SW1X dacs

I had a SW1X DAC III + upgrades. Wasn’t impressed with it. I let it break in for 5 days straight. It was very muted and lifeless sounding to me. It sounded NOTHING like good analog.
I’ve also owned the Directstream DAC...also lacking in magic and very digital sounding.

The DAC that most sounded like a vinyl rig running a koetsu black (my preferred cartridge) was the Deja Vu Audio Aldo Dac. This dac was using a Sonos Connect as the Tidal source with a $700 digital coax cable.
The sound blew my mind. It was Psychedelic.

The performance of the SW1X DAC III Balanced will depend on what it is being fed. The designer, Slawa Roschkow, does not consider streaming a suitable source for any serious listening as it is rife with timing errors. Feed it a proper SPDIF signal from a CD Player or server and you will realize its inherent greatness. However, the only fair comparison is with other DACs.

Analog is another thing altogether. With an analog source there is no digital conversion either A to D or D to A where there will always be some loss.With analog it is simply necessary to get the signal that the cartridge generates to the preamp without screwing it up, and there lies the rub. What happens when a phono stage gets truly out of the way and delivers a really robust signal? If analog is your thing, the SW1X LPU III Balanced phono stage will knock socks off permanently.

So what's the deal with the usb input? Can't I just run USB cable from my computer and plug it directly into SW1X? If that's the case 'm not sure I've heard of such a thing at this day and age....

This brand is unabashedly inspired by Audio Note.  I have not heard any of their gear so I have no idea of how successful they are at emulating that sound.  
Audi Note IS quite good at getting the smooth and relaxed sound of analogue without sounding muffled or lifeless.  While being quite expensive, the Aldo DAC is competitive with the very best Audio Note DAC’s at a much lower price; I heard it in direct comparison to a DAC 5 and preferred it in most respects (except top end extension).

I recently purchased a SW1X Dac II from The Lotus Group (Joe Cohen). I bought the demo he sent me within a day or two of listening. The rest of my system includes Cube Nenuphar speakers, a Zu sub, First Watt Sit-3 amp, and a Linear Tube Audio MZ3 pre. My digital feed comes from an Antipodes EX (running Roon/Qobuz) out through a Curious Cable USB to the Antipodes P2 reclocker then SPDIF to the Dac. My previous Dacs are/were the Schitt Yggy, Border Patrol Sei, Benchmark Dac 3, and Lampizator Amber 3. Ten seconds into the first track the SW1x transformed this system. Even my wife's ears (the worst) notices. The sound stage is much bigger, there is more space between instruments, and there is absolutely no hint of digital sound. This is a very full analogue rich sound with lots of space. Mids and bass extension make this sound more real or more live. It sounds like you are there with a well produced track. You don't need hi res. A well produced redbook track streamed from Quobuz through Roon will make you a believer. 

My local audio friend with a much bigger system (a Rossini Dac/clock) found this at least equal to the dCS. We didn't have a lot of A/B time with the different Dacs because we just started listening. By the end of the session he was looking at the SW1x price list and trying to figure out where he wants to land. That, I think, is the hard part. Which of their Dacs is the right one to try? I would recommend the Dac II or III standard for most to start with. You won't be disappointed. 

I have to say that working with Joe Cohen has been enjoyable and I think he is really on to something here. The only way to hear this is to demo. Be prepared to buy. This is one of those products that you will have a lot of trouble sending back.