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Echo's End
Date Added: 05/20/2016 by Tony-Oz
Echo's End DAC: Follow-up Impressions
With well over 300 hours of play, my Echo's End DAC should be close to full burn-in. Here are my humble impressions following my earlier report which I must stress are purely personal. I have deliberately chosen a range of recordings that range from audiophile-grade recordings to those with known deficiencies.
There was very little difference between the Response Audio Tube CD player and an Oppo BDP-95 Blue-Ray player as sources connected to a Response Audio 801A integrated Tube Amp (70W/Ch) using an Aural Harmony gold-alloy coaxial cable. The system uses LessLoss Signature power cables with Firewall Current Conditioners to every component.
The first thing that comes through is the "naturalness" and musicality of the sound, with little or no coloration, a dark silent background, excellent spatial delineation of voices and instruments with greater depth and height. There is no harshness with good recordings whilst older recordings known to be harsh or bright are given a new lease of life. This is indeed a major benefit as it has brought greater enjoyment to many old definitive recordings such as Klemperer's Beethoven Symphonies 3 ,5 and 9, and. Rossini's "Thieving Magpie" overture (the remastered audiophile CD by JVC from the original Decca recording) with Gamba and the LSO, is simply magnificent. Bach's Toccata & Fugue in G-Minor for organ (Peter Hurford/Decca) highlights the character of the bass, which is well rounded but solid and natural without any boominess. I can listen for hours with no listening fatigue.
The female voice is especially enhanced with greater clarity and a natural sibilence - this was quite obvious from certain tracks such as Eva Cassidy's "Over The Rainbow" where the brittleness at the top end when her voice reaches a crescendo now sounds controlled and natural. Diana Krall's voice comes across with even greater detail (try "The Girl In The Other Room - tracks 3 & on 9, the controlled distortion of the electric guitar sounds "live"). Leontyne Price's "Oh Holy Night" is exhiliarating and operatic recordings generally sound more stage-like with excellent spatial separation of voices from the orchestra.
Musical instruments sound much more dynamic and life-like especially the piano, violin, percussion and saxophone, yet remaining natural. Examples are Kyung Wha-Chung's Beethoven & Mendelssohn Violin concertos, Wilhelm Kempff's superlative Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 (DG 1962 remastered) and Alfred Brendel's rendition of Schubert's "Wanderer Fantasie". Orchestral string music is lush and pleasing to the ear (try Rossini's String Sonatas (Decca). A favourite version of Pachelbel's Canon on a cheap Erato CD by Orchestre De Chambre/Paillard) has been transformed from a bright,harsh piece to a much more enjoyable experience.
However, I have noticed that the output, as judged by the audible volume of the music, appears to be reduced by about 15-20% in my system.
In summary, the Echo's End DAC has indeed transformed my modest audio system immeasurably, resulting in enhanced enjoyment of music and bringing new life to older recordings, which is what it's all about.
Top marks to you, Louis, for creating yet another great audio component. Love it.
Update: 09/12/2016 by Tony-Oz
Echo's End DAC Update & 5X Firewall Module.
The DAC is truly burned-in and has since been further enhanced with the addition of the 5X Firewall module to the integrated amp and a standard Firewall Module to the CD player used as a transport. All components are powered by LessLoss Signature power cables and the IC used is the Homage to Time. Since my last review, the sound volume output appears to have returned to original levels.
The addition of the 5X Firewall module has brought about an unexpectedly large boost in performance - much greater than using just the standard module - separation of instruments and voices is not only startling but the background is really dark. Music sounds fluid and natural while voices have slightly more clarity. Bass is more 'musical' and the high frequencies are relaxed and well-defined. The high registers of the piano sound like crystal - a great example is Liszt's "La Campanella" (Yundi Li _ A portrait). The virtual absence of listening fatigue is greatly appreciated. Some audiophile friends have been similarly impressed when these components were tested on one of their systems.
I have also had the experience of using the LessLoss USB firewall module which has lifted sound from USB sources to a new level.
I have found that upgrading a decent system with super components from LessLoss like power and IC cables, the DAC and firewall modules have brought about greater sonic improvement than rushing out to buy the latest models of system equipment every year or so?.?
Thank you Louis for producing products that live up to their claims of excellence. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.
CloseRead the reviewProduct details With well over 300 hours of play, my Echo's End DAC should be close to full burn-in. Here are my humble impressions following my earlier report which I must stress are purely personal. I have deliberately chosen a range of recordings that range from audiophile-grade recordings to those with known deficiencies.
