New DAC! Meitner MA3, Denafrips Terminator Plus, Holo May KTE, Mola Mola Tambaqui

I wanted to support local business, so I ordered the Schitt Yggy Less is More (the worst measuring version) for a home trial.

This thing is amazing, and I think it is better than the Lumin X1 + fibre streaming that I traded-in for my speakers. I loved the X1 and was reluctant to remove it but got an offer for $3K more than I paid for it. I am not sure this needs much break-in since it is already sounding fabulous.

The Sonore OpticalRendu streamer is quieter than the X1’s streamer and equally good, maybe better for some ears. A chocolate vs vanilla difference in the streamers. My best streamer is a Playback Designs Streamer-IF and that is with SPDIF, not even heard the fibre-based PLink part yet.

The combo of the Less is More Yggy and the fibre-based opticalRendu, sounds great on my speakers. First thing I said when I heard it was that this is like the X1. On my RAAL SR1a earphones, the real test of my DACs, it was the best sounding DAC. The X1 was the best on the SR1a until the Yggy.

Even if the Yggy was almost as good as the X1 I would be ecstatic.

Another huge plus is that I can have both RCA and XLR outputs from the DAC connected to my Holo Serene preamp and VM-1a amp at the same time. You cannot do that with the X1.

Great job Schitt.

@chauncey give Vine Galbo a call he might be able to arrange something for you. 

I echo the comments about  having synergy between components. A case in point I owned the Accuphase DP-78 CD/SACD player a formidable  DAC that matched wonderfully with my Shindo, Wolcott 220 monoblocks and Maggie 20.7.  After moving to a Pass Labs 350.8 amplifier the sound had changed to a more aggressive and rock and roll sound, still good but different.  I demoed the Holo May Level 2 R2R dac.  In my system it had a polite sound more laid back, detailed, and good sound stage, but did not WOW me to switch from my Accuphase.  I've also heard the Chord Hugo TT which had a similar sound as the Holo May.  With the Aqua La Scala MKii Optologic IMHO it blew away the Holo May and just matched up extremely well in my system, music just slightly warmer, but more weight/body, detail, huge sound stage both wide and deep,  and that "there"  factor.  Piano notes were just to die for. I can only emphasis what others have indicated where possible to demo the unit in your system.  Happy hunting!!

@chauve I’m still in love the MMT, and have side by side by side in front of me the MMT, T+A 200, Musetec 005 (but not in I2s as I historically have listened to the 005). My close friend has the Holo May and I loaned out my MMT to him, we did some listening and he/I differ in listening tastes an he went with the Holo because he’s a true "organic" and "musical" "vinyl" loving audiophile for whatever those cliche terms mean to you. While I’m more of a modern music, dynamics and detail lover who wants his 2 channel to sound like multi channel and be enveloped by a holographic and wide, detailed and lightning fast sound. He’s a tubes guy and I solid state... If that also sheds any light on listening preference.

l’ll be honest the MMT is incredible, but expensive, and my buddy confessed to me that that was a great deal of why he opted for the Holo May. The T+A thus far does an amazing job and might have a wider side to side sound stage and slightly more distinguished right to left presentation compared to the MMT, but bass is somewhat veiled on the 200 and I feel I need to drastically overhaul my sub settings while A/B/C testing these DAC’s because of the 200. Time and time again the MMT would make me stop, lift my head, as almost expecting to see a phantom before me generating what in my opinion is the best center image I have heard. Seriously I listen to very familiar tracks and was just awestruck once stepping up from the 005 to the MMT based on this feat alone.

The MMT is IMO > then the T+A 200, and T+A 200 > 005, but rightfully so at their respective price points. These are early impressions with the 200 though (about 15hrs butt in chair time) and I’m awaiting new sub’s and amps to really flesh out this analysis. I’ve owed the MMT and 005 for years now and have nothing but incredible things to say about both. As of right now I have given the 005 over to my buddy who has the Holo May for him to really sit down and listen to those two DAC’s side by side for an extended period of time.

I have to preface all of this information due to the fact that I have a someone unusual system set up where I’m running my DAC’s through an integrated and then through separate monoblock amplification. And I have run into a few DAC related voltage output issues that I’ve had to troubleshoot over the years to avoid clipping.

Example being that I have to run my voltage output on my MMT at 0.6v (as opposed to 2v or 6v), yet I have zero issues with the 005, not having a preamp or volume control feature as do the MMT and 200 (both having preamp like capabilities, 005 is just max volume out). Yet with the 200 I cannot run it’s XLR outputs in "line stage" mode which is essentially max volume out, otherwise again I will get clipping distortion. So I need to run the pre-outs of the 200 in variable volume mode. This is something that I’m still researching, but to the best of my ears variable avoids clipping into my integrated amp (SU-R1000). I’m contemplating running the 200 through RCA outs as opposed to XLR to see if this might change things.

So who knows?... But in the end 4k price jumps is what I’ve personally found to be the case as far as eyebrow raising sonic improvements in my DAC’s and system.

What I will say though is the 005 really has a special place in my heart because it obviously was the best DAC I had ever heard at that time and my listening journey. If I had to do it all over again on a drastically limited budget, looking at a brand new 005 for $2,900 I without question would go that route ( @lordmelton is a great reference). I also do wonder about the sonic benefits of external clocks and time and time again look at my Gustard r26 and wonder if and external clock with bring its caliber up to that of the 005 as many other listeners claim (but that combo two now is eclipsing the 005 price).

@krymer2 It is an amazing DAC (MMT). I am floored with each time too. I honestly feel is holographic center imagine and bass coherence to be my two favorite features. Just an amazing piece of equipment . ​​​​​

@docroasty so the MA3, what were/are your thoughts in A/B listening compared to the MMT. I’m highly looking into the MA3, but right now have the 200 and I’m really enjoying it. The 30k EMM labs DA2 V2 is my fantasyland piece of equipment should I ever fall into a large sum of money.

@ja_kub_sz , Hello!  I read with interest you comment on MMT output voltages.

And I have run into a few DAC related voltage output issues that I’ve had to troubleshoot over the years to avoid clipping.

My Tambaqui is connected to my Audionet Stern Preamp with single ended (prefered) (RCA) cables.  On a very few recordings, that in the words of my dealer, are 'very hot' I get clipping or distortion while using the 6v output.  Certainly different preamps or integrateds synergise with different output voltages.  So I can change it to 2v output, right in the Mola Mola app.  This eliminates the distortion on 'hot' recordings.  But, it does not sound as good generally.  So I learned this easy adjustment from Bill at GTT: in the app set Volume Offset (I use direct) to -2.  This allows me to maintain the higher output voltage and get no clipping with better sound.