more might come to mind and I will add them. Click to expand. Going by the performance of the Mola Mola Makua (pre with dac module) it will be extremely good. Yeah, im thinking a post lock-down GTG is in order. I say take what everyone post when a grain of salt, because an individual's preference may be different than yours. Mike, Scott has been absolutely wonderful in his support, despite my purchasing the Found-Music 2A3s used (from Art S.) He has visited once and is planning another visit after the trip your way. Right now my favorite music player is from the same manufacturer of the Phasure NOS1a DAC: Stealth LPS running XXHighEnd software; again with the same caveat that I haven't heard a lot of the other highly regarded music players in my system. The reasoning behind the two clocks dealing with different frequency families is that music is mostly recorded within multiples of the 44.1kHz family or the 48kHz family and having a clock dealing with each family minimises loss. It's embarrassing. Astrostar here, said it completely blew away any dac he had before, and mind you, he has the entry level AC model. An FPGA does not have analog output, in the Chord DACs, the FPGA handles digital processing only, not conversion from digital to analog. Up to 32 bit 768kHz Australian Business Number 38 650 151 296, Digital Sources, DACs, and Computer Audio, Chord Dave vs Mola Mola Makua/Tambaqui vs Emm Labs Dac2x vs Rockna Wavedream. And I make Best DAC Quality Ranking list. What is available on models higher up the MSB food chain is the ability to add an analogue module so that you can use the unit as a true preamplifier and DAC. It is a pretty DAC but usability is left behind. This all-American theme is continued in the companys PCB Shop where they use circuit boards produced for them in Silicon Valley, which are then made ready for the automated adding of the smaller components and hand-fitting bulkier components before washing and inspection. Sonically, it is akin to the old straight wire with gain only in the digital realm. So I personally prefer to listen to different DACs just like I prefer to listen to analog as well as digital. In my assessment the Makua offered a more open and spacious sound. When connecting to the MScaler, Dual-BNC was used on the chord dacs with shawline digital BNC cables. The Dave is VERY lovely on PCM, and pretty decent on DSD, but DSD is not its raison d'etre. Focal Utopia ~ LCD i4 ~ ETHER FLOW open/C ~ LCD-2.2/XC ~ Nighthawk ~ K10 custom ~ JH Angie, Chord mscaler // Chord TT2 // Oppo PM-1 (Artisan silver headphone cable) // Beyerdynamic DT880 600 Ohm // WAVE Stream bnc cables // Kef LS50 Meta. If I got a great $20K DAC for less, I would not object. It would be absolute suicide for an audio distributor to Supported Formats (Depending on Input) 44.1 kHz to 3.072kHz PCM up to 32 bits 1xDSD, 2xDSD, 4xDSD, 8xDSD Accepts DSD via DoP on all inputs, Digital Inputs 1x RCA Coaxial 1x XLR 1x Word-Sync Out 2x Toslink 2x Isolated slots for optional modules, XLR Outputs Voltage: 3.57 Vrms Maximum Impedance 300 High Gain setting Impedance 150 Low Gain setting. Hope to try different formats on both DACs to see what works best in my system. California crafted in-house from an aluminum billet, the enclosure feels solid yet refined. I wanted to know for anyone who has heard it have you also heard a DAC that approached it in sonic performance? Paired with performance increases, our modular design ethos increases flexibility for future updates and product support, guaranteeing a long-term product investment. First let me preface my comments by stating that I have not heard a lot of high end DACs in my system. Thank you for posting! I'd also look at the Mola-Mola Tambaqui and the new dCS Bartok. In that price range, you would be mad not to addthe MSB Premier DAC to your list as well. It seems to take in zeros and ones and then somehow make sense of these and just convert them into faithful reproductions of the recording though me not being at the recording of any of the records I listened to, thats my assumption coming into play. Height with feet: 68 mm Weight: 8.2 kg, Accessories included: Manual Remote control Aluminum MSB USB charging cable 4 X Spikes and Cups 4 X plastic inserts Power connector splitter, MERASON FRROT DAC REVIEW The Merason Frrot DAC costing 995 isn't the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Switzerland. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Its a clever thing meaning that their products are repairable and upgradeable for example, you can have a card that is set up for single-ended outputs or balanced XLR outputs (for review we have the balanced version). The clock can be seen as being the heart of the DAC and once again the clocks are made in-house. DAC Comparison Reference DAC Modules 4x Hybrid DAC Clock The Femto 33 Digital Inputs 4x User Replaceable Input Slots Optical and Coaxial input module Included Analog Outputs Preamp XLR Output Module - 150 Impedance RCA output available with external adapter Analog Inputs XLR Analog Expansion Modules RCA or XLR Input RCA or XLR Output I have heard the Dave and EMM Labs DAC2x up against aMakua that I subsequently purchased. Conversely, you could spend a lot more and not gain a great deal in real terms. The only other items in the chain were the Stack streamer and a pretty well-sorted network setup. As the topic suggests, looking for comparisons on the above Dacs from people who have atleast heard and compared 2 of these dacs. It's too damn expensive, full stop. For some folk, a highly resolving and accurate system may well be described as being over-analytical, and on the other side of the audio fence, some will suggest that some systems sound nice but flawed. The Chord Qutest DAC has the same DAC architecture and filters as the Chord Hugo 2. Directstream, Bricasti M1, Jeff Rowland Aeris, Chord Dave, and today I September 6, 2016 in DAC - Digital to Analog Conversion. This is how MSB describe these modules: Its best to think of our DAC modules as a black box: the modules take the raw digital data in and output a continuous voltage. Is this what passes for high end? The SQ from DAC headphone output is lower than the best headphone amplifier but that kind of amplifier costs close to DAVE itself. The MSB simply offered more of everything and to my ears proved again that a