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dCS Bartok Apex vs McIntosh DA2 - Trouble Hearing the Difference

I am currently playing a new set of Focal Scala Evos with a McIntosh MA9500, fed by a Wiim Pro playing Tidal Direct. This set up uses the McIntosh DA2, which sounds remarkable to my untrained ears. 

I borrowed a dCS Bartok Apex from my local dealer. Given that I can run balanced out (using Transparent Reference Gen 6 cables) to the MA9500, I can switch inputs to compare the DA2 & Wiim vs the Bartok (DAC & Streaming) very quickly. I level matched the best I could.

What I am confused about, though, is just how close the DA2 sounds to the Bartok. The most noticeable difference is how forward and prevalent vocals are with the DA2. They seem anchored to the center image and several feet more forward into the room, whereas in the Bartok they are a bit more recessed, and integrated into the rest of the music. The Bartok soundstage is also wider, but not shockingly so. The sound is definitely smoother or "rounder" with the Bartok as compared to the DA2. 

I admit I am relatively new to critical listening, but I think I expected the difference between the $20K Bartok and the built-in DA2 to be more profound. I'm not anxious to spend the money on the Bartok, but am willing to do if it is a significant step up, which I think it should be. 

So what am I missing? Am I perhaps limited by the MA9500? My dealer doesn't love autoformer-based Mc products, but many do, so I would have thought the MA9500 is sufficiently resolving. Room acoustics are not the best, but certainly not terrible. 

Interested in any thoughts or feedback.

ripordaff
mahler123
3,361 posts
 

@rwwear 

there was a long thread devoted to the dCS tactics here very rebut I couldn’t find it just now.  Perhaps dCS threatened Agon and got it removed 

rwwear
2,871 posts
 

Possibly Mahler. I think the OP would be wise to read GoldenSound's review for further insights.

deep_333
1,445 posts
 

@verdantaudio  - Good suggestion, but the Bartok is actually serving as both streamer (through Tidal Direct) as well as DAC. So it’s really Wiim & DA2 vs Bartok. 

Well, you could pack up the Bartok, ship it back to Bartok's maker within the return window and get your 20k back.

Tell him....."It's not you, it's me....I need a li'l time, a li'l space just to find myself y'know..."

 

jymc
90 posts
 

jasonbourne71

So why do you scoff at $20k for "nuance and finesse"?  Do you not believe that an expensive DAC MIGHT sound better than a Qutest, OR can YOU not afford to spend ridiculous money on hifi components?  I've got a friend who put over $300k into building a race car.  No one laughs.  I spent well over $250k on my 2-ch stereo rig that I enjoy very much.  So are ya still LOL-ing?  Why?

Most geniuses I know who laugh at audiophile systems do so, perhaps, because they never learned HOW TO LISTEN.  OK, I'll acknowledge right up front that there are many clowns with more money than brains who have no legitimate idea why they spent 6 figures on a home audio system....we'll just kick those guys to the curb right up front.  However, to your apparent surprise, "nuance and finesse", while it might be better defined more specifically in technical musical terms, is something that audio pros (ie, Kevin Gray, Bernie Grundman, etc) have developed in their listening skill set, and some audiophile types have made it their business to FURTHER DEVELOP their listening skills to the extent they truly CAN appreciate the "nuance and finesse" they can hear in a particular music playback system.   DON'T LAUGH AT WHAT WE SPEND WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW WE HAVE JUSTIFIED THE EXPENSE.  

Lastly, we all choose to spend our money differently.  Some guys spend money on fast cars, motorcycles, luxury jewelry/gold medallions, 50cal rifles, and maybe even great drugs and clean hookers and others spend the big $$$ on "boring audio".   

audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,805 posts
 

you have two issues Mcintosh is not as resolving as other brands and transparent tends to be a bit rolled off, t/ry a set of Wireworld or Nordost 

second how are you testing try playing 20 sec of a track note volume and swap the Dac and note what changes.

 

Dave and Troy

Audio Intellect NJ

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