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DAC Choice in 47Labs CDP system

Struggling to find a DAC which matches the musicality & emotional involvement of my 47 Flatfish/Progression combo

DAC's tried so far

Audiolab MDAC - awful - got a right toasting

Lampizator Level 3 & 4.5 These two DAC's were analog and natural sounding, but their presentations were as if watching a stage performance - distant. The sound was also rather skinny compared to the fat, fleshed out and 3-D 47.

As the sound with the Lampi's in was just too far away, the musicality just never made an emotional contact

I listened to a Chord Hugo, but that was with some Kef standmounted 'speakers and the overall sound was 'accurate' ('Hi-Fi')... with a top which was slightly edgy & uncomfortable. I am getting the Hugo into my system to trial

Other recommended DAC's from others is the Metrum Octave

My amp is the integrated Leben CS300 (EL84's)

And 'speakers are Zu Druid (101dB efficient) which are neutral to warm sounding
bonesetter2004

Showing 1 response by charles1dad

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charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I owned the Metrum Octave DAC for a while and it's good sounding, a high value in its price range. Compared directly to the Yamamoto DAC the Metrum wasn't as satisfying. As Daniel wrote earlier, the Yamamoto is exceptionally natural in tone, dynamics and just sounds so organic and right. It preserves the beauty and emotion of music. This Japanese gem goes virtually unnoticed in the USA.
Charles,
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