Back to the DAC
Just a bit of an update. When I inquired about a DAC upgrade in a recent post, it was suggested that I look at upgrading my cables first. Since then, I have done so (see my virtual system for that). Not over the top stuff, but a definite improvement over the mostly stock, generic cables I originally had.
System is sounding pretty darn good, but like most of us, you always wonder what a more expensive DAC will offer in the way of sound quality improvements.
Many of the recommended, higher priced DACs seem to include streamers and/or offer pre-amp capabilities. I have a good streamer and pre-amp and really don’t want all those components in one box.
Have any of you experienced a DAC which offers the sound qualities of highly praised units like the Mola Mola Tambaqui, DCS Lina, T&A 200, Weiss DAC501, etc. which their only function is a DAC?
BTW - the reason I got the OG over the MIB that I was initially planning to get was that a guy at Schitt, who is a musician, spoke to me at length why he though the OG was the best DAC Schitt ever made, he hated the LIM. So, take that as another data point. Easy thing with Schitt is you can do a home demo. Just run your streamer for 24 x 15 and hear it for yourself. It will cost a few bucks to restock.
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I never said that last part on the Gungnir. @yyzsantabarbara LOL! You read outside the quotation marks, that was me who spoke of the Gungnir as being my first DAC! Thanks for the rest of the info though. |
I've owned both the Yggy LIM and M3 and liked both. ~$3500 for the M3 with streamer and remote is a great price! If you don't need the integrated streamer and volume control the LIM was a nice sounding DAC to me for ~$2K but I thought it lacked a little detail. It remined me a lot of the more expensive Mojo Audio R2R DAC I replaced the M3 with. In the $2-2.5K range I'm currently running a Weiss 205 with Keces LPS and think it has at least the resolution of the M3 and allows one to hear into the recording more than the LIM. It is a little on the clean/lean side of things, but not too bad; it still has nice tone. I replaced a Meitner MA3 with it as the differences didn't out weight the price differences in my view. I don't regret buying something as expensive as the MA3 as it's the best DAC I've owned, but to be honest the differences don't always out way the price differences if you choose wisely and depending on the rest of your system; YMMV.
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@ddafoe Good to know, thank you and yes, that Meitner MA3 better be good at that price! |
Tubeous nervosa is normal. Like a cold plunge it seems scary but once you do it you know the Why and it makes sense. Like you I have had a W4S 2.2 SE, it was better than a Yggdrasil but not better than a Terminator or Terminator Plus with or without a DDC and I2S. I bought a used Lampizator Goldengate and never looked back at the Denafrips. I recently upgraded it to GG3 status with the Engine 11, JL USB and new OLED volume and its now in another world. There is a used Lampizator Baltic 3/4 on Hifishark with a few years of warranty left, it has Engine 11 and JL USB. |
