I used to be a SoulNote dealer and have had this DAC. I had it side by side with the Lumin X1 and found them indistinguishable. I had them in separate inputs in my preamp and would get lost trying to keep track of which is which. Not sure current pricing but the D2 at $9K vs. Lumin and $14K was really a fair gap since Lumin has an excellent volume control and built in streamer and the SN isDAC only.
It definitely tilts to the brighter/colder side of neutral which is not good or bad, just a fact. Wonderful staging and a lovely device. Build quality is great and overall I thought the unit sounded wonderful.
I am a former dealer because when Fidelity dropped the line it did not sell well enough for me to seek it out with the new distributor. Business decision. Had nothing to do with the sound.
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@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
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@bluethinker
I have no working knowledge (only what I’ve read) on the SoulNote, but just wanted to say what a wonderful system you have built. 😁
All the best.
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@bluethinker I have not tried the Innuos USB DDC, however for some other reasons I picked up a Singxer SU-6 and this has been a significant improvement. The low bass on the QLN’s really improves. Cables do matter as mentioned.
FWIW, I spoke to an Innuos dealer at AXPONA this year about the DDC, and he said I would probably get better results with their Ethernet box. Both options are kind of spendy for tweaks.
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As a matter of fact I do have the pulsar aswell and it's a big step up with the reclocker , and for all that's holy get the best usb cable you can afford. I got myself a Shunyata sigma usb and it is awesome.
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@zlone - I just realized we also both have an Innuos Zenith mkiii. I noticed you are considering Antipodes. I was thinking of getting the pulsar for the living room and moving the zenith mkiii to my office system. Do you have the innuos usb reclocker in your system? If so, was it worth it.
Sorry for side tangent everyone.
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@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
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@zlone - Oh yes! Of course. I am looking forward to your review of the QLN Prestige 3s. I also have wondered about the 5's too. I'm especially curious about the bass output of the 5's. Maybe someday I'll get to hear them.
@wig - Thanks for the suggestion. Out of curiosity, how did you identify the specific fuses used to improve the sound? And are they difficult to install? I've never tinkered with audio equipment so this would be a first for me.
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@bluethinker Close. I have the Merason Reuss with QLN 3 speakers. Still owe a review on the speakers, but they are keepers, but I wonder about the 5’s. 😃
On paper that certainly looks like a “warm” system alright. It will be interesting to hear how the Soulnote blends with your system.
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No one is judging a dac for it’s chip alone. It is a contributing factor though. The advice given here is to audition it. Buying it to try and selling it if you don’t like it ism’t the most logical approach unless you’re buying used at a great price and it’s a hot commodity.
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I still can't believe people actually judged a dac for it's chip and not output stage..
Get yourself a D2 and if you for some reason don't like it sell it .
Have had mine almost 2 years and never thought of swapping.
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Thank you @bluethinker for the kind words. Looking forward to your thoughts on the Soulnote DAC.
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@bluethinker
Changing the 2 3.15a fuses in your Merason with QSA yellow fuses will give you more transparency, dimensionality and musicality...
Wig
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I'm listening to the system now with the Merason. It's cranked louder than usual because my wife is still at work.
It sounds incredibly musical, rich and atmospheric.
For anyone considering the Merason Dac1 mkii, it's really wonderful sounding in this system. And as mentioned earlier, it sounds even better with more resolving components. I'm absolutely keeping it.
My search for a (potential) new dac in my living room system is, like many of us here on this forum, partially based on curiosity and "audiophilia nervosa."
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I agree with @audphile1. I really dislike dacs with Ess chips and I find them dreadful for female vocals. I much prefer R2R designed dacs.
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@audphile1 - Thank you. I always appreciate your input and communication on this forum. Apparently - and I say that suspending judgement until I've heard it - SoulNote has implemented the ESS chips in a very musical way. I've read up on the Benchmark dac and I think I remember your past comments on it being a little bright in your system. If it's bright, there is no way I'll like it. I'm going to have the opportunity to demo it in my system end-of-month and will share my results.
@thriftyaudio - Thank you. I think trying stuff is absolutely part of the journey!
@zlone - If memory serves, we both have the LTA preamp and Merason Dacs, correct?
@audiotroy - Thanks for your ideas. After demoing the Mola Mola dac, I'm pretty convinced it's a question of the source in my system. I really like the Merason Dac1 mkii dac, but I think it pairs best with components that deliver a more analytical or detailed sound. It sounds absolutely wonderful with the Gryphon 120 and Dynaudio Heritage speakers, which I plan on pairing it with permantly.
But I do feel the source is the issue with my system sounding a little too smooth and warm.
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your problem is more easily remedied by swapping out interconnects
the Cardas cables are known for their laid back sonics also adding footers under all main components.
look at the Wireworld platinum cables more neutral without being bright,
and critical mass footers will increase the systems clarity, dynamics and imaging
Dave and Toy
audio Intellect NJ
Wireworld and Critical mass dealers
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Following with interest as we have very similar systems.
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@bluethinker you have a great system. The Tambaqui would be a great fit. It was in my final four when I was looking at DACs along with the Chord Dave and a Weiss 501. I went with the Bricasti M1S2. It replicated the Mola Mola as well as the Chord Dave. I was not able to sample the Weiss, although I was told it was outstanding. The TMR had both at the time and recommended the Weiss over the the Bricasti. I was able to try the Bricasti M1SE (an earlier version of the M1S2) and absolutely loved it, so I went with what I knew sounded good in my system. The Bricasti has multiple filter options to allow the operator choices depending on the source, the genre, and your mood. I have no regrets regarding the M1S2.
Good luck and have fun. Try as many as you can in your system. Each component is absolutely system dependent.
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Have you heard a dac with ESS chips? I owned benchmark and thought it was a bit too clinical sounding.
I never heard the Soulnote though but I would highly recommend auditioning it in your system or have ability to return it if you don’t like it.
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