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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.
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david_ten
5,480 posts
 

@jjss49 +1 A solid perspective, for sure. Thanks for the additional clarification.

I should have expressed that last para in my previous post better via: " had one..." instead of ’had you’ which I meant to be universal...

Restated:

For example, had one optimized their reference system around that "rejected" DAC...could they be certain of the outcome in that now optimized system with their current reference DAC. Maybe yes, maybe no.

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 

I know a lot of folks have been asking about tube DACs.  I have a new Canor DAC 2.10 arriving in January which uses four 6922s in the output stage and will retail at $4k.  I will get added here once it arrives.  

pgastone
77 posts
 

Thank you again for the excellent advice.  I wonder if before I upgrade the dac I should upgrade what goes into the dac.

Re speakers yes Magico does not give the deepest soundstage compared to some of other speakers I have auditioned.  Their qualities lie elswhere and often their lack of coloration and micro dynamics can seem a little cold.  On the other hand Thiel 3.7’s are a very very different speaker- and indeed have more depth.  Both speakers benefit from pass labs amplification though the Thiels could arguably use even more current.

In any event,  I might look into a nucleus before actually changing the dac.  Doing both at same time might be tough from a budget perspective.  

 

pgastone
77 posts
 

sorry, I intended "say lack of coloration and emphasis on micro dynamics..."

 

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 

Understood.  IMO, By far the weakest link in your system is the Mac Mini.  A server will do more than a new DAC.  

Nucleus's are not crazy expensive.  Depending on your data needs they start at $1459 and virtually all of Roons retailers sell them with a 30 day free trial.  Your risk is return shipping.  

I do think a DAC will help and you are right, the two speakers are very different.  A big part of this might be which speaker your listen too more.  If it is the Magicos, I would lean toward Bricasti and/or a Rockna Wavelight.  If it is the Thiels, I might lean toward the Rockna Wavedream.  A middle groung or one of the more flexible units is the Weiss 501/502 due to its built in DSPs that could make it more of a hybrid fit.  

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