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Most intriguing DAC?

There's always a lot of hoopla when a new DAC comes out like the ESS Sabre32 and AKM 32 bit DACs. But these are all on silicon.

Few manufacturers actually makes discrete DACs. In the past, I was only aware of one company, Meitner, (may be dCS?) that did this. Recently I came across MSB Technologies Platinum DAC III that use closely matched discrete resistors (0.1% tolerance for standard DAC, 0.01% for the Signature upgrade, and 0.001% for the Diamond upgrade). It is a variant of the older, but highly valued, ladder DAC. MSB is one of few DAC companies that offers a steady upgrade path. I really find this DAC intriguing. But why is this DAC hardly mentioned on audio discussion sites or in the press?
dracule1
montejay
285 posts
 
Hey Dracule1,
Ive heard alot of the the hi rez (XRCD2 and K2HD's)I own quite a few.Until recently, I would also have thought they were some of the best sounding digital.
What has totally changed my thinking is hearing a few high quality SACD players(Esoteric X03SE and D&P05,Krell Standard MKII).I never heard any digital so good.Ear opening The music just jumps out of the speakers in ways I've never experienced before. Each instument was placed logically and every nuance picked up.If I could one day swing it the D05 P05 with the 32 bit chip would be my endgame in digital.

jtwrace's avatar
jtwrace
443 posts
 
I'm really liking my new Wavelength Cosecant V3
dracule1 OP
1,085 posts
 
hi montejay, I am glad to hear you had such good experience with sacd. I have been under impression PCM hi red formats are as good if not better than sacd. Of course implementation is more important than format in this case considering real world rather theoretical.
montejay
285 posts
 
Hi Dracule1,
Your right. For me, once I heard real good sacd,I couldn't get it out of my head.I'm now thinking of going sacd,but to do it right requires $$'s.I do like my redbook player with my K2hd's and XRCD's,however sacd's when played on a great player on a fine system are really quite the experience.
jamiehughburr
12 posts
 
I have a MSB Platinum Plus DAC, which I will eventually get upgraded. I find I get better sound from using my Esoteric SA-10 SACD player as a transport for the MSB, and using the SA-10 to play SACDs only than the SA-10 alone as a CD player. The MSB is amazing--some hybrid SACDs sound as good or better as CD only through the Esoteric/MSB combination than as SACDs. Will check out the Arthur Salvatore review.
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