Hi,
just a very quick note. We are the North American importer for Aries Cerat.
I have actually had both DACs in my home side-by-side and we have done a direct A/B comparison. I would say they are almost polar opposite. The Mola Mola is much more analytical sounding with tons of detail. It is super small and super well-built. Fit and finish is absolutely stunning.
The Helene is also super well-built and fit and finish is more of a statement piece rather than just another piece of equipment in appearance. Sound wise the Helene is much more analog sounding. The Helene has more resolution and harmonics. It sounds more like a turntable with the right source. It does not sound tubey, like the Lampizator DAC's. There is a clarity to the sound and when you hear an artist tap on the side of an acoustic guitar you can hear the wood sound on the acoustic guitar. The detail is more life like versus other DACs we have tested.
I personally have owned and tested over 100 DAC's. Most of the testing we do is direct A/B testing. I have never kept a DAC longer than three months until I put the Kassandra Ref 2 in my reference system. I've had it 18 months and it's not going anywhere.
One thing I always tell people when they're testing DAC's is to never underestimate the actual source that you're using with the DAC. They work together and the source is just as important as the DAC. When properly put together it can be pure magic.
Cheers,
Please remember "it is easy to build a system that can play music but very difficult to build a system that is musical".
Robert Neill
President
Worldwide Wholesales
(519) 619-9924
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