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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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Wondering how the extremely popular Holo May fits among these dacs.

+1 ditto from me too on this.

As Stereophile raved about it, and JA said one of the best bench tests of a dac he's ever seen.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/holoaudio-may-level-3-da-processor

Cheers George
  
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,500 posts
 
I would love to test the Holo May.  I have not had one traded in and I am not going to buy a unit of this sort as it is going to cost me a lot of money because I am obviously not going to keep it.  If someone wants to lend me one, I would be happy to test it.  

That being said, the Khadas has arrived and in an irritating turn of events, ships with a USB C cable.  I do not have a USB C wall plug and can't plug it in.  I have to order one of those.  

Rockna Wavedream Edition is in transit and will be here next week.  

Interesting thing happened.  I think I have one of the best offerings of DACs in the $4.5K to $17K range among many retailers.  Under $4.5K, my offerings are a bit sparse, especially given availability issues Musical Fidelity is having.  I have Chord.  To that end, I am evaluating the Questyle CMA12 and will include here. 


yyzsantabarbara
4,909 posts
 
@verdantaudio Here is a great review of the Halo May vs the Musetec. I have been told that the Musetec is also an incredible DAC.

Review: Holo May (L2) DAC and the Musetec Audio (LKS Audio) MH-DA005 DAC Compaired | Audiogon Discussion Forum
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,500 posts
 
So I have the Questyle and Khadas here and they are getting burnt in.  I did a little testing with them and am going to add in the need to evaluate the headphone amp. Specifically I will test the Khadas, Questyle, iPhone 6 since it has a headphone jack, Hugo 2 and Weiss using a pair of Focal Celestee Blues and ThinkSound ON1s.  

Secondarily, the Rockna Wavedream Edition is here and that will also be give time to get acquainted.  

Regarding the Holo May, everyone says it is great but until I get one in, I have no POV.  I have also not heard the Musetec.  


in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
I have a Holo Audio May KTE dac in my main system and a AudioByte Hydra Xox dac I plan using  for headphone listening upstairs den though waiting for the third part of this digital stack the AudioByte Hub.
Both dacs are well run in and with direct comparisons in my main system they are both exceptional performing though there are differences of course especially when listening for human timbre using exceptionally recorded vocals,  the AudioByte Vox out performs the May KTE Dac every single time I have demonstrate this to audio friends . 
I simply ask what sounds more human , more live and realistic to your ears the AudioByte Vox is picked every time .
The Holo May outperforms the AudioByte Vox with the 3D like portrait sound stage and much better separation and with a few hundred dollars apart either dac should be pleasing to your ears. 
Finally both dacs do a very good job along with the other components of keeping your room warm , very warm .



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