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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@curiousjim - Sonore have been doing this for awhile now, an optical cable directly feeds the streamer, which is called their Signature Rendu SE Deluxe (optical). SGC is a good place to buy one or, directly from Sonore. I started using optical cable for my 45-foot run from my network room to my system room for a couple of years now (by using converter boxes) but I have been using the Sig Rendu SE optical for just under a year. This new one is fully updated to their latest version (more than just a firmware upgrade). The sound is clear and smooth, but also full, natural, and with good body - light years from mechanical. The Sig Rendu SE Deluxe is their flagship one box PS plus streamer board but the real bargain is virtually the same streamer board w/o onboard PS (ultra Rendu) for only $1K, or $1,600 for the optical version. Many are perfectly happy using that smaller version to stream, or as a streamer following a dedicated server. I can’t say how much better the one box SE Deluxe is for between 3x-4x the price, but I wouldn’t go back in my main system, because that streamer plus my SGC sonicTransporter i9 (Gen 4) gives me as good a digital signal as I have heard in my system. SGC and/or Sonore also sell a high quality optical converter and a switch with both Ethernet and one optical connection to help people switch over to using optical signal transmission. |
@mitch2 Wow that is an amazing streaming set up…can only dream. I found adding optical, a quality switch and network streamer really made a difference. I can’t justify top notch but I still came away with a nice set up at a modest price. I have thought about switching out my streamer for an Optical Redu Deluxe but not sure what improvement if any would be gained🤔. Set up: Mesh Router-FMC-Optical-FMC-EtherRegen w/clock-Stack SmoothLan-Bricasti M5-Mojo DAC. Also use a Sonic Transporter i5 as roon core in separate room and LPS’s on all. The Mojo DAC really made it! |
Thank you so much for the immense undertaking that you endured with this Six Dac comparison. I think you did an amazing job, better than many professional reviewers, imho. I truly appreciate all of the time, energy and resources you put into this endeavor. I have two questions for you... 1. In you post on 10/05/2024 you had said "...I recall a slightly dryer presentation from the non-NCZ version, that I do not perceive with the X SE NCZ or with the EVO Pro." Would you be willing to share a little more as to what you mean by a slightly dryer presentation ? 2. Also, another question if you don't mind. I have found that some audio equipment "sounds" better when played later in the evening when there isn't typically more demand on our power grids that ends up polluting the AC signal coming out of the wall socket. Have you ever experienced that? Do you feel the Mojo dacs are sensitive to the quality of the AC power coming out of the wall? Do the Mojo's sound any different when playing during the day vs later in the evening? Thanks again Mitch for your valuable contributions to this forum! Best wishes, Don
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@no_regrets - Yes, I wrote:
That comment is part summation and part paraphrasing from notes I took and emails I traded with Benjamin regarding my impressions from last year of my EVO Pro vs. the X SE that I originally owned, and I believe it is accurate. I did not have the original X SE here at the time of my recent six DAC comparison, but I do still have my listening notes and emails with Benjamin. I was pretty honest with him at that time. Benjamin calls the EVO Pro "warmer" than the X SE. We may be saying similar things while using different words. Here is an exact quote that I wrote to Benjamin when I decided to sell that original X SE:
What I can say now is that the X SE NCZ that I currently own seems to be a closer call against the EVO Pro than both my recollection and notes/emails would indicate from my initial comparison between my EVO Pro and the non-NCZ Mystique X SE DAC. That may be because the Mystique X SE NCZ is a little smoother and richer sounding than the oringinal X SE DAC I owned, it may be that there was an issue of some sort with the original X SE DAC, it could be that my listening preferences have changed a little, or it could be a combination of those things. I still really like the sound of the Mystique EVO Pro that I have here and I find it to be everything I wrote in my write-up in this thread. I believe Benjamin is right and that the X SE is probably objectively a better DAC from the standpoints of resolution, drive, and low noise, but I am still drawn to the engagement I perceive from my EVO Pro that has AD1862NZ chips. Sorry, but I just don’t have a more definitive answer. I like them both, they are both similar and both sound good, and it is just about a draw wrt which I like better. Regarding your power question, I am fortunate to live in a neighborhood with all in-ground electrical lines, although there are above-ground transmission lines feeding the neighborhood. It is not an old house so I have a 200 or 225 amp service, and run 3, 20-amp dedicated lines to my music room using 10 awg Romex. The amps get a line, the preamp and volume control get a line, and the streamer, DDC, and DACs get a line that first feeds an Isoclean 60A power conditioner. PCs to the digital stuff are all shielded. The network gear also has its own dedicated 20A line (a fourth line). Since we are not in what I would call a "city environment" and are not close to commercial/industrial entities, I doubt we have the fluctuations you speak of, and I haven’t noticed anything leading to different types of sound at different times of the day. Internet seems adequate also, and is consistently somewhere between 300-400 Mbps. |
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