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Penafrips, MHDT Labs DACs versus Integrated amps for home office

Carrying this over from another discussion.  Apologies for being verbose, but...  I am on the hunt for DAC and amp combo with awesome sound quality and would appreciate any thoughts. I have a 10x10 ft home office, which I spend many work and after hours in. So, I have been trying to upgrade my sound, but am not able to invest gazilllions. I stream Tidal MQA and HiFi via USB from my MacbookPro using Tidal's app.  I listen via speaker, no headphone, no vinyl.  

I want wide & deep soundstage, clarity, and great sound at lower volumes. "3D soundstage", "holographic", etc.

Here's what I have so far. (amps will be in a bake off)
  • Canton Vento 830.2 speakers (very "revealing")
  • Peachtree Nova 300 integrated (with internal DAC)
  • Cambridge Audio Azur 851A integrated amp (but no internal DAC)
  • NuPrime IDA-8 with internal DAC

I love the Peachtree so far, but want to give the Cambridge a fair shot, which requires that I buy a DAC (less than a $1000-$1200 if possible). The loser of this bakeoff will be for sale as soon as I decide...

So, For DACs, after countless rabbit hole hours researching, I think that I have narrowed it down to the Penafrips Ares 2 (cannot afford the Pontus) and MHDT Istanbul (cannot afford the Orchid or Pagoda). Cannot afford the Chord QUTest either.   But open to suggestions!

I had also considered the RME ADI-2 DAC but I am afraid that it would be too sterile/harsh/fatiguing with my Canton speakers... (the NuPrime IDA-8 is awesome, but it was fatiguing and wimpy bass with my speakers unless turned up pretty loud). So, it is not a match, and I fear that the RME might be similar.  But who knows...

Hence my interest in the power supply of the Cambridge (class XD) to compare against the Peachtree's, as well as the Penafrips and MHDT hooked up to the Cambridge to compare with the Peachtree (class D) and its internal DAC.  Of course, I'd try one of the externals with the Peachtree just to compare... 

In summary, I want wide & deep soundstage, clarity, and great sound at lower volumes but will kick it up on occasion. "3D soundstage", "holographic", etc.  

Any comments and advice on this would be immensely helpful!  I am research fatigued...

Cheers!

bogbeat
yyzsantabarbara
4,752 posts
 
The preamp and DAC on my NOVA 150 were the weak links from my tests. It was a good unit for the price but I did compare the preamp, DAC, and amp separately and it was clear to me that the amp section was much better.

I currently have a pretty good tube DAC, the AudioMirror Tubadour III SE which costs close to $3K. I like my half the price Gustard X26 Pro DAC more. It has NOS and OS mode with 3 custom filters that one can differentiate. I also like the Gustard more than my Benchmark DAC3B.

At the moment I am using a D-Sonic M3a 800s amp. It cost $1500 and it is real good. It is has a bit of warmth and is better than the amp section of the NOVA.

The Gustard X26 Pro + D-Sonic is a compete digital system. Though I would always add the Benchmark LA4 preamp ($2500).
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
op

you are comtemplating changing numerous components

best you clarify what you feel is lacking from the sound your system produces and what are the priorities for improvement

many ways to spend money to upgrade... need to know specifically where you want to go with it

finally, i would say that if you are integrating a good sub to support nice satellite speakers, you should get that done first, note the change and go from there... this move, done right, can be transformative
bogbeat OP
46 posts
 
Thanks a lot yysantabarbara and jjss49. You all have given me some things to think about!

yysantabarbara, that Gustard X26 Pro DAC sounds very interesting.

jjss49, To your questions:  What I feel is lacking is the 3d/holographic soundstage.  I hear that tubes somewhere in the chain help with this.  Also, without the SS-X as a tube buffer, the sound is just too "harsh".  That is true for both sets of my speakers, with both my Peachtree and my Nuprime IDA-8 amps and their respective internal DACs.  Also, I cannot use the SS-X with the Nuprime as it lacks the "loop" capability.  So that will definitely get sold.   Currently, I have to have the SS-X mellowing the sound, or I cannot bear to listen for very long!  Periodic switching it on or off confirms this.

So I guess I could put it another way--if I was to invest in 1 or 2 pieces of equipment  (tube or otherwise) for now to get me closer to 3d/holographic and less "harshness"/have the biggest impact, what is you all's opinion on what that/they would be and in what priority to purchase?

And noted about the sub impact.  It is on backorder until June... Arghhh.

Thanks again everyone's thoughts on this.
sgordon1
422 posts
 
I have found the FOZ SS-X to be very sensitive
(responsive) to good cabling AND vibration control.
Addressing these, especially the latter, at possibly little cost,
is an option.

You might want to experiment with slightly different
speaker placement/angles, along with playiing with the
"expander" control of the SS-X.  Sometimes less is more!

Lastly, you can try different tubes in the SS-X.
I have had great results with the latest AU7 from Rachel at
Grant Fidelity.  Yes, a single tube is well worth $100!
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 
One thing you may want to experiment with to achieve that 3D holographic imaging,is speaker placement.  I don't know if you have tried that yet,but I've found speaker placement has a huge affect on imaging. Enjoy the journey!! 
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