Dow Jones: fuck the measurements. The proof is in the listening. Not in the reading stuff in the Internets. Forget about Mola Mola. The most you can afford right now is the China topping DAC. Which is better than the $2 DAC in your top Audiogon contribution. By the way, Mola Mola Tambaqui is like $15,000 MSRP. The second main honcho in ASR has it. But for some reason, he keeps mentioning he bought it because of the looks. Not the SQ. Whatever that means. And let’s be real. Can you REALLY afford a Tambaqui? I suspect a Topping is as far as you can go. |
wrong forum. the vibe here is a significant portion of posters get their panties in a bunch with expensive gear. which is neither good nor bad, it just is simply the lay of the land and it’s not changing any time soon. so why would an MSB owner (such as myself) fight the headwind when other forums are not that way? who needs the grief? i’ll chime in when asked a direct question like now, but otherwise it’s listed on my audiogon system page and i’m not going to worry about it. |
There are two empty slots. Modules. That is IF you want to add extra. I did buy one, the ProISL/ ProUSB module combo. What I copy / pasted above comes standard. I can assure you of that. But you can look for yourself: https://www.msbtechnology.com/dacs/discrete-dac-options/ I also understand what you are saying too. Very expensive for you, and obviously you will find extra many stuff to make it even more expensive to justify your thought process. Human nature |
Not sure where you were looking @hgeifman but the Discrete DAC comes standard with: Digital Inputs: 1x RCA Coaxial 1x XLR 1x Word-Sync 2x Toslink 2x Advanced isolated input module slots And ... XLR Analog Outputs (comes standard with them) It also comes standard with one (outboard) Discrete power supply. The second one is extra if you opt for it to separate the power for the digital and analog boards. I know. Because I own one |
Th MSB Discrete DAC is expensive. I looked at the MSB Discrete DAC but everything thing was an extra cost option (USB, AES/EBU, power supply, etc,). There is the base price of the Discrete DAC PLUS extra costs for the Optical/Coaxial modules, the balanced XLR module, (AES/EBU), the MSB UUB Inputs, the MSB Network Renderer V2 and the MSB ProISL Interface. Yikes, I thought I was finished and then the issue of power supplies was discussed. The standard is the single Discrete power supply but they STRONGLY recommended a 2nd Discrete power supply. AND, for even BETTER sound, I should purchase the Premier Powerbase for another $7,500. I never heard the MSB Discrete DAC because it costs more than I wanted to spend. Their higher end DAC's are even more expensive. |
really expensive stuff getting less interest makes all the sense in the world, especially when the pricing is out of reach of most that might be interested - whether the item is better or not is only of tangential relevance smaller audience deeming relevant to them shdn't be any surprise or amazement more people discuss porsches than bugattis |
There are well designed American made DACs which are a fraction of the cost of an MSB. There is not really a lot of difference in DACs other than engineers chasing better inaudible numbers. MSB makes very well engineered DACs and it cost a lot to produce them. I admire the complexity of these discrete DACs and the engineering that goes into them. If someone can afford them go for it but realize you're buying a boutique item not necessarily a better one. |
i am now of the belief that in the last couple years the outboard DAC offerings have advanced substantially in terms of trickle-down performance benefits into lower cost units this really shifts the point of diminishing returns / value curve to the benefit of more affordable units like everything else in hifi (turntables, cartridges, amps, speakers...), more expensive is often still better, but just as often, it is just different, or only ever so slightly better, however better may be defined just soooo many truly excellent dacs that are hard to better in the $1000-1500 range now - those who have any interest in value for money would be best served to put $$ into other parts of the chain over this price tier of DACs imho |
Because they are expensive. At least that’s the perception. It is also very exclusive brand, with extremely strict control on dealers to avoid discounting and territorial restrictions. Having said this, the Discrete DAC is relatively affordable starting right below $10K. Once you add one of the modules, and the second power supply, you are at around $13,000. This is the DAC I have, with the ProISL ProUSB module combo and the optional second power supply, and I am extremely happy with it. If I ever had the cash to upgrade, it will certainly be the Premier. But unfortunately prices double from one model to the next. Then once you add the upgrade clocks, powerbase, then.... Anyways, if you can find something in Used market (current model that is), grab it! Truly SOTA, and definitely endgame territory for most. |
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