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DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

Okay...in another thread I promised to do a side-by-side evaluation of the Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap vs the Rockna Wavelight. Due to the astonishing incompetence of DHL this has been delayed. At the moment, I have a plethora of DACs here and am going to do a broader comparison.

I am going to do a compare of the Rockna Wavelight, Rockna Wavedream Signature, Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap, Chord Hugo 2, Chord Hugo TT2, Bricasti M3, Bricasti M1 Special Edition, Weiss 501 and the internal DAC card for an AVM A 5.2 Integrated amp as a baseline.

For sake of consistency, I am going to use that same AVM integrated amp driving Vivid Kaya 45s. I may branch out and do some listening on other speakers (Verdant Nightshade of Blackthorn and/or Wilson Benesch Vertexes) but want to use the Vivids for every compare as they are the fullest range speakers I have here. For sake of consistency I will use a Chord 2Go/2Yu connected via an Audioquest Diamond USB as a renderer. The only exception is the Hugo 2 which has a 2Go directly attached to it. I will use a Roon Nucleus+ as a server in all cases.

My plan is to use the same five songs on every DAC; In a Sentimental Mood from Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Be Still My Beating Heart from Sting, Liberty from Anette Askvik, Duende from Bozzio Levin Stevens and Part 1 of Mozart String Quartet No 14 in G Major from the Alban Berg Quartet. The intent is to touch on different music types without going crazy.

I will take extensive notes on each listening session and write up a POV on the strengths of each unit. I am going to start this this Friday/Saturday and will be writing things up over the next month or so. If you have thoughts, comments or requests, I will be happy to try and accommodate. The one thing I am not going to do is make the list of songs longer as that has an exponential impact on this and make everything much harder. If and when other DACs come in on trade I may add to the list through time.
128x128verdantaudio
richh84
15 posts
 

@verdantaudio

this thread is amazing thank you for putting it together, I am looking for my next dac, i just sold my lampi horizon. all my current top picks seem to be represented here.

What would be your current top pick for pure musicality? In your opinion

If i had to list my priorities in order- musicality , tonal density , soundstage width and depth, dynamics , flow / prat, detail ( i am a sucker for extremely detailed string instrument renders)

Looking forward to more reviews.

 

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 

@richh84 So...this is tough.  My feeling is the Playback MPD 8 with the MPT 8 transport is going to give you the most musical experience.  There is something incredibly musical and soulful about the Playback DACs and they are at their very best with the matching transport as that is best support for PLink.  

That said, if soundstage is the concern I would lean towards Aries Cerat assuming you are not interested in DSD playback.  The Aries Cerat has a bigger image and dynamics are extraordinary.  It lacks the soulfulness of the Playback but makes up for it by delivering a jaw-dropping image.  If you are into DSD and wanted a similar image I would look at the EMM DA2 v2.  

For detail, the Weiss Helios is insane.  I have never heard better separation of instruments and within an extraordinarily deep image.  This will give you string instrument renders that are as good as I have ever heard.  

Based on your priorities above, Playback would be what I would go with but I suggest the others as there is a balancing and tradeoffs even at this level.  In all cases, each of these units needs to be matched with an exceptional server to get the most out of them and that will vary, even among the three above

richh84
15 posts
 

@verdantaudio

Thank you for this insight , any experience or plans to test the Berkeley Alpha DAC Series 3 or Reference Series 3. ive heard incredible things.

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 

@richh84 I don't have a plan right now to test the Berkeley DACs.  I am not a Berkeley dealer and have not had a chance to get one in on trade.  I have heard very good things about them but can't say I have ever heard one of their DACs.  

earthbound
133 posts
 

Having followed this thread while shopping for a dac, it opened my eyes to some great options. I did some research and ended up calling Scott. After discussing what I was looking for, he gave me some advice and I ended up with the Rockna Wavedream Edition. My previous dac was a modded Cambridge cxn v2. I truly can’t describe the difference in sound that the Rockna produces. I was starting to think I wasn’t going to be able to achieve the sound I had envisioned my system was capable of when I started the process. After rolling some tubes and the dac breaking in a bit, or my ears, I can say I’ve never been more satisfied. I’ve found great synergy with the Aric Audio Custom pset, Super 6sn7 Linestage, Rockna and Audio Note speakers. Really produces a beautiful, clear, natural sound. Thanks Scott for your patience and help. Aric too! 

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