DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend
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 |
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. |
Hi OP, I would be extremely interested if you could somehow get your hands on an Mojo Mystique V3 or one of the newer models. They are in a similar price range. I am looking for a modern replacement for my ancient Wadia 15 (redbook only) DAC, which despite its age is a hard act to follow. Lots of love for the Mystiques with which guys have replaced their Bricasti and Bekeley units. A friend of mine owns a Bricasti (M1 I think) and tells me it's great but does not play well with all front-ends. This is a big undertaking you are getting into here, good luck. |
So…the M3 is currently burning in. The M1 SE arrived. The Weiss will be back from a customers home next week. My plan is to get started with one review by Sunday night. I have a house guest until then. few notes: if you want a DAC included, I will receive and return if you can get someone to loan it to me. I am a obviously a dealer. These are all my demo units. I am not trying to buy more equipment. In fact, after this I will want to sell a few of these. I normally don’t have this many demo units. It just happens I have them all at once just as I signed up for Bricasti so it is an ideal time to do this. The one thing I am missing in this first run is a tube unit and I will eventually add a Canor and Jadis DAC to this. Audiobyte, MoJo, Wyred and the others mentioned I am sure are great. Get one to me and we will get it written up. I will try and turn it around within a week. In all cases, I am going to focus on the positives and contrasts rather than trying to say anything negative. I promise to do the same with any products you guys send me. I may offer you a private opinion. Regarding FPGA - it was pointed out that FPGAs are delta-sigma DACs without a DAC chip. The question earlier around why FPGA to me stems from the flexibility offered with Firmware. This means they tend to have longer lifespans. Think about how long the Chord Dave or PS Audio DSD have been in-line. This is vs DACs that are based around chips where when the chip is replaced or upgrade, are “obsolete.” I don’t personally think this makes a DAC obsolete but it will certainly impact its value. One other note. All of the units in this initial run have preamps built in. I will drop them in my reference system (Art Audio Opus 4 Monos) to evaluate the preamp and see if there is anything to note. I can think of one unit I had historically that was extremely underwhelming. |
