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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
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msreddy999
3 posts
 

Hi,

Thanks for the great post. Very informative. I am considering getting a M3 as well. I am 100% streaming (apple music, Amazon HD, Spotify). I am trying to figure out if I will need a network card. Even if we consider USB is much noisier than network, does it have any use for streaming only use case? Thanks

 

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 

The M3 is a DAC that I have retained sort of.  I have had multiple people demo it and since there is a little bit of a break-in period, several people have asked to keep mine.  My current version has a network card.

I have tested different connections extensively and just had a customer do some testing.  USB is almost universally deemed inferior but it is not like it is awful.  I prefer the Ethernet connection as I am a Roon user but the USB sounded very good and my initial testing was all from a streamer in via USB.  
 

Ethernet and AES are best inputs but you will not lose much with USB.  

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,610 posts
 

scott, glad you are still updating this nice thread, it is a boon to the a-gon community for folks seeking entry into this level of fine dacs

for me i have stopped the dac merry go round at this point - i have a few on the ’to try’ list, but hardly eager to do so, as my chord stack, weiss and audio note units continue to please

i did try a mojo mystique, it also sounded very very nice, but i returned it mostly due to its footprint and ergonomics (i am spoiled i know 😁)

also, i am glad you picked up hegel as a line... very smart move!

happy listening to all the great toys

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 

@verdantaudio Scott, kudos to you for sharing selfless insights like this. IMHO, you are separating yourself from the numerous dealers here that remind me of these guys


Cheers,
Spencer

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