Anyone upgrade to the Merason Dac1 mkii?

@bluethinker 

Just saw your post and will post some of my thoughts tomorrow and think the upgrade is worth it.

Wig

@bluethinker

The MKII background is much blacker and low level detail, spatial cues and space are more apparent as well as nuance and shading.

The soundstage is more defined and vibrant with a tighter/ more focused image but with more body to the sound and dimensionality. Bass is tighter and more refined, but I think in a nutshell that the MKII upgrade has better cohesion and sound more effortless...

I was quite happy with the MKI but the MKII is indeed better and more musical 🎶🎵 and replaced my tube SW1X Dac III+ DHT.

Wig

@wig Thank you! I think I'd also sent you a private message a few months back, which you'd also responded to. 

I think I'm going to plan to upgrade the Merason to the MKii version some time in 2024. 

@zlone - Not sure if you already have a Merason Dac1, but I can attest to it's sound quality. Not that I've heard a ton, but I would describe the Merason as just being highly musical. The word "relaxed" seems to get used a lot in the reviews. I would concur - it's a relaxed and musical sound. 

@bluethinker I do not have one right now, a friend of mine has the Mk1. What I am reading about says it might be a fit for me. I like the terms 'musical' and 'relaxed', much as they are overused, they do connote a certain type of sound. Thanks for the comment.

@zlone - I have my primary system in my living room. My evening pleasure is to relax and listen to music so those qualities are important to me. To me, music is a bit of an escape from the rigors and pace of our frenetic and over stimulated world...

As I thought about different upgrade options, I started exploring the world of Dacs. 

Through my research, I went back and reread reviews on the Merason Dac1, including the more recent reviews of the MKii. By revisiting those reviews, it struck me that "relaxed and musical" were adjectives typically used in reference to the Dac1... 

It sort of reminded me that the sound I love in my living room could be altered - and possibly not in a good way - by going in a different direction with another Dac. 

Anyways, if you want to listen to music - and have somewhat relaxed (versus in your face and/or edgy) presentation, I can't recommend the Merason enough. I sort of feel lucky to have arrived at such a fitting device without having to have gone through a rigorous search. 

BTW - What Dac are you using now? And what do you like/not like about it?