Experience with SoulNote Dac2?


Fellow Audio Enthusiasts - 

 

I'm considering purchasing the SoulNote D2 (SoulNote's mid-level DAC). From what I've read, it appears to have an energetic and engaging sound that some posters describe as sounding like live music. 

My current reference system sounds great, but I think I've got several warm sounding components that is taking things into too far into the romantic domain. Don't get me wrong, the system sounds wonderful with jazz and atmospheric music, but I'm finding it less engaging with rock or even classical music. The room is large with fairly high ceilings with hardwood floors... The room is untreated but the system sounds great nonetheless. 

I'm thinking of moving the Merason Dac to another system in my office... 

My Current Reference System 

  • Innous Zenith MKiii 
  • Cardas Clear interconnects 
  • Merason Dac 1 mkii 
  • Linear Tube Audio Level 2 preamp 
  • Conrad Johnson Classic 120 amp with EL 34 tubes 
  • Cardas Clear speaker cable 
  • QLN Prestige 3 speakers 
  • Puritan 156 
  • Power Cables - Assortment of Cardas Clear, Kimber Palladian and Lessloss 

I had the opportunity to demo with Mola Mola dac in the system and it sounded really good. That Dac absolutely changed the character of the system - adding energy, clarity, dynamics, drive - but I sensed something that might be fatiguing in the sound that might not make it a long term fit. 

MY QUESTIONS 
What is your experience with the SoulNote D2 dac? How would you describe the sound? And based on your knowledge, how would you conjecture the SoulNote D2 would sound in my system? 

Thanks to everyone who I've already communicated with on this question, BTW! 

bluethinker

Showing 3 responses by wig

@bluethinker 

Changing the 2 3.15a fuses in your Merason with QSA yellow fuses will give you more transparency, dimensionality and musicality...

Wig

@bluethinker 

Been using boutique fuses for over 15 years and have tried, own and used most of them but QSA yellow is the sweet-spot and they have the ability to lower floor noise and extract low level detail and space so convincingly.

The other boutique fuses are good but QSA is something special and they are cheaper than the other brands...

Changing fuses are very easy and the directional arrows on fuses should point away from the circuit board.

Wig

@bluethinker 

No first hand experience but have heard the D2 is very musical but do know the Soulnote A2 Integrated Amplifier is phenomenal and has very similar sound characteristics as my 300b Mono blocks but with more macro/micro shading which says a lot as I'm a tube guy..🤭

Wig