Back to the DAC

I decided to be the first to jump in with the LAiV (the guinea pig!)

I will report my impressions (not measurements, my subjective impressions) in comparing the LAiV to my: Theta GenV Pro, Topping D90SE and the built in Sony ES, Oppo and Lexicon.

Currently the D90 takes the daily use for DSD and streaming.  The Theta does the CD's using a modified Sony ES as transport.

Looks good inside and out, remote looks nice and seems to be fully featured, has all the inputs and outputs i need also.

Now if I could only figure out how to easily switch i2s out from the transport to either DAC...? (D90 and LAiV).

@nonoise Yes, the hype train is in full force.  I read the 6 Moons comments and figured I'd give it a shot. 

I am happy with my Topping but feel its a bit electronic/choppy on some material.  For example the vocals on Pros and Cons of Hitchiking sound a bit crisp and chopped off.  I tried the CD and Streamed versions and the effect is similar.  On my Theta (fed from CD transport) it flows more.  Hope that the R2R scheme softens the steps and offers additional musicality that I can perceive.

News to follow

FYI, when I ordered they only had 7 left in stock (in black).

@audphile1 that is funny right there 🤣

Well, my LAiV was delivered last night.  Initial impressions:

- beautiful packaging and attention to details

- unit looks and feels great.  Remote is on another level

- played P Gabriel on DSD (i2s) set on NOS mode and compared a/b to the topping (on filter 7).  Less sibilance, soundstage feels wider with better separation.  Bass and mids are deep; no sibilance

- CD's and Stream (Pros and Cons/R Waters, Lord Zuthula - Dean Peer, Eye in the Sky - Alan Parsons, Regret #9 - Steve Wilson, Also Sprach Zarathustra - Eumir Deodato Trio Live,Chan Chan - Buena Vista Social Club and Birds by Dominique Fils-Aime).

Compared LAiV v Topping D90SE v Sony ES Modwright v Oppo Modwright v Theta DS Pro Gen V.

The Sony, Oppo and Theta sound similar; clean yet not sterile

The Topping is fast narrow soundstage some sibilance

LAiV good lows, wide and clear mids sparkling highs with no excessive sibilance.   Listening to acoustic guitars and wind instruments, it is clean and enjoyable.

No listening fatigue!

All in all, I like it very much.  This were a couple/three hours. More to come.

@navyachts it is very neat and so far sounds very well. Wish i had a Lampi on hand to compare

@audphile1 that is the plan! really busy week for me so I have not been able to put it through its paces.

Of all things that i realize is that it is not fatiguing. I guess I’m saying that the Topping is fatiguing; at least on Filter 7 where I use it. Odd since the changes on filter 7 occur beyond my hearing range.

@westborn i try not to go by size and heft alone.  I have a Theta Data transport which is hefty and huge.  Then I had to service it and it turns out it is a repackaged Phillips or Pioneer unit.....