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
1,500 posts
 
It will not be blind.

yes, these are products I carry.  If something comes in on trade that makes sense to add, I will.  At the moment I don’t have any used DACs/CD players or I would include.  
What I am not prepared to do is buy, new competitive gear.  If someone wants to send me something for inclusion, PM me.  I am happy to incorporate.  
willgolf
936 posts
 
This is a good shootout for those interested in DAC's at that price range although I wish the Op would include Lumin.  In my opinion, in that price range it will be hard to hear a discernible difference.  I had multiple Dac's in that range and until I got to the Lumin X-1, that is when I thought wow this is a great DAC. Now I have upped the ante with a Lampizator Pacific.  

I look forward to the shoot out!


kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Sounds good - should be fun.  Interested to see what you find, and thanks for sharing
recluse
270 posts
 
Interesting comparison 
Are there any FPGA DACs made in the US?
dhalchak
3 posts
 
For the Bricasti units if either of them have the network add on player in them do yourself a favor and push music to them via the network.  It is noticeably better than any other input.  Not saying in the shootout you deviate from normal connections you are doing.  But make sure to give it a try.  Once you do, you probably won't go back to any other input on them.

The original network player is good but I'm taking the ones with the MDx upgrade boards. 

Enjoy your demo testing!  I'm jealous,  I'd love to be there to listen to them all! 
More to discover