There was very little difference between the Response Audio Tube CD player and an Oppo BDP-95 Blue-Ray player as sources connected to a Response Audio 801A integrated Tube Amp (70W/Ch) using an Aural Harmony gold-alloy coaxial cable. The system uses LessLoss Signature power cables with Firewall Current Conditioners to every component.
The first thing that comes through is the "naturalness" and musicality of the sound, with little or no coloration, a dark silent background, excellent spatial delineation of voices and instruments with greater depth and height. There is no harshness with good recordings whilst older recordings known to be harsh or bright are given a new lease of life. This is indeed a major benefit as it has brought greater enjoyment to many old definitive recordings such as Klemperer's Beethoven Symphonies 3 ,5 and 9, and. Rossini's "Thieving Magpie" overture (the remastered audiophile CD by JVC from the original Decca recording) with Gamba and the LSO, is simply magnificent. Bach's Toccata & Fugue in G-Minor for organ (Peter Hurford/Decca) highlights the character of the bass, which is well rounded but solid and natural without any boominess. I can listen for hours with no listening fatigue.
The female voice is especially enhanced with greater clarity and a natural sibilence - this was quite obvious from certain tracks such as Eva Cassidy's "Over The Rainbow" where the brittleness at the top end when her voice reaches a crescendo now sounds controlled and natural. Diana Krall's voice comes across with even greater detail (try "The Girl In The Other Room - tracks 3 & on 9, the controlled distortion of the electric guitar sounds "live"). Leontyne Price's "Oh Holy Night" is exhiliarating and operatic recordings generally sound more stage-like with excellent spatial separation of voices from the orchestra.
Musical instruments sound much more dynamic and life-like especially the piano, violin, percussion and saxophone, yet remaining natural. Examples are Kyung Wha-Chung's Beethoven & Mendelssohn Violin concertos, Wilhelm Kempff's superlative Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 (DG 1962 remastered) and Alfred Brendel's rendition of Schubert's "Wanderer Fantasie". Orchestral string music is lush and pleasing to the ear (try Rossini's String Sonatas (Decca). A favourite version of Pachelbel's Canon on a cheap Erato CD by Orchestre De Chambre/Paillard) has been transformed from a bright,harsh piece to a much more enjoyable experience.
However, I have noticed that the output, as judged by the audible volume of the music, appears to be reduced by about 15-20% in my system.
In summary, the Echo's End DAC has indeed transformed my modest audio system immeasurably, resulting in enhanced enjoyment of music and bringing new life to older recordings, which is what it's all about.
Top marks to you, Louis, for creating yet another great audio component. Love it.
Update: 09/12/2016 by Tony-Oz
Echo's End DAC Update & 5X Firewall Module.
The DAC is truly burned-in and has since been further enhanced with the addition of the 5X Firewall module to the integrated amp and a standard Firewall Module to the CD player used as a transport. All components are powered by LessLoss Signature power cables and the IC used is the Homage to Time. Since my last review, the sound volume output appears to have returned to original levels.
The addition of the 5X Firewall module has brought about an unexpectedly large boost in performance - much greater than using just the standard module - separation of instruments and voices is not only startling but the background is really dark. Music sounds fluid and natural while voices have slightly more clarity. Bass is more 'musical' and the high frequencies are relaxed and well-defined. The high registers of the piano sound like crystal - a great example is Liszt's "La Campanella" (Yundi Li _ A portrait). The virtual absence of listening fatigue is greatly appreciated. Some audiophile friends have been similarly impressed when these components were tested on one of their systems.
I have also had the experience of using the LessLoss USB firewall module which has lifted sound from USB sources to a new level.
I have found that upgrading a decent system with super components from LessLoss like power and IC cables, the DAC and firewall modules have brought about greater sonic improvement than rushing out to buy the latest models of system equipment every year or so?.?
Thank you Louis for producing products that live up to their claims of excellence. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.
Echo's End
Date Added: 04/23/2016 by Jörg Stanislawski
The case for the Echo’s End DAC is unbelievably sturdy and there will surely be not a single unit delivered damaged.
I placed the DAC on three Roller Block Jr., and it looks fine.
The look of the Echo’s End DAC will not appeal to every possible customer looking for a new DAC.
Well, I love it’s look immensely. Stripped to the bones, a design of total understatement. No shiny display that shows sampling rates, input selector, the time and date or whatever. Just signal in, processing, signal out.
My Echo’s End gets the input signal via AES/EBU from my CD Transport. Signal out via LessLoss RCA cable.
I listened to one or two CDs and the let it play silently for hours every day. Then it came to my attention that I didn’t check the polarity of the power connection, how could I forget that? Damn. And it turned out I had to switch the polarity. My advice to every customer, check it right from the start, as it is important. After several hours of silent burn in, I started listening.
