Incredible Win for me to step forward with digital music

[grimmace19]

Last night I was invited to a special demonstration of the Hegel line of amplifiers at a store called Hear no Evil Hifi in Westminster, Colorado. Although the demo focused on their entire line of amps ranging from the $2000 entry integrated up to their 15k mono blocks, everything was running through the Kef blades and I wanted to give their presentation a look. Hegel did a great job showcasing the changes made by going from a 70 wpc integrated up to a 1100wpc mono block monster and everything they offer in between. All in all, it was a great demo hosted by a great new audio shop.

However, the night got better when the "door prizes" were announced. I was the winner of a brand new Hegel HD11 DAC! A dac is something i've been increasing interested in trying out with my squeezebox as well as my marantz sacd player. At the whopping cost of FREE, this is the perfect way for me to get in the game.

Any suggestions on the most effective hookup via the squeezebox touch? I plan to try and use the app and use the USB out and see how that works for me.

[carvcom]

Congrats, nice score!!!

[gfong]

Congrats, always good when you get the door prize!

[GlennDog]

VERY nice, Congrats Grim!!

I have also been considering going down this road, but for Free, you are a winner!! . . .

G

[Toolfan66]

Congrats!!!! Nick!!!!

Did you take any pics!!! I have been wanting to visit up there for some time now, But audio has taken a back seat to my car this summer so my interest has been on the low side for audio the last few months..

[grimmace19]

Sorry Larry, no pictures. The shop changes every single time I'm in there. It has easily become my favorite place to visit in the Denver area because of their huge selection. They carry so many different lines of speakers that it makes it a nice mix where you can easily hear bookshelf speakers under a grand to the blades and beyond plus anything in between.

[tonyb]

Just hook up any digital cable from the SB to the dac, analog outs to your pre or receiver. USB will take some configuration if your up to it. Congrats....mighty fine door prize.

[grimmace19]

I've had it running for a few hours this morning already. I downloaded the 3rd party app mentioned in another thread that H9 seems fond of and used USB from the squeezebox into the dac.... HOLY CRAP! I've only been streaming spotify and mog this morning but the improvements are amazing. I can't wait to see what it can do to my cdp and further the squeezebox with a better USB cable (stole the one from my printer).

The only thing I noticed, the DAC is missing one of it's rubber feet. It must have gotten pulled off at the show last night as it's nowhere around my gear where I took it out of the box. Oh well, isolation pads are on the way anyways.

[Toolfan66]

The USB cable is the only cable I have found that gives me no noticeable improvements going from a $6.99 to a $150 cable.

Just get a good $20-$30 cable and call it a day..

Just my .02 and my Opinion..


Pics of the unit?? I mean the DAC not your unit!!!

[Thorton]

Congrats. Awesome win!
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AVR: Denon AVR-3805, AMP: Parasound Model 2250, Front: Polk RTIA7, Center: Polk CSIA6, Surrounds: Polk FXIA6, Sub: Polk DSW PRO660WI

[grimmace19]

Thanks Larry, I plan to pick up an audioquest forest cable tomorrow from best buy... only 30 bucks and I think I have some reward certificates to use. This dac is amazing... though I don't have any others to compare it to, the improvements so far are astounding.

[cstmar01]

Congrats!

I found I like running SPDIF from my squeezebox to my DAC than the other connections. Just what I found but you might like something else. I'm running an Audioquest cable right now, sounds great to me.

[Lost240]

That's awesome!