Six DAC Comparison

@soix - Sorry to drag this out but comparing six different DACs takes more time than I allotted!  It might have been better (certainly easier) to compare two of them and then two more, and then two more, and then the three that I liked most and then the three I liked least.  However, unlike a playoff, the goal is not to pick a "winner," but rather to simply report observations.  I did post a picture of five of the DACs on my system page.  The Mojo Audio Mystique X SE NCZ is not in my system right now as I do not have room, so I will move it in later. 

A couple of early observations would include that they all sound good, just different.  There is not a single one of the six that I couldn't live with in my system, but I do like several better than the others.  My preferences are most likely related to the music I listen to and the sonic preferences I prefer from my system.  In my previous post, when I talked about liking a richer tone than I was getting from the Metrum Acoustics DACs, in general, the six DACs here do provide that.

Another observation is that IMO the professional reviews of these DACs accurately portray what I am hearing - mostly.  I would say there are embellishments and, as well, there are times you must read between the lines or pick-up on subtleties within the review but, in general, I would say the reviews are accurate.  The specific SMc Audio DAC-2 that I have here has not actually been reviewed, but the previous "Ultra DAC" iteration received an extremely positive (almost too much so) review years ago at 6moons.  While constructed from the same platform, the DAC-2 that I have here is different, and is supposed to sound better.

When I get down to discussing my specific observations and comparisons, I do not intend to reinvent the wheel and will probably quote some of those existing reviews.

I will also share that I really wanted to like the Merason but didn't like it so well at first.  However, the more I listened, the more I liked it and now, even if it doesn't turn out to be my favorite, I do find it hard to switch to something else.  It is just so easy to listen to and displays this rich sounding musicality on just about every type of music I throw its way.  It is also absolutely unflappable, regardless of how hard you push it.

Great info. As a former reviewer I’d make two observations FWIW:

1. We as humans are inherently awful at judging a piece of equipment on its own, which is why I regard reviews that don’t include comparisons to anything else (looking at you TAS) as next to useless and likely inaccurate or at least potentially misleading.
2. We are likewise awful at trying to compare more than two variables at once, and IME this is especially true with audio equipment.

So the takeaways would be that you doing these comparisons is hugely useful for relative perspective and why so many here are so eagerly awaiting your thoughts/impressions, and take the time to compare each DAC directly to the other because trying to infer firm conclusions from indirect comparisons could easily lead to erroneous findings (been there, done that). Again, FWIW.

Hello everyone, 

I would like to chime in as audiophile and manufacturer. I've been audiophile for over 40 yrs. I started building audio equipment in 1984. Everything I build, I build it for myself first. If I like it(if passes my taste - listening test), it becomes a product I sell. So

I would like to give my two cents. DAC chips make difference. Output section and power supply too. Parts quality also. If I have to define which one does what:

DAC chip - tonality, musicality and 20-25% of the sound

Output section - clarity, resolution, soundstage, dynamics, coloration and 40-50% of the sound

Power supply(mostly on the digital part) and parts quality - transparency, resolution, liquid and easy flowing sound, less harshness and 20-30% of the sound.

I would love to have you guys audition and  evaluate my Audio Mirror - Tubadour V DAC.

Vlad

@mitch2 - No easing into retirement for you my friend!  You have Benjamin and now Vlad at Audio Mirror wanting you to review their latest.  I predict that Lukasz at Lampizator will be posting shortly with his thoughts & requests 

At this rate you may be tuning into a part time/full time DAC reviewer.  Net is that this is positive news for those of us interested in the thoughts of a knowledgable common sense audiophile relating to a few select DAC's of YOUR choosing! 

Yes, the Merason Dac1 is a wonderful sounding Dac and took a good friends advice as he said it's overall sound signature was spot on with his top of the line Mojo Dac at half the price...

I had my MKI updated to MKII and it exceeded the SQ of my wonderful SW1X III+ DHT Tube Dac; the Merason just captured more ambiance, spatial cues and space...

Wig