Simple device for downsampling?

The Mola Mola Tambaqui is here and warmed up so the DAC comparison has started.

The comparison is through Roon and it seems both the Mola Mola and the Mojo Audio Mystique evo Pro sound best when connected directly to my Mojo Audio DejaVu server using a Network Acoustics muon USB cable. The SMc DAC-2 is connected through a networked Metrum Acoustics Ambre Roon endpoint via an Oyaide silver coaxial cable. The signal sent to the SMc DAC-2 is being down sampled to 48kHz and 24-bits, while the signal to the Mola Mola and Mojo DACs is the full resolution of the music file.

Early impressions include just how good the SMc DAC-2 sounds and how it mostly holds its own against the other two (over $10K) DACs. The Mola Mola sounds better to me through its 6V output than using the reduced 2V output, and it seems to do nothing wrong. It is very musical, smooth, dynamic, and engaging at all volume levels. I certainly understand the rave reviews of the Mola Mola DAC. OTOH, the Mojo evo Pro may display even more tonal color and body so the comparison is certainly not a slam dunk. The SMc DAC-2 has a pair of large Jensen output transformers that reportedly require at least a couple of weeks of break-in. I am a long way from conclusions.

@mitch2 

Interesting to hear your thoughts so far. As your running the Mola with the 6V output setting are you able to run the Mojo and SMC with balanced or AES outputs or are you just having to level match?

Not sure what the output voltage is on the Mojo and SMc DACs so I am matching output volume by ear.  The 6V output from the Mola Mola DAC seems to add dynamic punch and life to the music, regardless of the output volume.  I found the 2V output to sound comparatively bland.

I would recommend installing a sound level meter app on your phone (at least) and use that with a very consistent tone for setting levels. I do this when comparing dacs and set the levels on different channels on my preamp.

A higher output almost always sounds better in comparison to a lower one and can definitely trip up a comparison.

According to Mojo’s website the Mystique will output 2.5V single ended and 5V balanced. I don’t believe you mentioned anything about SE vs Balanced. I wasn’t able to find anything regarding the SMC unit.

I didn't mention that my system is balanced throughout so all three DACs are using the balanced outputs.

At 6V vs. 5V, the Mola Mola and Mojo DACs are pretty close in level but at (I believe) 2V, the SMc DAC is at a noticeably lower output voltage than the other two so I do increase the volume when comparing with that DAC.   Good suggestion on the phone app although the differences I am hearing are not solely related to impact/output level as I seem to notice differences in body and dimensionality between them.  Tonally, the differences are not as apparent and all three DACs are similarly resolving, with maybe the Mola Mola a slight bit better than the other two in that area.  However, I don't believe resolution will be my deciding factor. It is still early.