Don Better Audio

PH: (216) 375-1393 FAX: (216) 751-5001 EMAIL:
Located in Shaker Heights - just East of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio.

All items shown on this page are currently in-house and available for you to audition!

CD5i CD Player from Naim, especially when partnered by the complementary NAIT 5i integrated amplifier, sets a thrilling new standard for the musical performance of entry-level hi-fi. This outstanding new machine, which replaces the previous CD5i in our line-up, brings worthwhile performance benefits for users but retains the functionality and straightforward usability of the classic player. This enhanced performance has been derived from a new DAC and power supply arrangement, optimisation of the output filter and star grounding pattern, and upgraded components in key areas of the circuitry.

HDX Hard Disk player from Naim. The HDX reads audio data from CDs, stores it on a hard disk, catalogues the artist, album and track titles and, at the touch of a screen, replays it with utterly uncompromised sound quality. The HDX's ease of use defines elegant simplicity and it even offers the option of operating as a high-end CD player by directly playing a disc loaded in its drawer.

C-5xe universal stereo player from Ayre creates a completely new product category, the U2 player (universal stereo player). The first of its kind, this no video, no compromise design plays all existing optical disc formats including: CD, SACD, DVD-Audio, DVD-Video (soundtrack only), and MP-3. This unique disc player is the ultimate playback machine for the music lover. When the music is paramount, the C-5xe sets a new standard. The C-5xe is truly for those of us who value the enjoyment of music above all else.

REFERENCE CD8 Vacuum Tube CD Player from Audio Research stands in a class all its own. While retaining the lush, full embodiment of the CD7 sound, the CD8 adds new dimensions of transparency. It immediately shows greater transient speed top-to-bottom, purer resolution of low-level detail and expanded dynamic contrasts, with more bass slam, definition and extension. The soundstage is larger and more holographic because of the heightened ability of the REFCD8 to embody and locate instruments and voices. Rhythmically, the REFCD8 also picks up the pace compared to the CD7, with improved timing cues and better rhythmic interplay. You will find other sonic dimensions to marvel as you spend time with this enticing player.

The Apollo from Rega Research will analize the disc to be played and (rather like the engine management system on a modern car which optimises the engine settings to ambient temperature, engine temperature, fuel quality etc.) will adjust itself to the disc in order to give optimal trouble free reading and great sound quality. This process takes a few short seconds and the resultant musical improvements are well worth the wait.

Puccini U-Clock from dCS is a combination of a system clock with a sophisticated USB to SPDIF converter. You can use it as a clock or a converter or both together. Locking your digital system to the U-Clock reduces jitter and improves the sonic performance. Use the converter as a gateway for a PC, Mac or sound server to connect computer-based music into your system, while avoiding the high levels of jitter and other compromises commonly found in such sources.

DV-500 Turntable is a William Firebaugh (Well Tempered Lab) design which facilitates a high performance and stable platform for the Dynavector 507 Tonearm. It features dual layer acrylic / aluminium sandwich construction, servo controlled motor with anti vibration mounting, “zero tolerance” main bearing, 0.004 inches Polyester thread belt, and a predrilled tonearm mounting plate for DV 507 tonearm.

Amadeus Turntable from Well Tempered Lab. The Amadeus tone-arm does not have a bearing in the normal sense. Many tone-arm bearings use high quality ball bearings that have clearances in the low micron range. However, that is where all the action takes place. The Amadeus bearing has zero clearance and damping for un-rivaled performance. The tone-arm is constructed with a golf ball partially immersed in high viscosity silicone fluid. Golf balls are very precisely made and are well-suited for this application. The degree of damping is adjustable. A tone-arm without damping will cause the cone of a subwoofer to pump markedly. Controlling The Resonance Within The Arm Tube The 10.5 inch arm tube of Amadeus is filled with a special grade of sand to eliminate any resonances within the tube. This technique is very effective and is unique to all Well Tempered designs.

SME Turntables and Tonearms Ideally, a turntable should address all problems associated with extraneous vibrations. These vibrations emanate from numerous sources including airborne and structural vibration from loudspeakers, record groove modulation, stray electrical fields and mechanical imperfections in moving parts. The SME Model 20/12, due to its superb instrument quality machining, is allied with fundamental physics. By adhering to the premise that the higher the mass and stiffness of a body the less it will flex and vibrate; and the duration of a vibration can be shortened by suitable damping.

DPS Turntable from Ayre Acoustics. dps-"der Plattenspieler" ("The Turntable") is the brainchild of Mr. Willibald Bauer of Munich, Germany. The dps was developed over the course of many years beginning with the design of a unique zero-clearance spindle bearing, followed by a series of dedicated listening tests to fine-tune the structural elements. The dps turntable is stylish, compact, fluidly dynamic and incredibly quiet. Stable and musical, the dps uses a zero-clearance spindle bearing designed to provide a controlled silent resistance for the high torque detached synchronous 3-phase motor. This resistance protects the stylus from variations in the dynamic drag, ensuring a constant rotational speed. The acrylic platter is supported by a tungsten shaft which rests on the ruby bearing in a viscous oil bath all chosen for their excellent self damping properties.

