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dacs that I have had in my system - a listing

i comment quite a bit on threads about digital/analog converters, as i have tried many since the covid period in early 2020, when i recommitted to my hifi and getting streaming and a truly modern digital front end implemented in my main home system

i have had questions on what dacs i have actually tried -- so last week when i was sleepless on a long transcontinental flight home from a holiday, i made a listing, which i post below

almost all dacs below have been owned, and spent extensive time (at least 2-3 months) in my system, obviously there have been changes in my system over this time, and not all dacs were owned at the same time

i post this here so others can refer to this here - i looked, but i could not find a way to post this on my 'system' page

the asterisk-ed entries are still in hand, currently:

 

2020

topping d90 mqa

ayre codex

mhdt stockholm 

mhdt orchid

mhdt istanbul

denafrips pontus original

musical paradise mpd1

ps audio d link iii modded cullen

bs node 2i

 

2021

denafrips ares 2 

denafrips pontus 2

denafrips terminator 

auris d1d vu

audio mirror tubador 3 se

van alstine fet topp*

van alstine fet hybrid

rme adi 2 (akm)

schiit modius 

schiit gumby

schiit yggy*

sonnet morpheus

border patrol se i

metrum jade

metrum octave

metrum hex

metrum adagio

musical fidelity trivista 21 (modded)*

weiss 501* (now 4ch)

 

2022

chord 2qute 

chord qutest

chord m scaler* hugo tt2*

mhdt orchid modded*

audio note kits dac4 pro

msb analog w powerbase*

denafrips venus 2*

denafrips pontus 12

audio gd master 7

musetec 005

bs node n130

bricasti m1se mdx

doge 7

hegel h90 190 390 590* (internal)

 

2023

gustard r26*

eversolo dmp a6 master*

mhdt toucan

orchard pecan pi*

cambridge audio cxn2 modwright modded tubed*

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjjss49
grinnell
1,095 posts
 

Hi jjss49

What are your thoughts on the MHDTs you had in your system.  I got a Stockholm v.2 about 2 years ago first DAC and really love it.  my system is tube amp'd

onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,217 posts
 

A few questions -- did you ever listen for enjoyment or were you always in critical listening mode?  To what extent did you optimize the setup of each D/A?  I ask because there are volumes of threads about how critical power cords, digital interconnect, analog interconnects and vibration controls are for each component.  If you did try to experiment with any of these variable for each D/A, then it goes back to my first question.  To rephrase, was changing all this equipment so frequently enjoyable?

masterlogic
5 posts
 

@jjss49 Could you tell us how the Toucan sounded relative to the Orchid?

gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 

@jjss49,

You seemed to have opened a can of worms.

There a few posts asking for comparisons, is it possible to make a list?

B

mikelavigne
2,199 posts
 

@jjss49

wow!!!

amazing list! agree with all the comments and do think you can be a resource for many with all your experience.

took a minute to make my list, but it’s a 22 year list......not 4 years. OTOH my turntable//tonearm/cartridge/phono list would be much more crazy.

 

2001--2006--EMM Labs dac + transport

2007-mid-2015---Playback Designs MPS-5 w/DIY Windows Server ( after 2011)

2015----Lampizator Golden Gate dac + Trinity dac + w/SGM 2015 Server

late--2016----Lampi upgraded to GG 1.5

early 2017---Nagra HD dac (early version), Formula Aqua dac, Nagra HD (next version)

June 2017---MSB Select II dac

2019----Taiko Extreme server

2022 Jan----Wadax Reference dac + Wadax Reference server (only these two remaining).

 

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