Thanks Mitch. It will be interesting to see what you think of the upgraded chokes and SPDIF upgrades. I have a B4B on order also. Like you I wanted to try before committing to the expense of the Evo; in my case I tried a V2 to see if I could glean what the general character or house sound, if you will, was of the Mojo DACs. Even with the simpler product I really enjoyed the overall presentation. Musical flow, tone, overall balance were very much to my liking.
DAC Choices - $5,000 to $7,000
What are the current top DAC choices in the approximately $5-$7K price range (new or used) that I should look at as possible upgrades to my current Metrum Adagio?
Having an on-board volume control is not a factor as I can operate my system either way. If I wanted to spend more I would look at Totaldac, Rockna Wavedream Signature, or one of the other top-end contenders, but I selected the price range to achieve a sound quality that is consistent with the rest of my system and because I don't want to spend more due to the still evolving nature of digital technology. I do like the more natural sound
(to my ears)
of NOS R2R DACs. So far, I have considered the three below, but none seem to be a slam-dunk upgrade from the Adagio, which still sounds pretty good in my system. The decision is complicated by having to "buy to try" so that I can hear one in my system. Maybe now is not the time for an upgrade. Any thoughts?
- Denafrips Terminator w/DSP board - Reportedly has the full body/dense tone type of sound I like, but also has a high'ish output impedance
- Holo May KTE - Reportedly measures great for an R2R DAC and has strong reviews
- Rockna Wavelight - Some reviewers like it but others put it in the middle of the pack for the price
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I have worked things out with Benjamin and have taken the plunge on a new Mojo Mystique EVO B4B 21 (in the 2020 chassis). The wait would be more difficult except that he is letting me keep my Mv3 trade-in unit until after I receive the new EVO DAC, which I appreciate. I understand the EVO is likely to be an evolutionary (rather than revolutionary) improvement over the Mv3, because the basic design has not changed. However, I have heard what is possible from evolutionary improvements through my SMc Audio gear so I will be excited to hear the EVO when it gets here. There hasn’t been any activity on the previously linked EVO thread since September so not sure if that means nobody here has received a new EVO unit since then or if they are all too happy enjoying their new EVOs to post. The only professional review I have found so far is the one on Audiophilia although The Sound Advocate was supposed to have reviewed an EVO in December. |
Been playing with USB cables here. After using I2S for so long, I forgot how much USB "stuff" I had accumulated that I could try. Cables by Totaldac, Curious, and Wireworld, plus the dual run Gemini cable by ifi. I also have the W4S Recovery, ifi USB filter, and the ifi iPower that can be used to separate the power leg of a USB cable, particularly the Gemini. My Antipodes DX G3 server has both powered and unpowered USB ports so I can use the Gemini cable without the iPower by connecting the power leg to the powered USB port and the signal leg attached to the unpowered port, so the signal does not travel in proximity of the power, or I can use the iPower but that requires another short USB cable between the powered port of the DX to the iPower (I have very short USB cables by both Curious and Wireworld for that purpose). No clear winner yet.... Curious (yellow) - Really nice body, good tone, smooth, a little "thick" sometimes Wireworld Starlight 7 - Smooth but maybe a little thin sounding ifi Gemini - Good but not great across the board, a little recessed, competent Totaldac d1 - Clear, good tone, near-neutral on the thick/thin scale, quite musical I am starting to remember why I didn't like USB...none are perfect (at least yet) and while differences are mostly subtle, I do hear differences. So far, I think the best two are either Totaldac d1 (probably first place) and Curious with or without the Recovery and with or without the ifi USB filter. I think the benefit of the Recovery may be a little greater with the Curious but the benefit of using the Recovery and/or the ifi USB filter are subtle at best, and maybe a wash, so I need to listen more to be certain. Interesting that Benjamin has discussed with me how much better S/PDIF can sound through a good Ethernet to XLR, AES/EBU, or S/PDIF converter, which is why he has included the S/PDIF signal path upgrades on all future EVOs, including the one I am getting. I know on my Metrum Adagio, the I2S input from the Ambre converter sounded best, but was very closely followed by AES/EBU from the same converter, which was a little bolder with great bass. I will be very interested in hearing AES/EBU out of the Ambre and into the EVO. |
@mitch2, can you explain the differences you hear between the V3's SPDIF and USB interface? I've been using SPDIF (with a Shunyata Anaconda ZTRON cable) for years, and the Mystique V3 is the first DAC I've tried with USB. I actually prefer the SPDIF (fed from a Bricasti M5). I find the SPDIF to offer more detail and excitement while the USB to be more recessed and mellow. If my system was more forward or bright, I maybe would prefer the USB. To be fair I have no idea how my Luna Orange USB cable compares with my Shunyata cable as I've not compared it with any other USB cables. The M5 might just sound better with SPDIF too. It's nice having a streamer with multiple outputs but it is extra work to find the best match with your current DAC, not counting cable differences... Cheers |
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