Did you compare the LTA to the Benchmark or Merason DACs?
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.
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@soix - Absolutely. I had all six DACs here at once over the past month and the LTA Aero is the only one that had to be returned. I own the others. I had five of them powered up and on my stand and three or four of them connected through the DDC at any one time. At first, the only one out of the mix was the Mojo Mystique X SE NCZ. I listened to all of them off and on for a couple of weeks and then began focusing on whichever DAC that I was preparing a write-up for. The three you asked about offer three quite different presentations, IMO, so at least for me an apples to apples comparison would be difficult. They all bring their strengths to the table, but not the same strengths. That is why it is important for buyers to think about which sonic attributes they value most, since no one DAC is likely to fully cover every base. I am trying to write about the strengths and limitations of each unit, as I hear them, and then at the end I will consider preparing a short summary comparison of all six. However, I cannot tell a prospective buyer which unit would work out best for them. As we read many times in these threads, you really do need to hear stuff for yourself. |
Really appreciate all your time and effort here. Thank you @mitch2 |
- 326 posts total