Hi guys! I am interested in the Metrum dacs, but I have a few concerns. Can you detail a bit how the two (Onyx and Pavane) stack up to each other as well as in absolute terms with respect to:
a) the soundstage width (I’ve read that Onyx is quite narrow, I can’t stand anything narrow) and
b) HF extension (I don’t need / like a piercing treble, but I can’t stand a rolled off one, I need to hear all the beautiful HF resonance of a lightly hit triangle decaying naturally, for example, instead of cut short or borrowed in the mix)?
Please if possible mention the inputs and outputs used in your comparison. I’d probably use a CD transport via electrical SPDIF and both the unbalanced and balanced outputs.
Oh, by the way, can something like Ambre be also used for playing music from the computer’s HDD? Sorry if this is a dumb question...
Thanks!
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Why, you disagree with this assertion?The impressions I've read are quite contradictory in this regard - hence my specific questions above. Please, feel free to contradict this statement.
To put things in perspective, when I had the Gungnir Multibit in my system for a few weeks I Ioved many of its sound traits but wanted a wider stage, much blacker background, better treble extension (the stuff above ~10kHz, probably), a more relaxed, effortless presentation (difficult to put it into words, it was a bit as if I was kept in a bit of a tension all the time, perhaps something similar to how I felt about my ex AKG K1000 / D class amplifier as opposed to the effortlessness my Stax) and maybe just a little thicker tone (but this latest thing might have been more a matter of synergy). All heard in a couple of solid state systems + my Stax headphones. It was the (supposedly) latest, unofficial "A2" version (November 2017), kept on all the time and with more than 200 hours of burn in.
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Thanks for your answer and your offer to provide me with further information!
Regarding the soundstage, I have found that various sources (CD players, Dacs) can have a significant impact upon its width. My hearing is probably not trained enough to hear depth or height very well (I’m an avid headphone listener) and my speakers system + room is not very helpful, but I hear the width clearly. I have heard these soundstage width differences easily in speakers as well as in headphohes. So, compared to any other sources you have heard, is Onyx’ soundstage broader or narrower? I don’t have a specific track to test soundstage width, for me it’s pretty apparent on any material. If you need something very specific, maybe, from the top of my head: track 1 "Yulunga: Spirit Dance" from Dead Can Dance - "Into the Labyrinth" (after min. 2:53 or so). For example, the hard panning of the left side maracas at min. 2:53 and the rest of the track following this. This is, by the way, a track I’m using to check for reasonable bass extension (tympani at 2:29 and a few times later - not extremely deep but it’s about my threshold for "reasonably extended") and tactility / snappiness / punchiness (from min. 3:02 on).
As for the highs, I often use the beginning of track 7 "Desolate Mountains II" of Jan Garbareck’s album "Visible World". I pay attention to the actual treble extension as well as to the chromatic contrast between the various percussion "notes" - the Gungnir Multibit tended decrease a bit the highest frequencies, accentuate the mid-treble (8-10 kHz? - I don’t know the exact frequency band) and attenuate a bit the aforementioned chromatic contrast (making everything a bit more uniformly grey and metallic). Small things, but I could hear them clearly and it did bother me. How do you find the Onyx compared to my description of the Gungnir?
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Thanks everyone for answers and suggestions.@soix: I know what I’m asking for seems to invite some tube gear recommendations. However, there are also some other things I care very much for in audio reproduction and I didn’t mention because between the 2 Metrum dacs they were irrelevant. One of them is a very low noise floor / "a black background". I’m using powered studio monitors, often nearfield and in a quiet environment and the hiss is annoying me a lot. Also, I didn’t like the Gungnir’s grey background (or at least this was my perception). So I’m a bit afraid of tubes... On the other hand, I’m more of the "set and forget" kind in this period of my like, I don’t want to think about hunting for new tubes, maybe NOS ones, learn about testing or even matching them etc. So I’d rather stay fully solid state, if possible.
You guys are asking me if I like an exaggerated soundstage. To be honest, I don’t know. But I’ve never had the feeling that the stage is too wide, so maybe the answer is positive. I like the soundstage ("headstage"?) width of my first audiophile headphones (AKG K500 and later on AKG K501) very much. My current source, while much cheaper and indisputably much lower quality that the dacs in discussion (Cambridge D300 CD player), has a wide soundstage too which I also enjoy - wider that the unbalanced outputs of the Schiit dac. I have perceived the very wide soundstage of the Sennheiser HD800 headphones as a great asset, not as being exaggerated.
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@nitewulf: Thank you!
@soix: Right now I’m using my old Mackie HR824 (mark I, USA made) monitors, but I’ll upgrade to better speakers + amp within a year or so. Not sure to what, though, from all I’ve listened so far I liked a pair of Spendor SP2/3R2 driven by a Densen B175 amplifier the most (other possible contenders: other Spendors, Proac D30RS, Harbeth SHL5+, Atc SCM40A etc. - kinda all over the place, I know). Choosing speakers is very difficult IMO, so I’ll start with the dac and thus reduce the number of variables. |
@mitch2:
I definitely would not trade the Onyx or Jade for the Level 1 Pavane, that doesn't use the
Transient DAC Two modules.
Really? Have you heard the level 1 Pavane and you prefer the Onyx / Jade soundwise? I find this quite surprising (and very good news for me - I think a Jade would meet my needs very well so I really hope I will like it, I think I'll try it later this year). Pavane level 1 has received some very good reviews and I didn't expect for the Transient Dac Two modules to make such a big difference as to compensate for the other advantages of the Pavane level 1 against Onyx / Jade (such as the all important power supply). |
@mitch2:
Thank you for the detailed answer. So you are one of the few who can compare directly the Onyx / Jade to the Pavane / Adagio. Would you say that the later do improve upon the former in terms of treble extension and soundstage width?
@ soix:
I don’t want to hijack this thread talking about my plans, but as I said I will also upgrade the speakers and amp to something much better. Total system cost will be around 10k - 11k euro (I am living in EU) and I don’t exclude the idea of buying used. I’ll get the source first, among other reasons, because I want it to be a good match to my current Stax electrostatic headphones (which I really don’t think are too low end for a 3000 euro dac). My experience has been that synergy plays such a huge role that I don’t want to be forced to look for a source to match BOTH my speakers and my headphones system, it might prove a very difficult game to play! Anyway, I appreciate the advice! |
Thanks! Your comparison is very helpful. I was aware of the professional review, but I also wanted an opinion from some private users.
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