Spiral Groove turntables rely in part on mass to control noise. Stainless steel and aluminum lend our ‘tables heft and solidity, an effective first-line defense against errant vibration. But mass alone cannot eliminate noise; though the metals we’ve chosen store and release energy in predictable ways, they need help in order to dissipate it effectively. We provide that assistance by sandwiching together the layers of our platform with a proven damping agent. Mechanical isolation contributes an additional measure of control. Motor, tonearm, and platter occupy discrete layers within the platform, a tactical separation that prevents noise generated by one mechanism from contaminating another. This strategic alliance — rigidity, compliance, and isolation — lays the groundwork for one of the quietest and most responsive turntables on the market today.

Spiral Groove Centroid tonearms provide a new level of accurate vinyl playback by virtually eliminating the moment of inertia and it's negative effects on the phono cartridge. Structural rigidity and the efficient dissipation of unwanted mechanical energy are hallmarks of the Spiral Groove tonearms. Three criteria have determined our choice of tonearm materials: low mass, high strength, and the ability to transfer energy quickly away from the cartridge. Spiral Groove employs advanced computer modeling to simulate the forces exerted on the arm as the cartridge tracks the record. Understanding these forces dynamically has enabled them to compensate for the forces mechanically. They call their approach Balanced Force Design and with it they have greatly improved tracking and optimized cartridge performance. The tonearm also provide precision in the overhang, VTA, azimuth, zenith, anti-skate control and tracking force, which are all easily adjustable. A proprietary mirror setup gauge is included with each tonearm.

Garrard 301 Player System from Shindo Labs uses a damped integral mat. The Shindo platter is 20mm larger than the stock unit, and about 3lb heavier. The Shindo bearing is higher mass, has a larger diameter and is machined to much tighter tolerances than the stock unit. It also uses a special oil. The Shindo plinth system uses layers of laminated hardwood glued together and lacquered by 6th generation master carpenters. There are no voids left under the table and literally the plinth fits the Garrard like a glove. Not only beautiful to look at but offers the highest performance. A must for every Garrard 301. The Ortofon SPU is a classic design dating back to the mid 1950's, considered one of the finest cartridges in the world due to it's amazing musicality and direct sweet sound. Shindo takes the Ortofon SPU and does some proprietary modifications to the damper, coil, suspension and cantilever. This makes the classic SPU sound more refined, extended and resolute.

P2 Turntable from Rega. For over 30 years, Rega has been the first name on everyone's lips when it comes to turntables and the return of the P2 to the planar range completes the line up, making rega even more accessible to music lovers.

P3 Turntable from Rega. For over twenty years the P3 has been the favourite high performance turntable for the music loving public, having a beguiling blend of classically clean looks, high performance and amazing value for money. This latest version carries some new innovative changes in design, which make it without doubt the highest performance and musical P3 to date. Just some of the features include an ultra low mass micro-fibre plinth laminated with highly rigid phenolic resin laminate.

P5 Turntable from Rega. The P5 is a turntable born from the legacy of the P25. The P5 celebrates over 30 years of Rega precision crafting specialist hi-fi in Britain. And subsequently combines everything that Rega stands for, which is simply, giving you the best product in terms of quality and style at the best possible price! The P5 utilises idea's and engineering techniques used on our more expensive turntables; the aluminium surround, its complex CNC machined skeletal low mass micro-fibre plinth. Not to mention the new RB700 tonearm found on the P7. The Glass platter of the P5 is hand crafted from floated plate glass 12mm in thickness. This makes for a superb platter material which provides stability and assists in the isolation of record information against other sounds (i.e. /knocking or vibrations) and also provides excellent speed stability; thus providing increased sonic enjoyment.

P7 Turntable from Rega. The plinth is a complex CNC machined skeletal structure of medium lightweight fibre composite encased in highly ridged phenolic resin laminates - ultra lightweight, ultra rigid foundation for this high performance turntable. This results in the plinth being very strong and very light, which inturn improves the performance. The main bearing assembly is engineered to extremely tight tolerances. This results in virtually friction free rumble-less performance which, if lubricated correctly, will last your lifetime! The ceramic platter is something which we have desperately wanted to evolve from the P9 and use for other turntables, yet for a long time we have had difficulty in being able to produce such an expensive material for lower cost turntables. However, we believe this new incarnation of the ceramic platter bridges that gap! The P7 is finished in a highly attractive Aluminium metal extrusion surround. Which offers great rigidity and through clever machining produces an extremely low mass which gives a performance improvement.

