MSB DAC IV or dCS Paganini

I would not recommend the volume control. Although it is pretty good, at that level of performance, a seperate preamplifier sounded better in my system, and actually I felt that the DAC IV without the volume option sounded better compared to the bypass mode.

Really?
I am shocked. A preamplifier would only add distortion I presume in an all digital system. I don't listen to analog sources so I don't really see the point. The passive preamp option seems so high quality.
What do you use as a preamp?

I'm using Octave HP 500SE which is wonderful.

There is no debate !! The MSB gives music with an excellent sound structure. The DCS gives an excellent sound structure without music. You need to go for a complete dCS setup at seventy thousand dollars to get something musical and still it is blown away by a Diamond version of the MSB DAC IV.
Also consider any MSB as upgradable in software and hardware future technologies. The dCS is definitly not upgradable except with some poor software improvements. In terms of positionning in the business, MSB is the future since dCS is the past with no technical improvment since 5 years. dCS is out of the pro business since MSB is entering it. Both are good products of course but the MSB gives such an analogue sound that no other DAC can really compare.

Recently I've heard msb dac IV vs dCS Debussy vc Esoteric D03 using transport for all the esoteric P03.
The MSB was far worse than the dCS & Esoteric.

It was so thin sounding and fake sounding that was a surpise with so poor performance on the other hand the Esoteric D03 and dCS Debussy playing music without missing something. In some areas Esoteric was better [bolder and a bit deeper low frequencies] and Debussy had more air and more delicate high frequencies. Overall both were pleasing and got involved with music.

Furthermore Esoteric rubidium clock was used and upgraded the sound in all mentioned dacs. I guess the Esoteric loom helped more the D03 and we heard SACD only through Esoteric [encrypted dsd].

3 people participated in this audition with same listening findings.

I guess Paganini or D01 are even better (not mentioning Scarlatti...)