Audio Science Review = Rebuttal and Further Thoughts

I own two other DACs purchased when I switched from the EAR Acute (2005), the COS Engineering D1v ($9000) and D2v ($5000) retail. They are gorgeous units which even my cable/equipment manufacturing friend says are also exceptionally built. However, they have a 1 second delay algorithm which blurs and expands the sound and a bypass which is relatively dry sounding.

The D1 is like the Benchmark L4 to a great extent. It is so clean and clear in bypass mode with wide frequency response, wide soundstage, dynamic. BUT-it lacks 3-D quality (minimal depth) and has a sort of sterile sound (missing body but great tonal quality). This is what it also sounded like on 3 other systems and none of my friends liked it compared to the D2v which has only a single linear power supply, single transformer, etc. compared to the beautiful D1v. It has a warm, lush sound like a CJ pre-amp. It has more limited bass and rolled off highs, less open but oh so sweet for voices and acoustic instruments. I intend to sell both now as I bought the super modified Benchmark HDR1 DAC which obliterates those two DACs and sounds like 5 figure DACs like my friend’s Ultradac ($23K), maybe better. Cost-$800 for a clean used unit and $800 in parts and labor.

P.S. I tried a dozen different transports on the COS units. The Benchmark sounded better on the three I kept by a mile. The COS units had the same sound profile on ever transport, the Benchmark shows the significant differences.

@axo1989  I've been collecting/listening to LPs for 60 years.  Digital playback has evolved to be tremendously captivating, often equal to the best vinyl.  Unless there are some performances/music that you find you can only obtain on vinyl (about 30-35% of my collection), you might prefer putting all your eggs in the digital domain.  Also, analog is not as easy to use and maintain but you probably know that. 

Same with CDs versus streaming.  At least half of my CDs will never show up streamed (1000+ private label vocals, violin and piano CDs) and many of the other 50% are not presented in as good mastering on-line.   

holmz , I thought everyone here knew how the virtual systems page works, my bad :).

It’s OK - I believe that it works different on an iPad than a computer browser.

As for measurements, I am not against measurements, I thought posting them would be interesting if we are discussing measurements any way right.

Correct.

I found Amir’s many considered comments very informative and valuable. And now they are all forever gone at the whim of AG.

This has happened many times before on this forum.

…

Yep - It is hard to see and witness thoughtful threads, albeit with some divisiveness, get deleted out of hand… seemingly on a whim.

@fleschler

However, the older DACs can be upgraded to have that 3 dimensional, full bodied and warmer sound with modification of parts. The engineering is sound as is the basic construction.

I didn’t know that. You have previously commented on a recently deleted thread on how components (eg, an amp made by Benchmark) may be upgraded from stock, and this is always intriguing.

@kota1 

we are all willing to help here, start a new thread, post your concerns, we are there for you bro, no worries :)

Sounds like you work for the government.