@mitch2 - Thanks for your work on these reviews. I sound myself eagerly waiting the next review like a favorite installment of a radio or tv program. I’m intrigued by the Mojo dacs now!
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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@mitch2 When I read comments about the Holo Audio May and the Terminator II DAC's they seem to be bested by the Mojo Audio DAC's and the AYRE QX-5 twenty DAC. Now I'm not sure which level of May DAC they are comparing but most seem to have the KTE. With the May DAC you get two DAC's in one. Several talk about running the may with HQ player. With the Ayre it comes with a streamer and volume control. You can also upgrade your Ayre QX-5 twenty as technology improves. I have talked to Ayre and they have said sound improves slightly when adding a good preamp. They also have an AC conditioner that they build that improves the sound. When I read the comparisons of other DAC I am not sure if they are streaming to the network bridge or if they have a separate streamer. |
Based on my research the Mojo dacs have the technology to be top tier, chokes in power supply, nude Vishay resistors, I use both choked linear power supply for some of my streaming components and nude Vishay in my present 300B amps, have used them in my previous Art Audio 845 amp and a totally modded dac. Both provide an easily heard upgrade over commonplace cap based PS and resistors. Totaldacs should also be top tier, very impressive technology there as well.
One thing I find curious is Linear Tube Audio rather agnostic take on digital inputs. I've always been of a mind that I2S should provide best sound quality with ladder dacs. Still, gets very nice reviews. I've yet to try I2S with my Laiv Harmony so I'm just surmising at this point (only usb at this point). |
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