MSB Discrete vs Premier

DISCLAIMER: I decided to move my Bricasti M21 DAC to my main audio system and compare it to my MSB Premier DAC. After some time, I decided my Bricasti DAC sounded better so I sold my MSB Premier DAC. I also like that the Bricasti DAC has a 24-bit delta sigma DAC, a 20-bit ladder DAC and true 1 bit DSD for DSD content. It includes an Ethernet connection so the M21 is recognized as a DNLA device and becomes a powerful media renderer (I am using this feature).

As an example of great product support, my Bricasti DAC was upgraded for $1,000. Their MDx Board replaced the existing board in the DAC. The next Bricasti upgrade was a free firmware chip program that needed to be inserted into the DAC to complete the upgrade. Both upgrades greatly improved the DAC for a very reasonable cost. This is an example of a company supporting it customers.

My MSB Premier DAC was excellent, but I was VERY concerned about their recent product upgrade strategy. MSB released their $14,000 Director product that moves all inputs to another box. They also added additional processing functions in the Director that, I was told, substantially improves the sound quality. I decided that I did not want to spend another $14,000 for another box, to my existing 2 boxes (DAC and power-base) and more cables.

Maybe you should audition the Bricasti M21 DAC.

My experience:  moved from The Discrete to the Premiere, and then added the Director.  Each move was significant, and not incremental.  Adding the Director was as much of an improvement as going from the Discrete to the Premiere.  Not cheap by any means, but well worth it in my opinion.

@eugene81 I recently acquired the MSB Discrete DAC with a single PSU. Would adding a second PSU definitely improve things, enough to justify the added expense having to also get a further power cord? Does the law of diminishing returns not apply to adding an additional PSU at a rather steep price of $1450? The Premier powerbase is simply too expensive. Thanks.

@dwmb Yes, 100% worth it to my ears.  Considerably more space, detail, and presence with the 2nd PSU.  I happened to have a spare of my favorite power cord, but that added cost is something to consider.  The power cord component I might consider diminishing returns, but the 2nd PSU exceeded my expectations.

@eugene81 Many thanks. I think when one understands the science of separate power supplies for different circuits of a component, one appreciates more the value of a separate power supply for the digital and analog circuits or stages of a DAC. I will invest in a second PSU.