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
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.  
As a Bricasti M3 owner, my DAC search is largely over...except perhaps for a Bricasti M1 SE...or possibly an Audio Note UK DAC. I will be interested in the listening comments from the Bricasti DACs.

BTW...Audio Note Kits components are not Audio Note UK components in kit form. Audio Note Kits circuits/designs are different from Audio Note UK. Audio Note parts used by Audio Note Kits are sourced from HiFi Collective. Please ask an Audio Note UK dealer for clarification.
OP so you are a dealer carrying every DAC that you are shoot-out-ing? (or if that's not right please correct).  

I wondered in initial post how many of the DACs you carried as dealer and how many were lines you did not carry.