Emm Labs DV2 versus Tambaqui

The Musetec is compared very favorably against the Tambaqui in the Musetec thread by teknorob23.  He's a very credible reviewer.

You may be unaware of what the ESS can do, properly implemented.

@arafiq

To add to your store of information and knowledge, IIUC the reviewer is a manufacturer of, among other things, an ethernet filter held in very high regard on this board. He continually needs and uses a DAC of very high quality to test his products as they develop and are improved. He used to use the Tambaqui. He sold it after hearing the Musetec.  Apparently (and you’ll see this if you read the head-fi thread) it wasn’t a close call. As he sells other, related, items and as there was no one selling the Musetec in the United Kingdom he arranged to become a dealer there.

@laoman

When you say, "’Yes’, I am aware that manufacturers can do do heavily modify chips, but still....." you’ve got it all wrong.

It’s not really about the chip. True, the Musetec runs the chips warm, as was done in the LKS 004 and it is said that helps. In the case of the Musetec the chips are heat-sinked to the bottom plate of the case. I believe LKS pioneered this, with heat sinks epoxied to the tops, and I don’t know if any other DACs do this.

It’s not the chip that determines what kind of mid-range will be delivered. It’s really about the power supply in the Musetec which is unique and extremely well done. It’s also about the 8 FET analog stage which is quite elaborate in this DAC, and the very high quality parts used throughout.

Look, I’m not here to sell DACs. It’s your money and you will choose what you are comfortable with. Just trying to say that ESS chips are not what hold DACs back. True, they are ubiquitous and used in a lot of very mediocre DACs for promotional reasons. And they are used in some great DACs as well.

@fleschler 

"The May didn't hold up to the Musetec 005 (was the reviewer biased as a dealer)?"

Whose comparison are you referring to?

@fleschler

I don’t think he is biased. There would be no reason. As far as I know, from this and another forum, @dbb is an amateur music lover like me and you. He is not a dealer. He bought the Musetec and the Holo May with his own money, and after the review he was satisfied to keep the Musetec and sold the May. I do identify with him as his passion is for classical music and his listening references are live unamplified concerts. There isn’t a better reference IMO. So that was the basis of the review.

I don’t think it is fair to say that the conclusion was, "The May didn’t hold up to the Musetec 005." As I read what he wrote, he found them to be very similar notwithstanding their very different architectures. He pointed out their very small differences. Being that close in SQ performance, he decided to keep the one costing less money.

@arafiq 

Lots of complaint that there's talk here about another DAC.  Then lots of talk here about that other DAC from you. I agree that the ad on US Audio Mart using @dbb's review is kind of ridiculous.  Don't know if he even asked for permission.  But why write about it here?  Why don't you just drop a note to the dealer and tell him what you think?