Mola Mola is another well built great sounding Digital Audio Forum: DAC, Transports, Digital Processing Forum, 4x20A circuits | Audioquest Niagara 3000 | Paul Hynes SR4T + HDPlex HD500 PSUs -> Music PC w/JCAT XE nic, HQPlayer, Roon, Tidal / Qobuz | HDPlex HD100 PSU -> OCX clock + EtherRegen | Aqua Acoustic Quality LinQ streamer | Aqua Acoustic Quality Formula xHD Rev. I hate to repeat myself, but there are no absolutes in audio, only preferences. You absolutely can say that you prefer other DAC's to the Berkeley Alpha Reference. Unfortunately not, I'm going the second hand route as I've done with most of my setup. I had the DAVE for 3years, it is an amazing DAC. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary tells me that the definition of high-fidelity (HiFi) is the reproduction of an effect (such as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original and it would seem to be reasonable to assume that this is the goal of audiophiles around the world. 2 DAC | Audionet Pre G2 preamp | Audionet Max mono blocks | Vivid Audio Giya G2 Series 2 | 4 JL Audio Fathoms | Echole ICs /SCs / Siltech Classic 550L jumpers, Shunyata PCs / Eth. Did I mention the remote is perfect? This is purely speculation based on browsing the internet over the years and internalising pro/con reviews from users. So, essentially, around the back of this DAC we have XLR output modules, dual power inputs (more on this in a moment) the digital input module (XLR, RCA, and two optical), and the USB input. But the majority of the time all 6 of Once complete there are measurements and functional tests before the final products are inspected, cleaned, and packed up ready to be shipped, but not before a white glove inspection by either Jonathan or Daniel. Id imagine that upscaling refers to increasing bit-depth (like from 16 to 24 bits) which adds "vertical" resolution to the waveform in theory, improving amplitude resolution making subtle low-level detail more natural and audible (among other things) if done correctly. Stainless steel buttons arrayed around an elegant volume wheel to optimize performance and response. The sonic signature is detailed and yet easy to listen to, with the Discrete bringing a sense of the recordings scale (big or small) to the listening experience. - Roon Endpoint. Sign up for a new account in our community. I cant help with comparisons of two of these DACs, but I did hear the Tambaqui up against the dCS Bartok and it was a pretty close call, but ultimately the dCS sounded more analogue and more immersive.However, this was at a time when both units were a similar price. This very pleasant sound I was experiencing, it could be argued, was to a large degree down to the choice of amplifier and what that added to the mix, and I do think this is a valid argument. If I got a great $20K DAC for less, I would not object. subjective to a point and that is why we do blind testing and A/B testing with Roon/Jriver 22 -> Ayre QX-5 Twenty -> Ayre AX-5 Twenty -> B&W N802D (Transparent Cables). MSB Discrete Dac with one additional basic power supply. sounds just like the Dave. Copyright Hifi Pig and Hifi Pig Magazine, Big Pig Media LLP. Thank you all for your answers. I suppose that the vast majority of people who listen for pleasure at home are looking for a balance between the two, and whilst I still maintain we are most likely to hear the biggest effect in a system by changing transducers, every element in the chain of sound will affect the final sound and, in a digital system, I think the DAC you choose can have a huge effect on the final sound. Like the rest of the DACs in the MSB range, the Select DAC is modular in its architecture with each of the modules being produced in house, as outlined above. Guess what I am trying to say is: preamps are important. This kind of sound really appeals to me and was really excellent to experience on lots of tunes, but was especially evident on tracks from Rumours with every part of the mix being identifiable as unique. The USB module is completely electrically isolated and is again a standalone module capable of 32 bit#768kHz, MQA decoding and 8X DSD. When connecting to the MScaler, Dual-BNC was used on the chord dacs with shawline digital BNC cables. Now, this is an important and quite a cool lesson in what is going on with the two PSUs. Firstly, that was a very impressive list of high end components you have listened to. By This DAC is 11,000 and as such, it is a considerable investment to make, but I would suggest that this is not stupid money for the kind of transparency and clarity it brings. We are This is disabled if you are outputting to a preamplifier. Fair enough if you know some of the posters here and their listening preferences. what Im saying is that comparing dacs also must take into account of all the interface advantages of each particular dac. I have listened to MSB Analog DAC and Diamond DAC IV but not in the same setup as DAVE. will every hear. You are using an out of date browser. that it is difficult to say you have the best in regard to dacs but Rockna is As a contented Qutest user, I would have hoped for "improved", performance from the Dave. Would I pay extra for the second supply? I'm looking for suggestions on DACs I should listen to as possible replacement of my Chord Dave. You'll be shocked by how much you lose by going through a separate preamp. 