@mitch2 yes, Lampizator switched from Amanero to JLSounds a while back. I have owned couple of Lampi models pre (Amanero) and post move to JLSounds and the JL indeed sounded cleaner and more natural as far as I remember. However, I have Musetec 005 which uses Amanero and like how musical the DAC sounds through the USB. Admittedly, we don't know how the Musetec will sound with JLSounds but how a DAC will sound through USB is not only based USB board it uses but the whole package - power supply, clocks, analog stage, the chip or R2R, etc. I have a X SE in house now and I am not ready yet to compare with others (as I have a bunch of other diy stuff burning in my system) but I like what I am hearing :-) At some point I have to wonder how the NCZ version will sound once things settle down.
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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I just recently bought the Mystique X-24AM and am absolutely loving how it sounds in my system. I can't imagine it sounding any better... different with the NCZ yes, but better - I have no idea. I'd be interested in your thoughts on how they differ in sound, if you ever have the opportunity to compare them side by side. Best wishes, Don
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@no_regrets good to hear you are loving the X-24AM. If I am not mistaken, X-24AM and X SE are exactly the same DAC ? I agree with you that NCZ, though have a better quality choke, need not sound better in one's system. It's a matter of finding the right balance that suits one's taste I guess. However, I am not sure at this time if I would buy a new NCZ or have the X SE upgraded if that's possible. I would get in touch with Ben at some point to see if he could ship me a pair of NCZ chokes for me to upgrade if that's simple enough. |
@debjit_g If I understood your post you have a Musetec005 and a Mojo Audio X SE. If so I am excited to hear what you have to say about the comparison of those DAC's. |
NCZ refers to the Lundahl nano-crystalline chokes (NC) and AD-1862N-Z DAC chips, which were a special version of the AD-1862 chip used in higher end Denon CD players. I don’t believe the Z chips are available any longer. The NC chokes sound nice but IMO so did the amorphous (AM) chokes. The X-24 AM should be a very nice sounding DAC. |
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