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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
yyzsantabarbara
4,522 posts
 
I try to avoid buying room correction on any audio hardware because they are all weak processors of data and fixed in their processing horsepower forever (a firmware update does not increase horsepower).  Computers on the other hand are super cheap and get more powerful each year. You can also use these cheap and powerful computers with ROON Server and easily keep the noise out of the DAC (fibre optical streaming).

I have 2 sets of Convolution filters (headphone and floorstanders) that work on my far away ROON Server and will work with EVERY single DAC listed on this thread. At this moment I have stopped using these filters because I managed to make the room and headphones (sometimes) work without them. One set of these professionally crafted filters cost me $700 and the other set was $250.

@verdantaudio An hour ago I had a musician at my place listening to my 2 DACs and telling me his opinion. We listened to CHARLES MINGUS - Ah Um album to do some comparisons. It was very illuminating for me and I was told how the DACs were doing reproducing the instruments from this musicians experienced ear. Seems my 2 office DACs have some issues for him. I will get in contact with you in the near future and we can discuss how I can improve my setup.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 
@yyzsantabarbara I am sorry to hear that you are having issues.  Let me know how I can help.  

The Weiss is the first device I have had that has on-board room correction other than AVRs and Pre/Pros.  It is easily bypassed.  
toolbox149
248 posts
 
Verdantaudio;
When you take in the P S Audio DSD, please make sure it is equipped with the latest software upgrade, “Sunlight”.  Most owners seem to agree the Sunlight version is the best.
If you need help (it’s a very simple task), please reach out and I can get you what you need.

Tim
thieliste's avatar
thieliste
816 posts
 
Would be nice to have the Aqua Formula xHD Rev 2 in your shootout.I love mine.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 
I used to own the DSD.  I definitely know how to update the firmware.  Will do.  

I think Aqua is an interesting brand.  I have take a few units on trade but have not heard one as I sold them to other retailers.  If anyone is in NYC metro and wants to lend me one for a day....
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