Bricasti M3 vs DCS Bartok

I agree with ianb52. I borrowed a Bartok for a home dem for a week, but knew within a few minutes that I couldn’t live with it. The sound was very detailed and in some ways quite realistic, but just lacked dynamics, colour and musicality. I found it - like so much high end audio - completely unengaging. I preferred the Mytek Manhattan II I had at the time, and ended up buying a Nagra, which I find superior to both.

Haven’t heard the Bricasti, unfortunately, so can’t comment on how it might compare.

I only have experience with Bricasti's studio reverbs, but I did not really like the Bartok. I think maybe it didn't jive with my Shunyata power system or my Prion4 headphone cable. It's like Transparent Audio is mandatory with DCS or it is too harsh.

At any rate, it was detailed, awesome at DSD, but had a very digital quality, an overbearing/uncompromising harshness,  and didn't have a lot bounce or microdynamics. I also discovered that their network streaming solution is not as perfect as they claim and responded to fancy ethernet cables, good quality Innuos Zenith server, and an EtherRegen. At times I preferred USB, but the lesson learned was that fiber optic and I2S sound the best, and the Bartok doesn't do them. 

Its a good DAC and streamer, but maybe not commensurate with the price.

In Darko's Bartok review he said:. 
"You pay through the nose. 
and you get through the nose."