DV 507 Tone Arm from Dynavector. The new MKII version of the Dynavector DV 507 tonearm has made its long-awaited debut, building on the strengths of the original DV 507 which has enjoyed the highest reputation among audiophiles world-wide since its appearance in 1984.

As it is a bi-axis inertia controlled tonearm the DV 507, no matter the type of cartridge can trace the music signal grooves cut in the recording with extreme accuracy. The DV 507 also provides superb trackability on warped recordings. Resolution and musical detailing are quite remarkable.

Blackbird from Sumiko. Designed for exceedingly low noise levels, wide dynamic range and the highest possilbe fidelity in its price class, Blackbird is destined to become an analog classic. Each cartridge is assembled using time honored, labor intensive techniques, hand calibrated and critically auditioned to meet the most rigorous standards of consistancy. The main advantage of high output moving coil cartridges is the elimination of any additional gain stages, resulting in an overall reduction of the noise floor. With 2.5mV directly driving a standard 47k Ohm RIAA phono stage, the best possible signal to noise ratio is realized. Nothing but music emerges from your most treasured recordings.

DV XV-1 from Dynavector mono cartridge has been developed due to enthusiastic requests from mono record lovers, worldwide. The XV-1s mono has not been designed as a typical, old fashioned mono cartridge, but developed as a true high fidelity component. It is designed to provide the highest performance and extract the greatest musical expression possible from mono records. The XV-1s mono follows from the innovative design and technology of the acclaimed XV-1s stereo cartridge and incorporates the following details and considerations:

Karat 17D3 and Karat 17D2 from Dynavector are the first cartridges built using 'dispersion' theory. Micro-Ridge stylus and very short (1.7mm) solid diamond cantilever give a huge reduction in 'frequency dispersion', unmatched dynamics and a high frequency extension all the way up to 100kHz. The latest patented magnet circuit design increases the output to 0.3mV with crystal clear mid-range and treble even during the largest symphonic crescendos.

JSD 6 Cartridge from EMT. The JSD series was not only developed and optimized in the laboratory but mainly in practice, partly with the assistance of committed test listeners who used their own records and partly by using legendary old record players and also the most modern ones, as well as multitude tone arms during extensive listening and comparative tests. Great importance was given to maintaining the typical characteristics of EMT, stressing in particular the know how which is based on the large experience of our specialists. Special attention as also been given to the consistent use of non exotic materials.

JSD 6 Gold Cartridge from EMT. Audiophile MC-systems developed on the occasion of the 66th Anniversary of EMT. Half-opened casing made from and milled out of a massive block of purest special aluminium. Gold-plated system components. Normed ½- inch standard fastening for the use with every high-quality tone arm. Both types use a bare diamond stylus, the JSD 5 in Gyger S, the JSD 6 in Super Fineline version.

EMT XSD15 and EMT XOD25 (mono) Cartridges from EMT. The moving coil cartridges will be delivered in an accurate and resistant light metal pressure cabinet. They are all equipped with an extensive loupe and a small screen which reflects the light of the EMT studio turntables. Out of that, a wide and bright image of the record surface appears in the loupe for an exact positioning of the stylus. The sidewise mounted holder allows an easy handling.

DRT XV-1 Cartridge from Dynavector. The original XV-1 cartridge was designed to take the reproduction of analogue recording to new heights. The XV-1 achieved a standard of performance that was clearly in a league of its own. Dynavector have always remained indifferent to the endless digital formats that purport to be the next breakthrough in music reproduction, safe in the knowledge that the vast heritage of music recorded on vinyl can easily equal, if not clearly out perform these new formats. Dynavector are seriously committed to ensure the vinyl enthusiast is well catered for and the XV-1s is further proof of this on going commitment; yet another ground breaking product, uniquely Dynavector and flagship of the brilliant Dynavector cartridge range.

At a glance, the XV-1 was always different from all cartridges that have gone before. Its magnetic circuit comprises 8 small ALNICO magnets. The magnetic path is divided into two - In the magnetic gap, a specially designed magnetic flux equalizing piece is placed. On the front yokes, magnetic stabilizing coils are wound. By this special combination, the magnetic field becomes widely homogeneous and more linear than the conventional magnetic design that is common in existing MC cartridges. The XV-1 has been awarded 'Golden Ear Award 2001' in the Absolute Sound magazine for its highly advanced technology.

Jubilee Series JSD 5 Gyger S Cartridge from EMT. Audiophile MC systems developed on the occasion of the 66th Anniversary of EMT.

Half opened casing made from and milled out of a massive block of purest special aluminum. Gold plated system components. Normed ½ inc standard fastening for the use with every quality tone arm. The JSD uses a bare diamond stylus in Gyger S.

