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Advice needed: It's time for a new DAC

Hello People of Audiogon!

I received some help a little while back when I was considering upgrading my speakers so I am looking to the community again for guidance and opinions.  It is time to upgrade my DAC.  

 

My current system is Sasha DAW's driven by a Luxman L-509X.

 

The three DAC's on my short list are:

 

MSB Discrete
Berkeley Alpha V3
Chord DAVE

 

One thing to note is that I am in Canada so many brands are difficult if not impossible to audition.  

My priority is "musicality" or "soul".  What's this?  Well to me, it means feeling.  The Luxman and Sasha's well convey musical emotion and that is important to me.  I don't know how to describe it better beyond that.  They have flow (perhaps PRAT, to use another vague term).  Sounds have meat to them and texture.  The music feels real.  

 

The second priority is three dimensionality.  

 

The third is resolution.

 

My one caveat is no tube DAC's.  Tubes, for me, just don't work well based on my listening style and habits.  I love tubes, I've owned tubes and tubes are wonderful, but as things are now, I just don't want them in a DAC.  Perhaps they will find their way into my system in a pre-amp in the future.

 

I listen primarily to Tidal but MQA is not a priority for me.  I would switch to Qobuz but they were not available in Canada until recently and all my play lists in Roon are with Tidal tracks so I suspect a switch will be a real headache, but I digress. My point is MQA isn't really important and DSD isn't necessary either.  

 

Of the above DAC's, if you have heard them, what are your thoughts/opinion?  

 

Thank you in advance,

-Paul

 

 

bigfatpaulie
mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
491 posts
 

Also, I was hoping PS Audio would address the items you mentioned with the MkII release…I was pretty sure you were talking about MkI the way you described it. Too bad…

Well, take the comments with a grain of salt: the PS Audio mkII retails for $8000

OP’s top two choices here retail for $28,000 ~ $30,000, so once again typically one gets what one pays for, within the context of the law of diminishing returns. 

Clarification question though @bigfatpaulie since you mentioned a "CD Player" appearance, is that not the MPS-8 you have?

(did you all catch that? "grain" of salt? ha ha)

 

zlone
681 posts
 

Good reviews, thanks for sharing. 

bigfatpaulie OP
27 posts
 

@audphile1 So full disclosure, I used to own the M1 about 8-9 years ago when I was a headphone user.  I really loved the DAC at the, especially with the HD600's connected directly to the balanced out's.  Because of my fond memory of it, I wanted to audition it again. With this time, I did play with all the filters but the one I settled on was minimum 4.  With that said, I did find the filters offered a generally subtle difference, personally, and the M1 sounds like the M1 regardless of filter setting. 

 

@mclinnguy Yes, I did end up with a more expensive DAC but the PS Audio was also not the cheapest on my list.  Both the ANK and the T+A DAC200 were less money.  The reason I auditioned the PSA was that the dealer that sold me my speakers offered it to as they felt it offers excellent value and was well worth a listen.

 

And you are correct, I noted the error about the PB names after I posted but I couldn't edit my post.  The PBD unit I first saw/demo'd was the MPS-8 (DAC/Player/Streamer in 1 box) as they did not have a MPD-8 on hand.  I did my auditioning using the MPS-8.  The unit I bought is the MPD-8 (DAC only) as I did not want the CD player or streaming functionality.  According to Andreas Koch, who was very kind in answering all my questions, was very clear that as a DAC only the MPD-8 is the better choice, though the units are very close sounding.  Having heard both, I would agree.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,132 posts
 

@bigfatpaulie thanks!
I agree the filter is not going to have as much impact on sound as changing a component or incorporating room treatments. And man with the Wilsons they’ll seek you out and kick your butt with good or bad whatever they are fed. So I get how you arrived at the results you’ve shared. thanks again this a timely thread as I’m on a market for a new DAC. 

bigfatpaulie OP
27 posts
 

That's cool @audphile1 !!  Though, I don't envy the search that lies ahead of you!  I took me MONTHS to settle on one.  Hopfully you find yours faster than I did mine.

If you don't mind me asking (and I am just being nosy here) what do you have currently and what's on your short list?

Good luck with your hunt!

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