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Which DAC? Levinson, Theta, Sonic Frontiers

I'm considering upgrading from my Theta IIIa Dac, and wonder what the sonic characteristics are of 3 highly respected Dac's: The SFD-2 Mk. II, ML No. 36, and the Theta Gen. Va.

My system is: SFT-1 & ML 37 transports, SFL-2 preamp, DNA-225, & Vandersteen 2Ce Sigs.

I've looked at many reviews of these pieces, & although all reviewers liked them all, there were criticisms:

SFD-2: Bass a bit bloomy, not as tight & defined, but warmed up the sound. Upper mids prominent, with female voices displaying sibilance. Some treble grain, not as open as ML. A forward sound.

ML 36: Bass tight & defined, but not up to Theta's. More detailed & open & airy highs. Slightly laid back perspective. Vocals not as exciting. Big soundstage with great delineation of individual instruments, but not palpable like the SFD-2.

Theta Gen. Va: Best bass of all. Soundstage & imaging quite good, but ML 36 still better. Not quite as airy & open at the top, less well defined space around and between instruments.

What is your experience?????
kevziek
kevziek OP
323 posts
 
Can this EVS Millenium be better than everything? It seems there are so many raves about it. Anyone compared it to the Levinson, Theta, Sonic Frontiers?
classicjazz
153 posts
 
I've owned the Theta Gen Va balanced, SF Processor 3 and Levinson 360s, the latter two being in my possession until quite recently. I would say the Theta has a spectacular sound with incredible driving bass but is both a bit bright and very high in output, which may drive you nuts with your SFL 2 (I actually had an SFL2/Gen Va combo). You lose your volume range. The P3 is also a bit high but not so bad. Very good sound, wide clear soundstage that I preferred head to head vs. Audio Logic 34 and Wadia 16. The 360S is very liquid and diffuse. I like it and think you can't go wrong with the Levinson 36/36S/360S variant. All the same, I sold all the above for something (not named here) which makes me forget about sound and care about music.
keis
176 posts
 
I like the SFD-2 M3, that's the 24/96 upgrade to the unit in question. It improved detail, base, and gets ride of those sibilents.
vincehoffman's avatar
vincehoffman
50 posts
 
I'd have to second Keis' oppinion. After hearing one against my SFD2 series 1,I had mine updated too. My observation regarding the series 2 version of this DAC was that many of its problems were not shared by its predecessor. The first generation PMD HDCD filters through which all bitstreams were forced to go through in the series 2(HDCD or otherwise), were not as clean or as transparent as the filters in the original. PMD seems to have sorted these problems out in the most current revision of their filters and Series 3 sounds great. It even has user adjustable dither settings and the ability to defeat the non-HDCD-material-6db-gain-reduction, both of these features accessed by popping the top and messing about with some jumpers. This update is a great idea. Particularly if you have a series 2 SFD2.
tkmetz
91 posts
 
The Theta GEN VI supposed to be here in January. I would not make any decisions until then. The Va is at least a 5 year old design.

Tim
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