I did try the filters, but I really couldn’t hear that big of a difference. I really think that my hearing is not so great anymore. I have to crack my jaw a lot these days to pop my right ear, if that makes sense. When I get some more serous time to sit down a give it a good listen, I will definitely try them again. I'll get my wife to have a listen as well as she has a much better ear for musicality, than I. Thank you.
Back to the DAC
Just a bit of an update. When I inquired about a DAC upgrade in a recent post, it was suggested that I look at upgrading my cables first. Since then, I have done so (see my virtual system for that). Not over the top stuff, but a definite improvement over the mostly stock, generic cables I originally had.
System is sounding pretty darn good, but like most of us, you always wonder what a more expensive DAC will offer in the way of sound quality improvements.
Many of the recommended, higher priced DACs seem to include streamers and/or offer pre-amp capabilities. I have a good streamer and pre-amp and really don’t want all those components in one box.
Have any of you experienced a DAC which offers the sound qualities of highly praised units like the Mola Mola Tambaqui, DCS Lina, T&A 200, Weiss DAC501, etc. which their only function is a DAC?
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my experience as well. The Bricasti preamp section is very good and is most likely better than using lower end preamps but I found that using a good preamp results in more natural, more refined type of presentation with better depth. I tried 3 DACs direct to amp so far (Benchmark DAC 3 HGC, Bricasti M3, PS Audio DirectStream) and having a preamp in the chain beats DAC direct in my system to my ears. |
@axeis1 I would have liked to tried a Dave, just never happened, but they come highly recommended. |
For reproduction of CDs, I extremely recommend the Jay's Audio CDt3 Mk3. I've tried over a dozen cheap to expensive (PS Audio) transports over the past 5 years (recent change to separates). It is vastly superior and beautifully built. As to DACs, I've tried older ones and generally found them wanting. They were mostly lesser cost ones (the Topping D70S for example). Also COS Engineering D1 and D2. I've ordered the Lampizator Poseidon to be a one and done unit. The combination of the Poseidon as both DAC and pre-amp and transport is fabulous (I heard my speakers with the Horizon). DACs keep improving generally. A $2700 DAC LAiV Harmony got a very high recommendation. An unusual R2R design with a reportedly more articulate, forward sound than R2R designs are known for. I haven't heard it. The T&A line is from a major manufacturer and the build quality is excellent. I do not recommend the Weiss, dry and hard compared to the others. As to cabling, I was using low cost digital cabling from my transport (step above Blue Jeans which is very neutral and a steal at $35) similar to the Westminster Labs lower end digital cable. I've found the Paradox Pulse to be superior at 8X the price. The Blue Jeans is very neutral but has no dimensionality to the music, raher flat and stuck in the speaker. The analog XLR cable to my pre-amp is also lower cost but very good as well (I use Grover Huffman power cord and speaker cabling in both systems). I love the timing/speed of the Westminster Labs Reference XLR cable from the Poseidon to the REI amps. Toe tapping rhythm. I will be testing the Paradox Pulse RCA ICs for phono versus the known excellent quality Furutech phono cables made using their FA-aS22 cable and top quality cf-102-r-ncf RCA connectors (about $550 as parts-too expensive built). |
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