UPDATE
FINALE?
Ive decided to settle on or with, the e One DAC 3.
This was indeed a really close call, and a very tuff decision for me too. Only two DACs were listened too
The DAC3 & the DA10. All the same devices and so forth were used on each. The one exception is the DA 10 comes with ONLY XLR analog outputs. A minor change within the unit needs be made for use in SE mode
Lavry Eng. Made that arrangement for me as a matter of course and at no extra charge. Adapters also were required for SE operation and at added cost. Both of the DACs were tried in SE configuration. No side by side A/B trials were done due to timing and shipping issues
but the comparisons were one right after the other and the same software was used for each comparison.
Not every thing Ive bought and added to my system justifies its price to performance quotient. Some add only marginally, others simply are different. The e One uses finesse, and relies on transparency to get your attention. The Lavry DA 10 uses flair, and a colorful presentation to affect the listener.
Undeniably better in some areas, and not so in other ones, the e One DAC3 gained the job over the DA 10 due to its remote control use as a preamp, its greater bottom end performance and its slightly better imaging placement. The sound scapes of both were impressive. These thoughts were consistent using each DAC as a source only..
and yes, theres the added features of a USB interface, and both XLR & RCA outs on the Bel Canto unit, but I didnt see that as a major deal maker or breaker.
Technically speaking, the DA 10 handles word lengths of 16 to 24 bit
and sampling frequencies from 32KHz to 192 Khz., has a headphone jack, polarity inversion, mono listening modes, and a manual volume control.
The e One DAC 3 does 16 to 24 bit word lengths, and 32Khz to 96 Khz, handling only PCM INFO, via the SPDIF inputs. USB handles 16 bits from 32Khz to 48Khz onl doesnt allow for polarity inversion, mono listening mode, nor does it have a headphone jack. It also has both types of analog outputs, XLR & RCA.
Using the added features of the DAC3, things became unfair. AS a preamp, the DAC3 showed its audiofoolishness characteristics undeniably. Spot on placement of images, ambient retrieval, enhanced bass slam and resolution, and depth of stage info
all were a bit better than the DA 10s rendering of them
. And well they should be, looking at the price differential!
Used solely as a DAC, the e One DAC 3 prevailed by degrees only, over the DA 10, save the bottom end performance increase which was incontestably superior.
In terms of pure blatant musical appeal, the Lavry gets my vote. Im solid on that point. The DA 10s midrange is lovely. Vocalists are simply rendered with great immediacy and that goose bumpy action gets to getting on very often. It comes close too on many other areas and that closeness complicated and exacerbated my final choice. Yours may be different however. Keys for me were found in the better bass impact, and the remote preamp facilities of the DAC 3. Period.
One could say I drafted by needs and a strong argument could well be had there.
If the Lavry DA 10 only had a remote volume control, I would likely have kept it and not thought of interviewing other DACs and saved myself a good amount of money too. The people at Lavry Engineering, though more pointed to the professional recording industry, are quite accessible, immensely forthcoming and very friendly. It didnt matter if I was just gathering research, or had questions regarding operation and integration, each call was handled within a pleasant friendly, and professional atmosphere. Not once did I get put to voice mail. My emails were all replied to near immediately as well.
If my system were purely solid state, the DA 10 might still be here
BUT Ive an all tubes system
for the moment
So both it and I could stand up to the higher resolution & diminished euphonic quality (as the result IMHO) yet still remain well satisfied. By comparison as well, the DAC3 is leaner discernibly, yet quite entertaining and involving. Detail, resolution , and musical cues abound, though the presentation does not come off untoward. I detected no added brittleness, etch, grain, or brightness in spite of the clearer window to the music to be had from the DAC 3. It was simply not as full sounding as was the DA 10.
Only the poorest recorded CDs came off as still very poor
with either DAC, but the edge there goes to the DA 10, but they are tolerable on the DAC3 too
so your CD collection wont be truncated by the purchase of either DAC. Those better CDs are just gonna get more playing time.
If greater resolution, flexibility, and bottom end performance are the needs, and you got the extra $$$ do check out the DAC 3.
If adequate bass, musical involvement, and $$$ is a real concern, make a point of checking out the Lavry DA 10 DAC. It too has a volume control so depending upon how your system is configured it might be just the ticket! My configuration has the gear in one room, and the loudspeakers and myself in another
so remote operation was a big plus for me
add to that I do like bass info to have impact and presence.
To categorize each using a more familiar allegory, Id have to say, the e One is A Dodge Viper
. Speedy, remarkably fast, and a real head turner. The DA 10 is a 500 series BMW
. it doesnt have quite the sheer brute force and speed of the e One, but its agile handling and fleet pace gets you there with a plusher ride. Neither will make you miss the scenery along the way.
