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.
Checked out the link you provided for comparative reviews of Mojo line and noticed the reviewer, like Lavorgna, utilizes tubes in his system. I'm unfamiliar with the gear in question so it's not clear to me whether this is a SS amp + tubed pre or what but, this brings up a question: do the Mojo DACs require tube amplification to sound "natural"?
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Not in my system, which is posted here on Audiogon. SMc Audio solid state preamp and two SMc Audio solid state monoblocks. Another interesting article/post on that site is which provides one writer’s perspective on different categories of gear. If you look at the DAC list, you will find the Mystique EVO Pro 21 in the Holy Shit!! tier, but the X SE was apparently not listened to. It does provide a perspective on the Mojo Audio house sound, although IMO the X models move away from the "coloration" mentioned by the writer. However, OTOH, I believe what he calls "coloration" is a sonic attribute I find compelling on my EVO Pro Z, to the point where I seem to be unable to sell it an settle in with only the X SE NCZ. |
@mitch2 Do you play (stream) your music from a hard drive or do you stream from the internet. How does the Mojo DAC's sound streaming from internet from Tidal etc. compared to streaming from a hard drive? I think I read earlier in the thread that Mojo Audio is coming out with some DAC's PCM based and I am curious if those are more geared towards streaming from the internet. They also sound interesting in the fact that the power supply is external and modular and you can easily upgrade. |
@brbrock - I both stream and play local music files. My digital front end is outlined on my virtual system page and essentially consists of playing either files recorded in FLAC and stored on a SSD inside of my sonicTransporter i9 (Gen 4) server, or music streamed from Tidal or Qobuz over Roon, with the i9 serving as Roon Core and a Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe Optical as a streamer and Roon Ready player. Streamed music and and files played from my local library sound so close to each other that I have not spent time trying to discern whether I can actually and consistently hear a difference. Mojo Audio DACs are PCM based and as mentioned on their website,
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Why don’t many these dacs put in inputs like I2S which are the current best when implemented correctly , even 75ohm inputs MIA , for many of us use DDC-Reclockers to further clean the incoming signal far better then what comes out of a computer or streamer, using Oven clocks and massive filtering with galvanic isolation which I2S is their favorite medium ,even Good Transports are now using I2S Aqua mojo, LSA Lampi. They leave it out which puts off lots of potential buyers. |
