Advice needed: It's time for a new DAC
Hello People of Audiogon!
I received some help a little while back when I was considering upgrading my speakers so I am looking to the community again for guidance and opinions. It is time to upgrade my DAC.
My current system is Sasha DAW's driven by a Luxman L-509X.
The three DAC's on my short list are:
MSB Discrete
Berkeley Alpha V3
Chord DAVE
One thing to note is that I am in Canada so many brands are difficult if not impossible to audition.
My priority is "musicality" or "soul". What's this? Well to me, it means feeling. The Luxman and Sasha's well convey musical emotion and that is important to me. I don't know how to describe it better beyond that. They have flow (perhaps PRAT, to use another vague term). Sounds have meat to them and texture. The music feels real.
The second priority is three dimensionality.
The third is resolution.
My one caveat is no tube DAC's. Tubes, for me, just don't work well based on my listening style and habits. I love tubes, I've owned tubes and tubes are wonderful, but as things are now, I just don't want them in a DAC. Perhaps they will find their way into my system in a pre-amp in the future.
I listen primarily to Tidal but MQA is not a priority for me. I would switch to Qobuz but they were not available in Canada until recently and all my play lists in Roon are with Tidal tracks so I suspect a switch will be a real headache, but I digress. My point is MQA isn't really important and DSD isn't necessary either.
Of the above DAC's, if you have heard them, what are your thoughts/opinion?
Thank you in advance,
-Paul
Save yourself some $$ the Excellent T+A 200 dac can compete with Anydac up to $15k and compared to the chord Dave much more musical and at $7200 before discounts and HQ player built in a true Audiophile bargain check out all the Great reviews and get a demo unit to try out . that ones next on my list. |
In my experience, unless you find the natural sound system like the right speaker in the below video, the fuzzy/empty center image is impossible to avoid. All audio systems sound unnatural and fuzzy/empty center image like the left speaker in below video. Alex/WTA A sample of the natural sound system. Original music Samples of unnatural sounds. |
Hi everyone!! Thank you for all the input. I'll do my best to answer everyone, but if I miss someone I'm sorry.
@yyzsantabarbara Of the DAC's I used to own, my favorite was probably DAVE, however, I was using it with a DNA Stellaris amp, fancy glass, and modded HD800's. It was a very different system than my speakers and synergy is important. I also had different goals than I do now. My speaker cables are way too long. They are also basic and will be replaced down the line. The amp is in the basement, however, I am going to move it so it is basically just below the ceiling so the cables, in the end, will likely be 4 feet or so. @blisshifi I originally had the DAC200 on my list because of the all the hype. I also took it off because of all the hype. Guys like Huff, it seems everything new is "the best" so I just ignore him and people like him. I'be been around long enough to know that there is no such thing as a "giant killer" or a $15k item for $7k. Too much hype for me, I guess...
@ja_kub_sz I've never heard of the Cen.Grand. Thank you. I have heard the Mola Mola and I guess I am alone in my feelings about it. I don't care for it at all - I find it thin and lifeless sounding. I also found it had a lot of digital grain. For reference, I feel the same about the PS Audio DSD. They aren't for me personally.
Thank you @audphile1 . The speakers are toed in. It could likely be solved by more room treatment (eg curtains) but things like that just aren't an option. I have to work with what I have.
@vicdior Thank you for the Weiss suggestion. It's another one of those hyped up Huff DAC's... First the DAC200 was better than anything for twice the price, then the 204 was better than the DAC200 at half that price... It just doesn't add up as then a 204 is better than any $15k DAC. It's all too cloudy for me.
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@bigfatpaulie GIK sells stands for the panels. Mount a thick GIK 244 panels on these stands for each first reflection point. Store these two panels in the garage or something like that, and break em out for your critical listening sessions. Then stow them away. You can even do the third panel in front of fireplace. May be that’s an option.
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The DAC204 and DAC205 are relatively affordable options to Weiss Engineering’s higher-grade units such as the DAC501 and the HELIOS. They do not have the onboard digital processing capabilities of those units, nor do they include headphone outputs or remote controls.Also,it all depends on what gear and cables, speakers you use to get that synergy system that sounds pleasant to your ears.There are also plenty of other reviews you can search on the web but better still ,if you can go listen at a dealer.Good luck with your choice. |
