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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
chorus
976 posts
 
So is there a 1-5 ranking coming out of this?
antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 
@verdantaudio,

case in point: that’s why reclockers like the InnuOS Phoenix actually have a value. Even better is the scenario where you can connect server and DAC via USB with a 10m OCXO or rubidium clock optimising the DAC clock. Since the DAC on asynchronous USB actually slaves the server, not only do you get a reclocked USB link but also the highest accuracy clock for the actual d to a conversion in the DAC. It’s why Esoteric and DCM offer dedicated clocks in their stacks
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 
@Chorus  this really is a matter of taste, system and music preference which is best.  
For me, the Rockna Wavedream Signature, Vu Jade, Weiss, Bricasti M1 SE and Audiobyte were my favorites in roughly that order.  My bias is toward detail because my gear and speakers are very musical and throw a big soundstage.   If I had different gear, my order could change.  

For perspective, I just had someone trade in the Rockna because what I love about it, they didn’t like.  They are going with a new tube DAC from Gordon Rankin.  
@antigrunge2. I have not played with an external clock personally but am pretty certain I need to get an Antipodes Clock in to understand its impact.  
No question clocking matters.  
rja's avatar
rja
2,356 posts
 
To dankef,
I’ve owned both the Morpheus and Bricasti M3.
In comparison to each other, the Morpheus is slightly soft while the Bricasti is a bit more incisive.
I enjoy both DACs and a choice would depend on the rest of your system and what you want to achieve.
Also, consider that the M3 is twice the price of the Sonnet.
klh007
615 posts
 
@rja , I'm realizing the full benefit of all Streamer/DACs that can eliminate USB cables, extra boxes and Power cords, my Bricasti M3 with network board sounds wonderful, and it and my system just got a major transformational upgrade with the addition of a Synergistic Research Ethernet switch and SR Ethernet cables, bigger positive change than changing any other component. 
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