Every comment LessLoss posted about the sound is absolutely right. It seems that the enclosure of the Echo’s End is equivalent to the sound it creates in my listening room. It is pure, natural, analog-like and wonderfully detailed.
As if it were made explicitly for music with acoustical instruments. Jazz Trios sound unbelievably realistic. You can also expect lots of details not heard before. But I can only compare it to the DAC that I used before, and that was not an ultra expensive megabuck item.
With the Echo’s End the sound, room placement of instruments somehow shifted in dimensionality, this is difficult to describe. The instruments are perceived to be at slightly different places, especially in depth. So, the music seems to be reproduced like it was intended by the musicians, producers and recording artists.
Even when this dimensionality / room was created artificially in a sound recording studio for your listening pleasure. Instruments are wonderfully separated and at the same time the music can be sensed as a complete whole. This differentiates this DAC from other DACs, which have a more technical or, haha.. "digital" sound.
I'll compare this to an analog example. Way back when, I purchased a used double LP of Dave Brubeck's Time Out at a record fair. It was an RCA pressing, nothing special. At a later date I got the first audiophile remastered 180gr. pressing. The re-mastered version couldn’t compare to the cheap RCA pressing. The audiophile one had this sort of ping pong stereo effect, a much better separation of instruments, but the music couldn’t be recognized as whole.
I only wanted to mention one CD, the OST of „the house of flying daggers“. This is a recording that gives you a feeling at first listen, that it can’t get any better than this. The third track really gets you drumming, like the Kodo drummer of Japan, you know what I mean. With the Echo’s End, this track gets an unbelievable complete new quality. The drums sound so real, that you sit there in awe and simply can’t believe it. The drummers are in your room, it feels as if you can smell the sweat pouring down their skin. Really absolutely outstanding.
Yet again, LessLoss has created a wonderful product.
Thank You.
Jörg Stanislawski
CloseRead the reviewProduct details I placed the DAC on three Roller Block Jr., and it looks fine.
The look of the Echo’s End DAC will not appeal to every possible customer looking for a new DAC.
Well, I love it’s look immensely. Stripped to the bones, a design of total understatement. No shiny display that shows sampling rates, input selector, the time and date or whatever. Just signal in, processing, signal out.
My Echo’s End gets the input signal via AES/EBU from my CD Transport. Signal out via LessLoss RCA cable.
I listened to one or two CDs and the let it play silently for hours every day. Then it came to my attention that I didn’t check the polarity of the power connection, how could I forget that? Damn. And it turned out I had to switch the polarity. My advice to every customer, check it right from the start, as it is important. After several hours of silent burn in, I started listening.
Every comment LessLoss posted about the sound is absolutely right. It seems that the enclosure of the Echo’s End is equivalent to the sound it creates in my listening room. It is pure, natural, analog-like and wonderfully detailed.
As if it were made explicitly for music with acoustical instruments. Jazz Trios sound unbelievably realistic. You can also expect lots of details not heard before. But I can only compare it to the DAC that I used before, and that was not an ultra expensive megabuck item.
With the Echo’s End the sound, room placement of instruments somehow shifted in dimensionality, this is difficult to describe. The instruments are perceived to be at slightly different places, especially in depth. So, the music seems to be reproduced like it was intended by the musicians, producers and recording artists.
Even when this dimensionality / room was created artificially in a sound recording studio for your listening pleasure. Instruments are wonderfully separated and at the same time the music can be sensed as a complete whole. This differentiates this DAC from other DACs, which have a more technical or, haha.. "digital" sound.
I'll compare this to an analog example. Way back when, I purchased a used double LP of Dave Brubeck's Time Out at a record fair. It was an RCA pressing, nothing special. At a later date I got the first audiophile remastered 180gr. pressing. The re-mastered version couldn’t compare to the cheap RCA pressing. The audiophile one had this sort of ping pong stereo effect, a much better separation of instruments, but the music couldn’t be recognized as whole.
I only wanted to mention one CD, the OST of „the house of flying daggers“. This is a recording that gives you a feeling at first listen, that it can’t get any better than this. The third track really gets you drumming, like the Kodo drummer of Japan, you know what I mean. With the Echo’s End, this track gets an unbelievable complete new quality. The drums sound so real, that you sit there in awe and simply can’t believe it. The drummers are in your room, it feels as if you can smell the sweat pouring down their skin. Really absolutely outstanding.
Yet again, LessLoss has created a wonderful product.
Thank You.
Jörg Stanislawski
Echo's End
Date Added: 03/07/2016 by Tony-in-Oz
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
After an impatient wait of 3 months, I have finally got the Echo's End DAC in my hands.I believe I'm one of the first to receive it.
