Higher End DACs

@lalitk

so, my local dealer (who ironically doesn’t carry any of those) has indicated he can get some demo units (at least for MSB and likely DCS...not as optimistic about T+A but given the MQA thing not sure that will matter to me)...

So, I basically need to tell him what I would like to try and he will work on getting what I want - I think this is dovetailing nicely into him otherwise wanting to establish some professional relationships with those particular brands as well.

if he can’t come through on an particular brand I would like to try, I will have considering going down the out-of-state path.

@ufguy73,

Sound like a plan. I always support local dealers, it’s an important relationship that pays out well beyond the initial demo/sale.

The word ’synergy’ is also just an illusion. And you know why? Because a source who is able to reveal all aspects of sound will always work better in any system than a source who lacks one or more aspects of sound.

When you judge most audio products, you will often hear that they choose for a focus (emphasis) on a certain frequency range. But an audio product always needs to be linear on the whole frequency range.

And you know why?

Because without this, a product can never reveal all aspects of sound. It will always show that it lacks one or more aspects of sound. The reason why you need all different parts of your system to be able to reveal all the different aspects of sound individual is based on this reason:

Even when you imply one part (it even can be one fuse) that can not reveal all aspects of sound. The end result of this system will always be incomplete. And it will create a lower level of emotion.

High-End is a level in sound quality where a system can prove by sound and stage that it can reveal all aspects of sound. When a system misses one or more aspects of sound it will always be a Hi-Fi system.

Over 99,99% of all produced audio products are 100% Hi-Fi products. Based on the fact that they all miss different aspects of sound. The stage and sound will always prove this easily.

The High-End show in Munich is a Hi-Fi show based on the fact that over 90% of all systems are 2-dimensional and even lacks more aspects of sound. People use and abuse the word ’High-End’ over and over again. It has no meaning anymore when you can not reveal all aspects of sound by your system. Then your system proves by sound and stage that it is just a Hi-Fi system.

In the end, only facts will show and prove the real truth in life. And for audio counts the same. Trial&error has given all people the wrong ideas and thoughts about sound and music. And what it did is creating only incomplete audio systems all over the world. Where people are only busy with their system instead of only listening to music.

Ufguy, MQA will be a software upgrade for the T+A so you shouldn’t preclude it from your search for that reason alone.

The reason that update isn’t imminant is that T+A’s engineers are busy with the launch of their new Headphone amp, dac, so we are sure that once that product is compleated all the streamers will receive the MQA update.
https://www.stereonet.co.uk/news/ta-announces-first-headphones-and-headphone-amplifier

You may also want to consider the T+A SDV 3100 verson which has a world class analog preamp built in.

The possibility that the preamp version may far outperform the Macintosh preamp and allow you to resale that might make that a nice option for you.

You should try to hear one it is a remarkable piece, and also the MSB and DCS products. We are sure that out of one of those three you would find a fanatastic dac. Obviously the Lumin streamers are 100% MQA compatible.

Also you should know that if you use a server to feed even a non MQA dac you will still get the first unfold to 96k for MQA you just wouldn’t get the second.

In our opinion the bettter dac playing non MQA will still outperform one that will. Food for thought.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ T+A, Lumin

bo1972, edited for brilliance:

The word ’synergy’ is an illusion. A source that reveals all aspects of sound will always work better in any system than a source that lacks one or more aspects of sound. 
The same goes for not only the source but every single part of the system. Therefore you need all different parts of your system to be able to reveal all the different aspects of sound. 

Even when you have one part (it even can be one fuse) that can not reveal all aspects of sound, the end result will always be incomplete. And it will create a lower level of emotion.  

Hope you don't mind me tightening it up a bit because that was brilliant. And not just because its exactly the philosophy my system is based on! From my System description:

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367

The System is built around the philosophy that everything matters. Everything either contributes or detracts, and no one single component is any more or less important than any other. Even details as small as where a component goes or how the wire is routed make a difference you can hear. Everything matters. 

The System is also built around the philosophy that the ideal component does nothing. The perfect component does not sound a certain way. It does not impart, it does not detract. It is not there at all.

"Even when you have one part (it even can be one fuse) that can not reveal all aspects of sound, the end result will always be incomplete. And it will create a lower level of emotion." 

Beautiful!