2. They're very back ordered and are a pro unit with balanced only outputs and no remote but oh my do they sound spectacular. The only thing that I'd really like to see added here is an Aries Cerat. You could try some of the newer dacs that has gotten good reviews. The MSB simply sounded more real to my ears and offered a more convincing soundstage and tonality and all the tiny informations in the music where integrated in the musical flow whereas the DAVE simply sounded flat and not realistic to my ears and even lacked those tiny informations. Price 9k in the U.K. After a year of listening to various components I'm content. What effect does reconstruction filter have? I just heard DAVE directly connected to MacBook Pro via USB without any expensive cables, headphone amplifier, power conditioner. It's easy! StereoNET (Australia) is part of an international network of publications owned wholly by Sound Media Group (Australia). The Base module has two outputs (high and low) depending on whether you are outputting to a preamplifier or directly to a power amplifier. However, there are also products that manage to straddle both sides of the electric fence (whilst being careful not to electrocute their nether regions) and give us a tremendously enjoyable reproduction of a recording whilst remaining true to the source material. Directstream, Bricasti M1, Jeff Rowland Aeris, Chord Dave, and today I What else should one expect? Unless they have the exact same components as the end user, it's impossible to tell that customer how component X will sound in their system. More to follow. and build quality is also excellent. All in all the Discrete DAC is beautiful looking, minimal, easy to set up (its all but plug and play if you turn both the PSUs on) and it feels like a proper bit of audio engineering. I have personally not observed this - with either the DAVE or my Mojo. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Regular readers will appreciate all that is taken from the MSB website and I make no apologies for not really understanding the electronics. 2001-2023 Head-Fi.org. Personally we have A/B 76 different digital front ends. there are others I know about but Ive not heard them recently. Thank you for posting! You are using an out of date browser. Well, you may not have heard a lot of high-end DAC's in your system, but the one's you've listed are pretty darned good. Yes, definitely, as it is those extra tiny little bits of detail that adds the cherry on top of an already rather splendid slice of musical cake brought out on tracks like the audio show mainstay Keith Dont Go from Acoustic Live by Nils Lofgren. Of the ones you mentioned I'd be most tempted by the Emm Labs DAC 2x though if you can get a used higher-end Esoteric, you should jump on it. Equipped with high-visibility and a wide viewing angle, the display is both easy-to-read and stunning, exhibiting our love for intuitive features. The other issue is preference. The Base module is used on the two lower DACs (including this one) and then the Preamp Output Stage for the top two DACs in the range. The SQ from DAC headphone output is lower than the best headphone amplifier but that kind of amplifier costs close to DAVE itself. I have heard the Dave and EMM Labs DAC2x up against aMakua that I subsequently purchased. In my listening tests, I could detect no attribute that made it sound special. "OK, it would be. The Discrete DAC, The Premier DAC, The Reference DAC, The Select DAC II, Theater Master. The biggest question about this device is, Yeah listened to the same HEk V2 and Chord Dave with. @shkong78 how good is the dave + mscaler vs msb? Also, it is worth noting I heard the v1 DAC 2X, not the v2. And this level of detail the MSB Discrete brings to the listening experience was carried through everything I listened toand I listened to this DAC a lot, with it being the only thing I used to for a solid two weeks. Perhaps thats a bit of an odd example for me to use as its a bit World Music but you are also made aware of the rightness of timing on percussive techno tracks. Stuart Smith finds out. 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. Hifi Pig is part of the Big Pig Media LLP group of companies. Anyway, the little bit of extra detail on the strings, the attack, and decay are all there to be heard and its a marvelous thing to listen to. which make some people prefer this one to MSB Select II Point 85 Chord Dave and Mscaler (or Blue II transport) This one give transparent and 3D soundstage with excellent details. When a dealer post something you have to take it with a enormous grain of salt. But even with great preamps, a great DAC in a low noise environment, will produce a more transparent sound going direct to the amps than through the preamp. DLNA Protocol. And what streamer are you using to feed the DAC? This is a review, detailed measurements and listening tests of CHORD DAVE combination DAC and headphone amplifier. Concluding that there is some kind of problem with using an FPGA vs. what MSB does is not technically supportable. This puts it up against some serious competition! I hear the new Ayre QX-5 Twenty gives the DAVE a run for its money at $8950 but that is just hearsay. It is bested easily by DACs at $150. I can see the problem with this unit. I think my DAVE sounds great with everything. JavaScript is disabled. In comparison to spdif which feels more 3D but relatively smaller sound stage, with better separation, vocals are more focused/accurate, everything sounds more evenly balanced. Each clock is made up of two independent clocks but only one is used at any given time so as not to add unwanted noise to the circuit. I havent heard the Rockna. and the MSB Select II has a huge advantage over other dacs with its modularity and in-house development which promotes, in a