Another new DAC: Audio Mirror

@vassils


We each hear what we hear and finding what we like is what’s most important. Your money, your preference.

@vassils you must have heard a Lampizator Golden Atlantic not an Atlantic. Additionally, if you preferred the Audio Mirror to a Golden Atlantic(TRP), something was definitely not right with the system in which the Golden Atlantic was playing. I’m not calling you out, I promise but something wasn’t functioning correctly.

The Audio Mirror is a great dac and I’m on record here on Audiogon saying so, but I know of no alternative universe where it can hang with the Golden Atlantic.

It was the Atlantic, not the Golden Atlantic. 
I screwed up on the price. It's $5K, not $10K. I have not listened to the Golden Atlantic in my system, only at shows with horrible rooms, but that does not count. 

So it turns out I have not really compared the Audio Mirror SE with any $10K DACs. The most expensive DAC's I have compared with were $6K-$7K.

BTW, that also includes a PS Audio DirectStream DAC. I heard what their latest firmware upgrade, Windom, did compared to the previous version at my friend's house. He asked me to go and listen and tell him what I think. I felt like the difference was so big, that it sounded like a new DAC. I've had a PS Audio DirectStream DAC in the past, but it was not my cup of tea. After hearing the Windom, I saw that PS Audio had an amazing black friday promotion, and I bought one to try (again) at home. At this time I had the Audio Note Kits DAC 5.1 Signature and an Audio Mirror DAC. And I added the PS Audio. Let it run non-stop for three weeks, and did many hours of listening on the fourth week. Needless to say, but the PS Audio took a good use of their super generous return policy. I respect Paul McGowan a lot and watch his YouTube videos, but claiming that the DirectStream is one of the best DACs in the world... well there is a disagreement there, to say the least. I have their PowerPlant P20, and it's good, and I wanted to like their DAC, because it looks cool next to the P20... but I did not like it. Actually, I did not have the PS Audio DirectStream with Windom and the Denafrips Terminator in my system at the same time, but I am pretty sure I would prefer the Terminator between the two. These are all my own personal choices obviously. 

Again, my apologies for screwing up the Lampi models. But the rest, I've had. Most of them are in my USAudioMart profile (sold), and I have the receipts for the rests if anyone doubts my credibility after my Lampi error. 

The Audio Mirror is small and cheap (for its level of performance)... and it does not feel right to sound so good. But until I hear something better, that would be my reference DAC.
It also probably comes down to a personal preference. I have a much higher end analog rig that is hard to beat. And I might be too attached to a high end analog sound and definitely don't appreciate any sterile, lean, body-less, harsh digital "hi-fi" sound. I have been working on my digital front end for the past 3 years trying a lot of the modern sources out there like Sonore, Allo, Audiobyte, SOTM, Innuos, PinkFaun, etc. Things started to get much better after investing around $15K in my digital source (upstream from the DAC). That's still just slightly over the price of my phono cartridge only. But with an excellent source and some of those modernized analog devices AD1865NK DACs (like AudioNote and AudioMirror) I started to like my digital rig too. That's why I am looking at the Cerat Kassandra II Ref as the next (big) step up (especially in price). 

BTW, @ghasley you got me intrigued with your comment about the Golden Atlantic! It's in my price range, and if it is as good as you say, I may give it a try. I just hope it's lot better than the Atlantic I heard. And no, there was nothing wrong with that system. It was mine :). 

I am open to try more of the more expensive DACs in the future, and will to that, but until then, I have this little toy (but big sound machine) to play with.

@vassils

 thanks for the comparisons. I had a Schiit gungnir MB and recently had a short list of Orchid, AM, and Audio Note Kits.

I found a great deal on a used ANK 4.1LE built years ago with a lot of ANUK parts and filled with Black Gates. It beat my Gungnir as it’s more musical and enjoyable.

But now you have me wanting to try a AM SE now :D

Hey Vassils,

Don't lose sleep, and you sound very sane-so you won't, regarding your mix-up between the the two Lampi models.  I have had four DACs that cost between 10K to around 30K in for audition, only care about redbook- I spin CD's, and did not buy any of them because the DACs that I was using were just as good if not better.  And these DACs were bettered by the AM SE.  Remember, besides personal taste and synergy, EGO ownership and the price tag comes rapidly into play. My experience as a professional reviewer is that owners of much more expensive pieces and other companies that charge out of your mind prices quickly become defensive, if you dare to state that much less expensive gear competes with theirs. Also, the differences in performance between their much more expensive piece and something like the AM SE are magnified totally out of proportion.  There is no "BEST" in high-end audio, lots of great gear.  However, the Audio Mirror SE is not just great for the $, but offers a level of performance that competes with so much more expensive DACs I understand why this could lead to some disgruntled  owners of other DACs.