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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.

mitch2
mitch2 OP
4,002 posts
 

Some updates:

  • Got around to listing the EVO Pro and Merason DACs since I have too much stuff here.
  • Since I am no longer (currently) comparing multiple DACs, I bypassed the Singxer SU-6 DDC and instead directly connected the USB output of my Signature Rendu SE Deluxe Optical to the Mystique X SE NCZ using a Network Acoustics muon USB cable. My initial impression is that this is an improvement over using the DAC’s S/PDIF or AES/EBU inputs through the Singxer DDC. I may be imagining things, but there seems to be an improved purity that sounds right. Listening now and Jerry Garcia’s guitar is so smooth and nuanced on Dark Star.
  • I am apparently in the queue to receive a Mystique Y AM DAC that I will listen to and comment on in this thread. Price-wise, that will be in the ballpark of the LTA Aero and sort of the Benchmark DAC3 HGC. There are rumors of another DAC heading this way too so may need to relabel this thread as the Six+ DAC Comparison smiley
  • I wouldn’t mind adding a Holo May KTE and/or Denafrips Terminator 15TH to the list, but I don't plan to buy these just to add them. The one that I would most like to add is a Totaldac.
jimboman
96 posts
 

Hey @mitch2 

Looking forward to your thoughts on the Mystique Y -- although I believe the AM chokes put that DAC to about twice the MSRP of the Benchmark DAC3 HGC?

Best, JAMES.

dantaudio
1 posts
 

@mitch2 

This is my first post on Audiogon.  Been lurking for a while as I have returned to audio after a significant break (career, kid, family, other priority hobbies/sports, etc).  I just wanted to say THANK YOU! for all your efforts on this review.  It is greatly appreciated and impressive to say the least.  Fantastic to be able to get a POV across so many products and the few that I have heard align with your assessment so it is a valuable reference point for me.  Thank you so much!

mitch2 OP
4,002 posts
 

@dantaudio  - Thanks for the kind words, and welcome back to audio. 

If you are looking for information, there is a lot of knowledge here on this site and you can get meaningful responses from the members on just about any topic.  The forum archives are also extensive and cover just about any audio topic.  Since you have just "returned to audio after a significant break", you might enjoy spending some time looking at the virtual systems since many members have constructed unique listening spaces and very effective audio reproduction systems at a wide range of price points.

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