[Oortjes]

Matous,

The Mini-Dac is its own design. We hardly ever reproduce the same circuitry in different units. Because they all have their own requirements and needs. But just like any family, they do share the same styling or...genes, if you wish…

Ruphus,

On the hum you’re experiencing: in that case there seems to be something wrong with your unit, there should be no hum when touching the volume control. Sorry, about that.

On your question of width and if a preamp can contribute to it. A too wide image is always accompanied by a lack of a clearly defined center (I like to call it the “hole in the middle”) and is the result of phase errors/distortion. Any analog circuitry and digital processor can create this. The bigger the phase error, the wider the image. To check for “reality”, know what is real, the best thing is to listen for the mono information you get from a stereo-signal. Because that is easier to detect and more objective. Listen for a very narrow center. The mono information should be like a vertical line right in front of your speakers. The more focused this center is, the better your phase response.

Note that using a stereo mike setup may not always give you a good center. Especially the standard X-Y. Better for testing phase response would be an MS-setup, since that will give you a true mono part.

Cheers,