Camelot Technology Dragon 5.1 DACs

Camelot Technology Dragon 5.1 DACs 

DESCRIPTION

CD Jitter Filter

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-5 of 5  
[May 13, 2004]
drlazybones
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Read the review. Outstanding, fantastic, wicked bad.

Weakness:

This product will probably not work as well for someone with a high-end CD transport that already sends a low-jitter signal. But for me, at an auction price, this was an absolute best buy.

In one word: incredible. If you don't think jitter in the digital signal is a problem, you will have a revelation with the Dragon 5.1. The device seems to "focus" an unfocused sound stage. The most dramatic differences can be heard throughout the bass and lower midrange regions, where all sense of bloom or boominess have been purged. The lower frequencies now carry musical information! One result of this new resolution is that the rest of the sound can be heard like never before - last night I heard sonic details for the first time in music I've listened to many times over. But it doesn't stop there. The midrange and highs both benefit from this new "focus" as well, with a resulting separation between voices and instruments, and at the same time an impressive widening of the sound stage. My favorite musical transformation was on a Bach CD, where a sibilant and flat violin suddenly had.... TIMBRE! The whole "digital" character of the music is changed. The most incredible overall effect, apart from the soundstage, is the way the lows, mids, and highs are knit back together into a whole. I can't describe it any other way. The music is so much easier to listen to, the presentation is like a whole, more natural, much more like the recording originally sounded, I'm sure. On the Black Eyed Peas' Elephunk - I heard synthesizer effects - whole regions of music that I've never heard! Amazing. The investment I made in the Dragon is some of the best money I've spent on my system, period.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 02, 2000]
Paul Bui
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Analog-like sounding, simple to operate, makes the best out of Pioneer DV-525

Weakness:

Could have more inputs/outputs

The Camelot Dragon 5.1 is quite different from Meridian 518.
With the 518 the sound is glossy, bass is tight, and overall music presentation is more transparent, more detailed. The 5.1 on the other hand makes everything more analog, more texture, less hi-fi, less analytical. Everything seems more listenable with the 5.1 while the 518 is quite impressive with revealing details and high resolution.

Ultimately I prefer the 5.1, but I can imagine someone else with different priority will like the 518 instead. If I'd use the 518, I'd put it in the digital chain, after the 5.1.
By the way, the 5.1 is 1/4 price of the 518. Would be interesting to compare the 5.1 with the new Monarchy DIP II.

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 518

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 02, 2000]
Paul Bui
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Fuller, wide, more analog sound presentation out of DVD player

Weakness:

One input, one out put, a bit steep price

The minute I plugged it in between my DVD-525 and AVR-5700, I was hooked to its immediate wider, deeper sound stage, a more detailed overall music presentation.

I am very satisfied with this little box.

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 518

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 14, 2001]
bob prestash
Audiophile

Strength:

High quaility sound,superb inner digital mechinisms,and designed by a pro....

Weakness:

unit small,hard to place

Even though I consider my system border line high-end,I wanted to try something that might put the sound into the high-end in movie and music....I was not dissapointed..This jitter reduction and surround sound enhancer just made everything more transparent and alive..Dialog in DVD mode was crisp and enveloping..Music DTS discs,as well as standard CD playback was cleaned up and smoothed out in a way that even a non-audiophile would appreciate...This is a great upgrade to any system,and ceartainly worth a try considering the 30 day trial period.....This is one component that will take a system and bring it up several notches into the high-end arena....Say what you will about jitter(believe in it or not),I however hear what a difference this unit can make on what I thought was high-quality digital audio-video system allready...I still think my setup is great.....But..It just got better........

Similar Products Used:

all Pioneer Elite,and THX certified DVD,and Reciever

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Dec 21, 2000]
MP
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

simplicity of setup and operation, small size, overall degree of sound improvement.

Weakness:

None

When inserted between my Pioneer Elite PD59 CD player/transport and Yamaha AV receiver, experienced a remarkable improvement in overall sound quality. The most noticeable improvement was in the midrange, which enjoyed an increased articulation slightly more forward presentation, which I instantly preferred. Soundstage width was enhanced in 2-channel stereo, while the depth of the soundstage was also enhanced, but less so. When used in digital series with Pioneer Elite DV-05, the improvement was less apparent (makes sense as the 05 probably has a far less jittered output than the 59). Overall, an outstanding product. While not cheap, I've certainly spent more for less. Recommended. A certain 5 stars for overall performance, while 4+ when price considered.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-5 of 5  

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