2. digital
  3. 168893-95151

DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

Okay...in another thread I promised to do a side-by-side evaluation of the Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap vs the Rockna Wavelight. Due to the astonishing incompetence of DHL this has been delayed. At the moment, I have a plethora of DACs here and am going to do a broader comparison.

I am going to do a compare of the Rockna Wavelight, Rockna Wavedream Signature, Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap, Chord Hugo 2, Chord Hugo TT2, Bricasti M3, Bricasti M1 Special Edition, Weiss 501 and the internal DAC card for an AVM A 5.2 Integrated amp as a baseline.

For sake of consistency, I am going to use that same AVM integrated amp driving Vivid Kaya 45s. I may branch out and do some listening on other speakers (Verdant Nightshade of Blackthorn and/or Wilson Benesch Vertexes) but want to use the Vivids for every compare as they are the fullest range speakers I have here. For sake of consistency I will use a Chord 2Go/2Yu connected via an Audioquest Diamond USB as a renderer. The only exception is the Hugo 2 which has a 2Go directly attached to it. I will use a Roon Nucleus+ as a server in all cases.

My plan is to use the same five songs on every DAC; In a Sentimental Mood from Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Be Still My Beating Heart from Sting, Liberty from Anette Askvik, Duende from Bozzio Levin Stevens and Part 1 of Mozart String Quartet No 14 in G Major from the Alban Berg Quartet. The intent is to touch on different music types without going crazy.

I will take extensive notes on each listening session and write up a POV on the strengths of each unit. I am going to start this this Friday/Saturday and will be writing things up over the next month or so. If you have thoughts, comments or requests, I will be happy to try and accommodate. The one thing I am not going to do is make the list of songs longer as that has an exponential impact on this and make everything much harder. If and when other DACs come in on trade I may add to the list through time.
128x128verdantaudio
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 
I have a LOT of money tied up in DACs at the moment.  Adding more would be…unappealing if I have to buy them.  That being said, if someone want to send a DAC for inclusion, I will be happy too.  PM Me.  I would love to add in a Holo May, Denafrips Terminator+, something from Topping and a Lampizator product.  
The real meat of this is the four DACs in the $4500 to $5500 range, Wavelight, HydraVox, M3 and TT2.  The Hugo 2 and the AVM are less.  The Weiss and Wavedream signature are quite a bit more.  
I am going. Into this with the hypothesis that there are still trade offs in this price range and to highlight what they are.  The Hugo 2 and AVM will highlight what you get for a lot less.  
This is not memory driven. I am picking 5 songs I listen to a lot and taking careful notes about what stands out and will compare.  This is the only way this can be done.  Music is too complex to strictly use your memory.    
My wife will do the same but across a smaller sample as she is busier than I am.  I will try and add in both the Audiobyte Hub and MScaler realizing that the MScaler puts the TT2 up in the price range of Weiss and Wavedream Signature which are much better DACs.  
One other note, I have heard all of these products and none of them are bad.  If you expect me to dump on one, that will not happen.  

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,689 posts
 
verdanaudio,  This is exciting.  With fewer and fewer hifi  stores left, I will be eager to hear your results.

Thanks for doing this.

JD
gerryah930's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
gerryah930
144 posts
 
In a pathetic suggestion that probably is off-target - I have heard a great deal of praise for, but have I not heard, the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC -its solution is not FPGA or chip-based - see https://www.mola-mola.nl/tambaqui.php

Thanks- Gerry
cns1946's avatar
cns1946
68 posts
 
Listened to all 5 songs you have chosen for the test last night, interesting selection. Good luck with the test.
chorus
976 posts
 
I for one have not the slightest idea what I should be expecting to hear from you after the test is over. I must applaud the endeavor.

DACs are where the biggest improvements are happening fastest. Magazines have adv. biases and long lead times which serve no one. I want yours review to be informative and successful. 

Now that I see your price range of $4k-$6k I am more excited as that
level of expenditure should produce some great sound.
Not Mola Mola stuff but that is double your test range.

I own an obscure brand of DAC that I love. 

One question- Have you listened to AudioNote DACs? They make one
in this range. albeit a kit.


More to discover