The Micromega DUO dac along with Musical Fidelity Digilog, Arcam Delta Black box and other TDA1541A bring the magic for the Red Book CDs. It's only after you listen to them you start finding the faults of the delta sigma dacs, advanced segment ES9018 etc
Sure you get higher definition on the newer dacs but along with it you get chemicals.
These are built with organics, they extract the magic, there is a sparkle in the mids, the attack which is missing completely in the newer dacs, even in the newer PCM1704.
The only dac I dream about is the MSB or Rockna with R2R.
Listening to this DAC after years made me write this comment and revamp this old thread, it's the emotion from the music I hear that's pushing me to do it, something that I look for in audio gear, the rest is just metal junk.
Sure you get higher definition on the newer dacs but along with it you get chemicals.
These are built with organics, they extract the magic, there is a sparkle in the mids, the attack which is missing completely in the newer dacs, even in the newer PCM1704.
The only dac I dream about is the MSB or Rockna with R2R.
Listening to this DAC after years made me write this comment and revamp this old thread, it's the emotion from the music I hear that's pushing me to do it, something that I look for in audio gear, the rest is just metal junk.