2. digital
  3. 138060-3787

A DAC that crushes price vs. performance ratio

I felt strongly that I wanted to inform the Gon members about a new DAC that ranks with the very best on the market regarding performance, but costs around $2,000.00.  The Lab12 DAC1 SE was compared to three reference level DACS that retail for over $12.000.00 in my review for hometheaterreview.com and was at least on the same level sonicly, if not better.  This DAC from Greece is not just "good for the money" but competes with virtually anything on the market regardless of price!

For all the details about the Lab12 DAC1 SE performance and what other DACS it was compared to take a look at the review.  If you are shopping/looking for a new digital front end to drive your system, you owe it to yourself to check this DAC out, unless you like to spend tons of more $ without getting better performance.
teajay
facten
2,874 posts
 
@mzkmxcv
" I bet it wouldn’t sound better (more accurate) than a SMSL SU-8 or Topping D50 "
What's your basis for this statement, have you listened to his Pagoda DAC? Have you compared all 3?
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@facten

Because those two are only a hair worse then the Benchmark DAC3, and the Benchmark is considered to be totally transparent (John Atkinson of Stereophile even said “Benchmark’s DAC3 HGC offers state-of-the-art measured performance. All I can say is "Wow!"”), and likely more accurate than the Pagoda.

Also, it’s a tube DAC, so it already will be colored, by initial comment was about accuracy. The Pagoda also doesn’t list any specs except of a crappy frequency response deviation, totally a joke for a >$1000 DAC, would be even a joke at $100, Schiit even provides the whole AP report for their $100 Magni 3.

Tubes don’t offer anything that can’t be done with EQ/DSP, so I’d rather have transparent gear and tune their sound to my preference rather than buy colored gear and hope it sounds good. 
 
For those that want to tune but can’t do it upstream and don’t want say a MiniDSP, the RME ADI-2 DAC has a good amount of tuning capabilities and is a good DAC.
grey9hound
1,112 posts
 
Because those two are only a hair worse then the Benchmark DAC3
So many people mess this up for some reason ... 

Than

Than is a conjunction used in comparisons:

Tom is smarter than Bill.

It’s warmer in Florida than in North Dakota.

Is she taller than you?

Yes, she is taller than I..

Then

Then has numerous meanings.

 At that point in time I wasn’t ready then.

Will you be home at noon? I’ll call you then.

Next, afterward I went to the store, and then to the bank

Do your homework and then go to bed



facten
2,874 posts
 
@mzkmxcv

" Because those two are only a hair worse then the Benchmark DAC3, and the Benchmark " - based upon what?
" and likely more accurate than the Pagoda. " - sounds like you actually haven't heard one to really know one way or the other


mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@facten  
 
I am 98% certain the Pagoda is not more accurate than the Benchmark. If you have proof otherwise (as the company selling it sure doesn’t state anything meaningful), I would like to see it. I have proof that the <$300 DACs mentioned are pretty much audibly transparent.
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