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Higher End DACs

I am looking for a DAC (potentially streamer&DAC) to be paired in a mcintosh system (c1100/611). Its my first foray into digital streaming and I have no need for a CD player.

I see a lot of love for Esoteric, however, most seems to be around their transports? Are they not as renowned for pure digital streaming and/or standalone DACs? I see DCS (for instance) often referenced for standalone DACs - how does Esoteric compare?
ufguy73
khiak
66 posts
 
@david_ten Still unable to have the SD3100 HV accept Tidal Direct via the CAT7 cable from the router. The Tidal's App only allow selection of 1)iPad 2)Airplay & Bluetooth 3) KD-49X8300C (TV Chromecast) accept the SD3100 HV. Only able to run Tidal with the T + A MusicNavigator which is slow and not so user friendly as the Tidal's App. 
Any other pointers that I can check and configure to link the Tidal' App to the SD3100 HV.
Thanks

david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@khiak  PM sent. Best to discuss offline and not derail the thread.
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,764 posts
 

Khiak,

Just tried my SDV 3100 on the T+A app and it works beautifully super fast.

Don't think that the Tidal app will work directly with the piece, the Tidal app doesn't work directly with a lot of gear.

Naim runs Tidal on its own app and still works great.

Many companies run Tidal and Obouze through their apps and it works great.

Perhaps you need to update your firmware which is super easy done through the T+A app.

Good luck and congratulations on the T+A it is a remarkable component.


Dave and Troy

Audio Doctor NJ

nickolaspappas
38 posts
 
+1 on the Lumin T2 & X1, they are literal giant killers. Totaldac’s are also excellent.
phantom_av's avatar
phantom_av
326 posts
 
I sold my 80K MSB DAC to someone in the USA Few Years Back this is when i was in Jakarta Indonesia., I can’t remember who....It was the top of the line dac with upgrades from the factory. Obviously, it was sold for much less and incurred a heavy loss.

I moved on to Playback Design And have their Dream DAC and i can say for sure i love this dac more than the MSB DAC I had at that time fully loaded for 80K USD.

The Playback Design Dream DAC just sounded more Musical and less Fatiguing over a 5-6 hour session. 20 years now buying and selling DACs, I can honestly Say The Dream DAC from Playback Design has been the only DAC that has actually make me lose track of time constantly when playing music. There is no doubt about this no level of fatigue, an emotionally involving session where time is lost.

MSB to my ear is better than DCS for sure.

DCS may give people the statue edge and the wow factor, but i have found them to be over clinical and cold.

Asian buyers love the prestige of owning a DCS DAC. Their feel it provides an extension to their Di*k

When it comes to Real Musical playback from a Digital Playback System I rate it as the following:

Playback Design Dream DAC
MSB Select 2
Lampizator GG-2
Total DAC





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