Right out of the super space-age case the sound was compressed and heavy as would be expected but after only a few hours of play, it started to open up. Louis has indicated to me that it would take a good 3 to 4 weeks of continuous play for the DAC to be fully burnrd-in. Now, after only about 32 hours of play over a few days, I am already impressed with the uncluttered, clean, balanced and natural sound with little hint of colouring or noise. What I find most impressive is the marked reduction of excessive sibilance from certain "bright" recordings, the relaxed yet natural character of the bass , deep and wide sound field with a dark silent background despite the early days. However,there is still a detectable but minor degree of "heaviness" and a little brittleness in the the top end which, I am confident, will be resolved when fully burned-in. There is still a long way to go before the full potential is realised and I anticipate much more significant improvement in the weeks to come, like the other LessLoss products already in use in my system. Experience with products like the use of V-Caps in audio components suggests a full burn-in period of 400-600 hours is on the cards.
I was already very happy with my system before I had the LessLoss Firewall Modules and LessLoss DFPC Signature Power Cables installed on every component in both of my modest systems and was initially surprised how much they had contributed to the significant improvement to the sound. One of my audiophile friends was so impressed by them when we tested them on his system that he has since purchased them.
I'm no tech expert but fortunate to possess a musical background, having played the violin and piano, listening to classical music since early childhood and having enjoyed the fabulous concerts and operas during the many years living in London. This has helped in discerning between "true live natural sound" and "electronic sound". For me the ENJOYMENT and APPRECIATION of good music is the prime objective, not the hype of owning the most expensive audio equipment to brag about.
I could not be more impressed with the professional manner and prompt service in which Louis runs LessLoss - always ready to answer any queries in an honest manner without the air of aloof arrogance we sometimes encounter with some so-called "experts". Thank you Louis.
CloseRead the reviewProduct details After an impatient wait of 3 months, I have finally got the Echo's End DAC in my hands.I believe I'm one of the first to receive it.
Right out of the super space-age case the sound was compressed and heavy as would be expected but after only a few hours of play, it started to open up. Louis has indicated to me that it would take a good 3 to 4 weeks of continuous play for the DAC to be fully burnrd-in. Now, after only about 32 hours of play over a few days, I am already impressed with the uncluttered, clean, balanced and natural sound with little hint of colouring or noise. What I find most impressive is the marked reduction of excessive sibilance from certain "bright" recordings, the relaxed yet natural character of the bass , deep and wide sound field with a dark silent background despite the early days. However,there is still a detectable but minor degree of "heaviness" and a little brittleness in the the top end which, I am confident, will be resolved when fully burned-in. There is still a long way to go before the full potential is realised and I anticipate much more significant improvement in the weeks to come, like the other LessLoss products already in use in my system. Experience with products like the use of V-Caps in audio components suggests a full burn-in period of 400-600 hours is on the cards.
I was already very happy with my system before I had the LessLoss Firewall Modules and LessLoss DFPC Signature Power Cables installed on every component in both of my modest systems and was initially surprised how much they had contributed to the significant improvement to the sound. One of my audiophile friends was so impressed by them when we tested them on his system that he has since purchased them.
I'm no tech expert but fortunate to possess a musical background, having played the violin and piano, listening to classical music since early childhood and having enjoyed the fabulous concerts and operas during the many years living in London. This has helped in discerning between "true live natural sound" and "electronic sound". For me the ENJOYMENT and APPRECIATION of good music is the prime objective, not the hype of owning the most expensive audio equipment to brag about.
I could not be more impressed with the professional manner and prompt service in which Louis runs LessLoss - always ready to answer any queries in an honest manner without the air of aloof arrogance we sometimes encounter with some so-called "experts". Thank you Louis.
LessLoss History From the Very Beginnings
LessLoss started its business on Audiogon in late 2007. Within the first couple of month, word about LessLoss spread like wildfire among Audiogon members. Here is the feedback received from our clients during our first year of operation. This is from even before we had our own website.
Louis is one of the best in the business, truly professional and very fast production and delivery. I am very satisfied by your superb service. Many thanks.
Positive by Buyer Sebastian (135) on 07-29-2008
Excellent transaction with Lessloss on dynamic filtering power cord. Good communications & fast shipping. A+++++
Positive by Buyer Sennett (45) on 07-03-08
Bought 3 pc's from Liudas in Jan/08. Outstanding product as advertised. Performance is everything and more than I expected. Kudos to Lessloss cable for a great product. Very highly recommended...A+++
Positive by Buyer Phillykid (33) on 06-19-08