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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
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....
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 
Today I had a visit from Peter and Karl of Vu Jade.  The brought their DAC 100 which retails for $12K and is a two chassis tube DAC.  They also offer a single chassis, delta-sigma DAC using 6SN7s and is one I am looking forward to hearing.  

After a variety of issues, (poor contact on an SPDIF cable, failure of a pair of my RCAs and me forgetting to switch Ethernet cable to the 2Go/2Yu) we were finally ready to listen.  Good news is the DAC had plenty of time to warm up.  

At this price point, I expect minimal compromise and the Vu Jade delivered.  There is still a little bit of a trade in terms of detail vs. soundstage and imaging but that tradeoff is not unreasonable or out of line with similarly priced DACs.  It is close to as detailed as the Bricasti M1 SE if not as detailed.  It's image is as large.  Depth is excellent and the image is incredibly stable. Not quite as detailed and controlled as the Rockna or Weiss but this was not surprising.  

What it delivers is PRaT.  Punchy mid-bass and mids that shine like the sun.  It is not bloated.  It is not lean.  Nor is it overly warm.  I thoroughly enjoyed this playing In a Sentimental Mood as the saxophone was sweet and the piano sparkled.  It made Anette Askvik's voice sounded incredible during Liberty.  There was no sibilance in Sting's voice or during Liberty.  It was incredibly quiet and delivered good detail in the opening of Duende and the ending sounded unified and extremely coherent. 

However, it sounded big and slightly colored to me on strings. The intimacy of the Berg piece was lost slightly though there was no smearing or massing of strings.  If I was a Classical junkie, I might look for slightly brighter speakers (Vivid Giyas, Avantgardes???) and/or a slightly brighter amp to pair with this DAC.  The AVM is known for being neutral to warm.
This DAC is quite at home in its price and delivers a very analog sound.  

Note: for this test we used an Audioquest Yosemite RCAs as we were getting static from the pair of AQ Water RCA cables I have used previously. The Vu Jade does not have a USB in so we used a Jorma SPDIF.  
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