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A DAC that crushes price vs. performance ratio

I felt strongly that I wanted to inform the Gon members about a new DAC that ranks with the very best on the market regarding performance, but costs around $2,000.00.  The Lab12 DAC1 SE was compared to three reference level DACS that retail for over $12.000.00 in my review for hometheaterreview.com and was at least on the same level sonicly, if not better.  This DAC from Greece is not just "good for the money" but competes with virtually anything on the market regardless of price!

For all the details about the Lab12 DAC1 SE performance and what other DACS it was compared to take a look at the review.  If you are shopping/looking for a new digital front end to drive your system, you owe it to yourself to check this DAC out, unless you like to spend tons of more $ without getting better performance.
teajay
captelee's avatar
captelee
44 posts
 
Always enjoy reading about the new DACs on the market here with you guys....and have listened to many. Most on this forum have been overlooking iFi Audio's "Black" Micro iDSD DAC that at $550 has been reigning superior for a couple of years in my book.
However iFi just released their "pro" DAC a couple of months ago that comes in at around $2500. Hands down the best DAC I have ever heard in my life and brings my system to life like never before.
Can I get a witness?!
-Captain E
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,098 posts
 
captelee,
I'm sure that the ifi pro is a good modern DAC, I just went to the website and had a look, but to me, there is nothing that compares to the natural sound of a good, non oversampling DAC like the Lab 12.
genez
220 posts
 
I checked out online some pictures of the The Lab12 DAC1 SE...
It does not even offer balanced capacity.  Not an XLR output to be found.. A DAC like the Yggdrasil being fronted by a good tube preamp should produce more accurate sound...
wcfeil
464 posts
 
>>Not an XLR output to be found..<<

Irrelevant. 
captelee's avatar
captelee
44 posts
 
The iFi Pro iDSD DAC "may" oversample if you choose that option, but it is certainly not recommended. I've never heard any DAC that can compare to the iFi Pro iDSD, regardless of the costs.

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