Bricasti Model 1 Series II DAC

@joc3021 @audphile1 ​​​​​​

many thanks for the replies! really appreciate the comments/comparisons. had not considered ayre before but will look into it. I like Benchmark as a company but somehow just could not enjoy my dac3b, hpa4 and ahb2.. ended up selling all of them.

@jriggy i really enjoy my MA3. I think it is a great dac. the rockna wavelight is not as technically achieved but somehow find myself enjoying the music more with the rockna house sound. if I do change up my dacs, the MA3 may be the one to go. based on your comments, am now a bit more hesitant to try the Bricasti (mainly as it'd be a blind buy of significant cost).. may look in the opposite direction to totaldac (d1 unity) which seems to be in a similar price range. 

Can anyone comment on comparing the current version

of the PS Audio DirectStream mk2 with the Bricasti or Meitner Dax’s?

I recently replaced my DirectStream MKI - heavily modded - with a Weiss DAC 501 MKII. I cannot respond to the SQ of the DS MKII, but I believe the Weiss DAC is much more neutral and noise-free. Also the build quality is much better.

Also the Weiss DAC 501MKII has an excellent Ethernet input and the DirectStream MKII does not.

I did not listen to the Bricasti Model 1 Series II DAC - but it is also much costlier than the PS Audio or Weiss.

Please be aware the Weiss DAC requires plenty of burn-in time and a very musical power cable.

Does anyone know if Bricasti offers an upgrade from a M3 MDx to the M1S2?

I am a Bricasti dealer and am familiar.  The M3 is a completely different chassis, PS, etc…. I do not believe that there would be a standard upgrade directly with Bricasti as it is a totally different model and footprint.  They did not offer an M3 to M1 upgrade for example.  
 

You could trade the DAC to a Bricasti dealer that takes trades but it will much more expensive than the typical $2500 upgrade.