Okay...as I wait for my BACCH-SP Adio to arrive, I have a few other units that are worth doing a write up on.
Cary Audio DMS-600 is one that was traded in. This is a DAC/Streamer in one box. I plugged in the unit. Downloaded the Cary Application and put in my Qobuz credentials and was listening in less than 5 minutes. Took a few minutes to settle in on mechanics of the device. Dialed in the volume and let the system warm up.
In a Sentimental Mood has good sparkle in the piano. Detail is not elite but is very good. Drum rolls showing good separation. What really stands out is the great staging.
Be Still My Beating Heart sounds big. Image extending well beyond the speakers to the right and left. The central image and voice lack a touch focus. The central image lacks definition and it feels like the voice is coming from a very broad space. This is one of those things that no DAC at this level does super well. It is not off putting, just something I am noticing. Noise floor is good and there is no sibilance in Sting's voice.
Noise floor is superb on Liberty. Effects coming from where they belong. Tonally, her voice is hitting notes that are perfectly forward. Right in front of me, without me feeling the need to lean back or forward. No sibilance.
Opening of Duende is good. It struggles a bit to keep up with Tony Levin but again, based on price point, this is very normal. Song sounds full. Bass response is balanced and is neither pronounced nor is it absent. The berg quartet sounds wonderful. Maybe lacks the intimacy of the Chord TT2 but is quite enjoyable to listen to.
All in all, this is a product that is quite competitive in its price class. I am pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable it is to listen to. Smooth without being syrupy. Neiter forward nor laid back. This is a pretty nice device. I don't particularly like the way I control Qobuz from within the App but it is stable and not buggy. I just don't like the UI.
In coming days we will write up a POV on the Auralic Vega and Luxman DAC.
