Six DAC Comparison
I am in the middle of comparing the sound of six different DACs in my system. I own them all (I know weird) but one of them is still within a trial/return timeframe.
Not to share specific comparisons today, but a couple of observations so far are that first, they all definitely sound different from each other. On one hand, they all sound pretty good and play what is fed to them without significant flaws but on the other hand there are definite sonic differences that make it easy to understand how a person might like the sound of some of them while not liking others.
Second, raises the observation that most of them must be doing something to shape the sound in the manner the designer intended since one of the DACs, a Benchmark DAC3 HGA, was described by John Atkinson of Stereophile as providing "state-of-the-art measured performance." In the review, JA closed the measurements section by writing, "All I can say is "Wow!" I have also owned the Tambaqui (not in my current comparison), which also measured well ("The Mola Mola Tambaqui offers state-of-the-digital-art measured performance." - JA). The Benchmark reminds me sonically of the Tambaqui, both of which are excellent sounding DACs.
My point is that if the Benchmark is providing "state-of-the-art measured performance," then one could reasonably presume that the other five DACs, which sound different from the Benchmark, do not share similar ’state-of-the-art" measurements and are doing something to subtly or not so subtly alter the sound. Whether a person likes what they hear is a different issue.
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 |
I’m really looking forward to Mitch’s observations. @mitch2 - Would you consider adding the Audio Mirror Tubadour DAC to your review if Vlad was willing to send it to you? |
@soix - I have been thinking about your suggestion and I agree - comparing them all at once is not going to move things forward. Therefore, I will use the Mojo Audio Mystique EVO Pro DAC as my baseline, since I am most familiar with it, and then compare the others to that DAC, one at a time. Michael Lavorgna at Twittering Machines does something similar when he compares whichever DAC he is reviewing at the time to his reference totaldac d1-unity. @bluethinker @audiomirror - The Audio Mirror Tubadour DAC seems to have many satisfied owners based on the posts I have read. I hadn't intended to expand my listening comparison beyond the DACs I originally listed, but I am always interested in hearing new products. I appreciate your suggestion that I give the Tubadour a try, but it would probably be best if I work my way through the DACs I have here now first. I will certainly keep it in mind. |
What I have realised is that everything matters @trivema The server/DDC, the power cables and conditioning used, interconnects also have a strong influence. In a very revealing system you can adjust the sound from a DAC in a noteworthy manner, from musical to analytical, changes in soundstage and clarity etc… I just wish I had all the ‘best’ items feeding a DAC, because then we’d know how well it scales. Some DACs can be unimpressive if unoptimised. |