The JSD series was not only developed and optimized in the laboratory but mainly in practice, partly with the assistance of committed test listeners who used their own records and partly by using legendary old record players and also t e most modern ones, as well as multitude tone arms during extensive listening and comparative tests. Great importance was given to maintaining the typical characteristics of EMT, stressing in particular the know how which is based on the large experience of our specialists. Special attention as also been given to t e consistent use of non exotic materials.

Debussy DAC The Debussy DAC is the future hub of your digital playback system. Debussy combines the legendary dCS Ring DAC and our patent pending (GB0817141.5) asynchronous usb technology in one box to deliver a DAC that will extract amazing performance from any digital source. Built to the highest specifications, Debussy features a sleek solid aluminium fascia, high grade aluminium casing, all metal buttons and is powered by dCS electronics. CD or Computer Audio, Debussy will extract every last bit of detail from your music collection, bringing a reality to your music that you never heard before.

Chordette Gem from Chord Electronics is the first in a new range of lower cost products designed to integrate within any existing HiFi system. The Gem has unique Bluetooth Audio receiver technology to allow the transfer of music from a Bluetooth enabled phone, PDA or personal computer. The addition of a USB port also allows direct streaming of audio from a PC. Modern phones, personal digital assistants and personal computers now have the ability to transmit high quality audio using the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile or A2DP for short. Using a custom designed Bluetooth receiver we have been able to extract and decrypt the normally unused digital audio information and input this directly into a high quality digital to analogue converter. Unlike the analogue audio outputs seen from other Bluetooth devices this gives us much better performance and enables CD like transfer of music from the Bluetooth device. Connection is a breeze and uses a very simple pairing procedure and with a range of up to 30 meters it can be used anywhere in the home.

DAC7 Digital-to-Analog Converter with USB from Audio Research.

Connect the DAC7 to your Mac, PC or music server to enjoy a higher level of resolving power and naturalness. Compressed MP3 files will sound their best ever, but your full-resolution music library will reveal a dynamic, transparent, you-are-there immediacy that is captivating. There is a sense of spaciousness with pinpoint imaging that was not previously apparent. For the growing numbers of music lovers who are tired of sorting through piles of CDs, who just want to touch or scroll down a screen to find their cherished music, the DAC7 is the prize in their search for convenience and great sound. And, the DAC7 will also bring new life and musical meaning to your traditional digital music sources, whatever they may be.

QB-9 USB Digital-to-Analog Converter from Ayre is destined to convert your computer into an uncompromised digital library of your favorite music. A simple USB connection engages the Asynchronous transfer mode ensuring accurately timed music with jitter levels over a hundred times lower than previous USB solutions. Our minimum phase digital filter and single-pass 16x oversampling technology release layers of musical resolution-uncovering the emotional soul of your music.

Cosecant V2 USB Digital DAC from Wavelength.

"The Cosecant is one of the coolest ideas I have in a long time. This allows your computer to be converted into a media central unit. That's right you can use the computer to play CD's in the CD drive. Or move songs to the hard drive and create play lists. Or you can stream music off the internet, play movies the list goes on.

One of the reasons this works so well is because ounce the track is ripped (copied) to the hard drive error free it just sounds better than any transport available.

The Cosecant does not use a USB DAC chip. It instead uses a non up/oversampling multibit dac with out the use of analog or digital filtering. The idea that what is on the disk is exactly what is going out without any math involved between disk and output."
- J. Gordon Rankin, Wavelength Audio

The Proton USB Digital DAC from Wavelength is for desktops, home audio, travel whatever! The idea is to make a dac that could run without a power supply and still sound wonderful. The idea is simple: we can use the USB power to provide for the necessities and then for the critical areas the LiION battery can supply the extra clean power for the dac and the headphone outputs. The Proton supports 24 bit data at 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96k and is indicated on the rear by four leds. The volume control icon for the headphone output will appear on the computer desktop. Setting the volume slider on the computer will result hardware in the Proton to set the analog volume control for the outputs to the desired setting.

The Brick USB Digital DAC from Wavelength. Very similar to the 'Cosecant' above, except that the output stage of the Brick is a single 12AU7A dual triode in reactor follower mode that has the great ability to deliver the goods. The Brick uses custom code developed by Wavelength Audio to support USB ASYNC mode. The Brick has a very low jitter central clock that runs the entire audio section. The output 16/44.1K of the TDA1543N2 (5% top selected) multibit dac and passive I/V is directly connected to the 12AU7A/ECC82 output tube which in turns drives the reactor follower output for excellent drive and sound.

The Crimson USB Digital DAC from Wavelength. The Crimson uses a more intellegent controller that has the capabilities of up too 24/96 operation. The Crimson has an upgradable DAC module that has the code to represent that module to it's fullest capacity. This code can be updated if in the future some changes are required. The DAC module also runs off of a battery for really low noise and the best possible operation. The battery is charged when the DAC is off or in Sleep/Standby mode.