very timely way, keeping the product at the very tip top cutting edge of digital interface developments. You might want to consideradding oneof Chord's Upscalers, either HugoM scaler, or the Blu Mk. You'll be shocked by how much you lose by going through a separate preamp. - MQA decoding. Jon Hopkins Music For Psychedelic Therapy was a beautifully enveloping experience, made all the more so as sounds come and go in the soundstage in a somewhat more solid way than without the usual DAC. The DACs are individually shielded and thermally-bonded and multiple units are used per channel, which MSB tells us increases performance and lowers output impedance. With two prime DACs, the MSB Discrete yields an unprecedented level of detail that reproduces the musicality, soundstage and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you. It's my understanding that the Wavedream only Is it too hot to touch? If I had been responsible for coding that display I would never tell anyone. The SQ is amazingly good. This hobby is "highly subjective", influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions; therefore you can A/B a million different components and come to a completely different conclusion on how it sounds compared to another listener. digital front ends. Perhaps you should consider the Accuphase DC-37 currently for sale in the classifieds? 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. I could easily live with any of these. Over the air updates will ensure that your renderer always has the latest capabilities and ultimate convenience. Its headphone amplifier is good but no match for higher powered units. And I make Best DAC Quality Ranking list. Never say never, but I reckon 99.9% of folk would get to the Discretes level of performance and not be able to justify another 110K to achieve, what I am guessing would be marginal gains though I have not experienced the Select and so cannot say for sure that this would be the case and it may be a total revelation is sonic engineering. This is a very odd one to describe but came to the fore on tracks like Pan Eros from World Of Drums and Percussion. It seems to me that manufacturers are jacking up the price for the perception of quality. And in the case of a great DAC with great amps in a system with very low noise, going direct to the amps can be magical. connection because it eliminates some parts and gets you closer to a direct http://www.computeraudiophile.com/members/mikejazz/, funded this campain: http://igg.me/at/geekpulseaudio/x/5216671. Some silly sausage plugged a white power cable into a black device. The MSB Discrete, as I mentioned, came with two power supplies but you can operate it with just one with the supplied doodad. But the differences between great DACs is small. @shkong78 Thanks for sharing your listening impressions of the Lampizator Pacific vs the MSB DACs as well as what you miss about the Pacific vs your Chord combo. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Of course this DAC is super pricey and out of the reach of many (including me). Watts is avidly not reading this in anticipation of the video version he won't watch. Hope to try different formats on both DACs to see what works best in my system. If so I'd recommend the Aqua Formula xHD and the TotalDAC d1-Seven. Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by mtoc, Jun 9, 2016. That statement makes sense in an analog paradigm. It is an unassuming but very nicely put together component that has had a great deal of thought put into the architecture of the parts that make it up. We feel However, there is nothing wrong with "taking" recommendations, which help me build a list that I can use to research then find a way to audition my shortlist. The DAC has two modes; multi-bit PCM and single-bit discrete DSD mode. About Chord Vs Dac Discrete Msb Dave . Up to 8X DSD Couldn't agree more. JavaScript is disabled. dCS Bartok>Chord DAVE>MSB discrete discreteR2R R2R DAVE BartokdCSBartok By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. The Chord DAVE was also on my list, but I decided to pass (my Chord retailer was very 'pushy' and not helpful). Tellurium Silver Diamond USB and Chord Blu. Yeah, im thinking a post lock-down GTG is in order. The DAVE is very resolving, but thinner tonally in comparison to the EMM Labs. Aurender N10 is still not a USB only dedicated streamer so you will not hear what USB audio is fully capable off through Ms/Dave. But DAVE also seems to me to highlight the original recording so if the recording is flat, the playback sounds flat (still with great accurate timbre) but if the recording really showcase the soundstage and the 3-dimensionality of the instruments and vocals, DAVE really portrays that well. It would have been a different outcome though with the Cyrus pre-amp I previously owned, which cast a veil over everything. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. And this is what separates the very good from the excellent piece of audio equipment. I've also learned that a DAC's performance will depend heavily on the music player. - Up to 32 bit - 768kHz. With the Bartok now quite a few $$$ more, the Tambaqui represents a fantastic price v performance ratio that would be at home in most highly resolving systems. I like all this attention to detail and the MSB website suggests a company that is massively proud of its American heritage and of the products they make.
When You Don T Respect Your Pastor,
Andrew Katrinak Obituary,
Is There A Contact Lens Shortage,
Mypay Password Suspended,
Data Lineage Vs Data Mapping,
Articles M
Comments are closed.