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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
f208frank's avatar
f208frank
68 posts
 

Wow what no responses since 11/14/2022?

Anyways I have received my playback mpd-6 and it is an absolute joy. Truly an endorphin pumping machine.

I have had in my past:

1. chord dave

2. holo may

3. benchmark dac

4. sagra

I like the mpd6 the most and the previous dacs I owned are listed above in order of my preference. I generally prefer the detailed but still very enjoyable type of sound which as well all know it is usually trading one for the other in either direction.

As of now, though it costed a partial arm and leg, no regrets and smiling ear to ear on a daily basis.

Scott can you chime in if you ever come across this the differences between Weiss 501 and MPD6? My second choice behind the MPD6 would have been the Weiss based on what was read.

Thank you.

yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 

@f208frank Congrats on the DAC. How are you streaming to it? I have a PLink streamer but no Playback Desings DAC 😀 so I have no clue how the PLink sounds.

 

 

f208frank's avatar
f208frank
68 posts
 

I use a K50 from antipodes, I was considering the plink streamer but also felt in a way I am boxing myself to this combination where as the K50 can be a little more versatile. I should mention that already having the K50 prior to mpd6 played a big role in the decision as well.

It is a wonderful dac.

yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 

I may be able to listen to a Playback Designs Merlot DAC.  Has anyone compared the older Merlot DAC to the latest designs from Playback Designs, the Edelweiss or Dream?

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,500 posts
 

Yes.  Not in the same league.  It drifts a hair brighter.  The image is smaller and the level of detail is not quite in the same league.  Very simply, the output stage can’t deliver the way the MPD-6 or MPD-8 can.  That being said, you know it is from the same company.  

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