New McIntosh DA2 DAC


Has anyone listened to the new McIntosh DA2 DAC board in their new C53 or C2700 Pre Amplifiers?  Can anyone compare Mac's new DA2 to the Auralic Vega 2 or the PSAudio Direct Stream DAC's? Thanks!
fastfreight
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I have had the C2700 with the DA2 Dac for a week now. My previous DAC was the Oppo Sonica, which uses the ESS chipset also. My understanding is the DA2 uses the 9028pro, and the Oppo had the 9038. Which I imagine are close. Implementations are different of course. The C2700 of course has tubes.

That said, I am absolutely thrilled with the performance of the DA2 via USB in the C2700. (I’m absolutely thrilled with the C2700 though, and it was a bit of a spontaneous purchase and system change, using with a MC 462).

Understanding it is difficult to pinpoint the DA2 vs the Oppo since the Oppo I ran through a Pass XP12, then XP22, and even DAC direct. I would tell you this. I feel the DA2 is very detailed, but NOT bright (now, keep in mind the C2700 has tubes).

I would describe the DA2 as dynamic and neutral.  It does do a great job with vocals, one thing I have noticed is that I can hear vocals even more clearly now (but not remotely edgy etc, just more defined). 

My Oppo sold so quickly (great DAC), I only played with it one night via the DA2 through the C2700. They were close, but I prefered the DA2, now quite simply that could be because it was the internal DAC, with associated shorter runs and connections.

I will say this, I would be very surprised if anyone was not satisfied with the DA2 as a DAC. More of the differences I would expect would be related to the pre-amp used in association.

It’s a very good DAC IMO.

The C2700... thus far I find it to be spectacular and actually a bargain.

Did any of you try to connect the Oppo 105D's DAC to compare? I have C2700 and I'm debating whether to even bother get cables for the 105 to use its DAC or just sell it and use another streamer to connect straight to the DA2. 

Thanks