES/EBU, Toslink, USB; 2 x coax; XLR/RCA out
Power consumption: ~10w idle
Warranty: 2 years
Audeze LCD-3
Concept: Magnetostatic panel headphone
Efficiency: 91dB/1mW
Nominal impedance: 45Ω
Weight: 548g |
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redaktion @ fairaudio.de
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