Dacs are like wine in a way and how we respond to them. for some, there's not alot of difference, for others, they can go on and on about this difference or that in a critical, comparative assessment .
Which if the two are the fortunate ones?
Six DAC Comparison
I am in the middle of comparing the sound of six different DACs in my system. I own them all (I know weird) but one of them is still within a trial/return timeframe.
Not to share specific comparisons today, but a couple of observations so far are that first, they all definitely sound different from each other. On one hand, they all sound pretty good and play what is fed to them without significant flaws but on the other hand there are definite sonic differences that make it easy to understand how a person might like the sound of some of them while not liking others.
Second, raises the observation that most of them must be doing something to shape the sound in the manner the designer intended since one of the DACs, a Benchmark DAC3 HGA, was described by John Atkinson of Stereophile as providing "state-of-the-art measured performance." In the review, JA closed the measurements section by writing, "All I can say is "Wow!" I have also owned the Tambaqui (not in my current comparison), which also measured well ("The Mola Mola Tambaqui offers state-of-the-digital-art measured performance." - JA). The Benchmark reminds me sonically of the Tambaqui, both of which are excellent sounding DACs.
My point is that if the Benchmark is providing "state-of-the-art measured performance," then one could reasonably presume that the other five DACs, which sound different from the Benchmark, do not share similar ’state-of-the-art" measurements and are doing something to subtly or not so subtly alter the sound. Whether a person likes what they hear is a different issue.
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This is not a Product Plug, as the Design to be mentioned is not a sale item. A EE minded Friend with many years of experience of Building Audio Devices. Today has a very clear understanding of what they are looking for as a End Sound from a particular Audio Device they build. Amp's both Pre and Power, Phonostages, Head Amp's, DAC's, CD Transport and a large selection of Speakers are all produced by this individual. For a very sensible outlay of money, a DAC has been produced that over the Past Year has been compared and come out much more in favour of a Denafrips Ares II and a Venus II. It required the latest FW Update to be put on the Venus II to create a comparison where the Venus was to present itself as a worthwhile alternative consideration. Home Built DAC approx' £300, build knowledge, careful schematic design and topology, along with knowing how to isolate within the Circuit, will create a lot for little. Fortunately these skill sets do not all belong to the main influencers of a design for the Big Brand Names. Was not the not too long passed Ken Ishiwata from Marantz a Pioneer of this way of thinking with works he undertook for Digital Sources produced his Employer of 41 years. |
Hey Jim, glad you asked since I was going to list the pricing anyway, along with the chipset used in each, and provide a link to additional information. Three of them are R2R DACs, and one is a hybrid R2R topology. None of them use discrete resistor ladders. There is no link or published information on the specific SMc DAC-2 GT-24 as it is my understanding there are only about a dozen of them in existence. For purposes of this post, I will stick with original retail list price of each, and will not add the additional cost of the chip upgrades in the Mojo Audio DACs, which would increase their list prices by about $1K each. Linear Tube Audio Aero $3,950, one AD1865 chip, R2R Merason DAC1 MkII $8,500, dual BurrBrown PCM1794A chips, hybrid R2R Mojo Audio Mystique X SE NCZ, $9,999, dual AD1862N-Z chips, R2R Mojo Audio EVO Pro, $9,999, dual AD1862N-Z chips, R2R SMc Audio DAC-2 GT-24, $6,000+ est., one CS4328 chip Benchmark DAC3 HGC, $2,399, ES9028PRO chip |
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