I am taking a 15 min break to write this. I got the D.BOB and have been listening to both SACD’s via a low-end Oppo BDP-83 connected to the D.BOB and then SP/DIF to one of my Benchmark DAC3B and Schitt Yggi+ Less is More DACs.
My SACD/CD frame of reference is the amazing Sony SCD-1 that was really amazing after I modded it to Vacuum State Level 5+. That was a famous mod 20+ years ago. My SCD-1 died this year so that is why I had the interest in the D.BOB.
I also will be buying an expensive PlayBack Designs DAC to replace the DAC3B and I was thinking of buying a PD DAC with the SACD tray as an additional option. That is an expensive option and also degrades the DAC a bit.
How did the D.BOB sound? With both DACs I would say it was better than the SCD-1. With the Yggi+ it was excellent. No chance I even consider the SACD tray option for the PD DAC.
I could not find my DSOTM SACD (yet) so I just grabbed a pile of discs and started playing. The first SACD I played was CCR’s Willy and the Poorboys.
I have 2 systems in my office and both go through the same gear until the amp. A Schitt Aegir amp connects to a RAAL SR1a earphone. A Magtech amp goes to the Magnepan LRS+. Both of these systems are amongst the best systems I have ever had. The preamp is a Benchmark LA4.
I am not sure if it was my associated gear (the Yggi+ in particular) but the sound was great and the CCR disk had never sounded as good. The SCD-1 was such a pleasurable listen but it lacked some details. I did not care because I enjoyed the music so much. With my new gear and the D.BOB that same pleasurable sound is there but with nice details.
I then played Rush Hemispheres CD to see if CD’s worked. This is a crappy sounding disc. However, today it did not sound bad, it was not great but very good.
I played David Bowie’s Heathen SACD. I used to play that a lot on the SCD-1. On the D.BOB is sounded better than ever. I even discovered the sonic similarity to this 20 year old disc and with the last one he made before his death a dew years ago. Did not notice it so clearly with the SCD-1.
I have some Bob Dylan SACDs that I bought even though I am not a huge fan. I never really listened to them much on the SCD-1. On the D.BOB it sounds really good. So clear and audiophile like sound. I think I will gives these disc more notice in the future.
The D.BOB is a GREAT device. So glad I bought this.