true multi bit converter/ladder DAC is superior to delta/sigma or FPGA DACs. At MSB, we believe excellence is a promise worth keeping. What makes you want to upgrade from DAVE? have had the opportunity to A/B many more pieces of equipment than any consumer Click here to download your copy, At 11000 plus taxes as tested the Lampizator Big 7 is certainly no budget DAC, but does it deliver on sonic ability? Wherever I read I see unanimous praise for the MSB Select II. The Pro USB is offered as a stand alone module for users who already have an MSB DAC that is equipped with a Pro ISL input as well as a starter kit with a Pro ISL input and everything you need to get up and running. in this forum and they are all very good dacs. Chord states "DAVE is the most advanced DAC we have ever made. The Discrete DAC Features - MSB Technology The Discrete DAC Refined sound. Is it too hot to touch? This is purely speculation based on browsing the internet over the years and internalising pro/con reviews from users. I would just add budget and the other components in the system are major factors to consider. You'll be shocked by how much you lose by going through a separate preamp. There is a real sense of spectacle and scale when the MSB is in the system. I also looked at the MSB Discrete DAC but everything thing was an extra cost option (USB, AES/EBU, power supply, etc.,) and expensive. The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. The Discrete is a genuine high fidelity DAC and a fabulously built one to boot, add in the modular input flexibility and you have a pretty stunning product with excellent future proofing. and this is borne out in the sound that this DAC brings to the party. There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. HiFiMan Ananda, SR Orange fuses, Taiko Audio Daiza platforms, Startech FMC optical network link, Oyaide EE f/s2.0 V2 mains spurs, Akiko Audio tuning sticks, GIK Acoustic TriTraps/panels. Fair enough if you know some of the posters here and their listening preferences. All rights reserved. That is not to say that a preamp doesn't produce value with respect to other sound quality characteristics that may affect the personal appeal of the musical reproduction (e.g., soundstage), or that the extra transparency won't reveal system issues, but there is no question that transparency is higher when going straight to the amps. The video cannot be shown. As a matter of fact, I'd appreciate getting your impressions. Dave gets a "thumbs up" overall from me though. Besides that the MSB looks so much better. I don't have that kind of money. Our publication is supported by its audience. Main Menu But the differences between great DACs is small. The MSB Discrete, as I mentioned, came with two power supplies but you can operate it with just one with the supplied doodad. Chord Dave vs Mola Mola Makua/Tambaqui vs Emm Labs Dac2x vs Rockna Wavedream IGNORED Chord Dave vs Mola Mola Makua/Tambaqui vs Emm Labs Dac2x vs Rockna Wavedream . How r they comparing to the MSB Select 2 and Trinity? The bottom line for me is that great DACs can make a difference over good DACs. We await Phase 2 where all DACs are assessed using upsampled data via your Lumin U1 to establish ranking and the preferred format through each. personal preference." I would say go for one of the other MSB ModelsThe Reference is half of the Select dac and the premier and discrete dacs are stunning performers for their price level Just in case it's not obvious, toetapaudio is a Mola Mola Dealer. The remainder For such a high entry price I wouldn't take the gamble to go on some recommendation by a stranger whose tastes I don't know. Now to include the HMS. I hope to also have an opportunity to listen to a T+A DAC8 (for DSD512) and a Chord Dave (DSD256) in my system soon (with HQPlayer). comes down to knowing what you are actually trying to achieve in a high end In my assessment the Makua offered a more open and spacious sound. There is no such thing as a "FPGA DAC"! of the 5 systems are completely different, our rooms are completely different As it stands, the Discrete offers a very good solution should you be a music lover that plays only digital files and you can go straight into a power amp. If I had been responsible for coding that display I would never tell anyone. And if I had to guess (given I haven't heard both), I'd guess it outperforms the Tambaqui. I think people buy what they like. In that time, weve pushed the industry forward with each product weve built, redefining whats possible. but with digital things change quickly, and a month ago I got a new server, the SGM Extreme. Ill go through the modules included in the Discrete DAC and explain a little about each. Playing Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jacksons Your Daddy Loves You from the Winter in America album gave me the same impression of a reach-out-and-touch soundscape with incredibly well-defined positions in the mix and a whole load of detail the over-driven sound of the electric piano at around a minute forty really stood out as being faithful to the recording; a case of high-fidelity highlighting a low-fidelity artefact? There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. By clicking links on our site, we may earn affiliate commission, but our editorial remains entirely independent and unbiased. as my Select II sits it would list for $116,450. In my listening tests, I could detect no attribute that made it sound special. Thank you, Mike. What I do know is that the MSB brings an excellent level of performance by way of neutrality to a system that allows other parts of the system to do their thing its sort of the digital equivalent of a very (very) good cartridge. Can I ask how you procured all those DACs? Price 9k in the U.K. The other issue is preference. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. After reading that review, and remembering the reverence APL had back in the day, alongside the Stahl Tek and Trinity dacs that were the heavy hitters 10-15 yrs ago, I was just curious as to whether . in this forum and they are all very good dacs. The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. I wired it all up and the unit lit up but I could get no sound out of it whatsoever. Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/absolute-top-tier-dac-for-standard-res-redbook-cd.