Six DAC Comparison

This is not a Product Plug, as the Design to be mentioned is not a sale item.

A EE minded Friend with many years of experience of Building Audio Devices. Today has a very clear understanding of what they are looking for as a End Sound from a particular Audio Device they build.

Amp's both Pre and Power,  Phonostages, Head Amp's, DAC's, CD Transport and a large selection of Speakers are all produced by this individual.

For a very sensible outlay of money, a DAC has been produced that over the Past Year has been compared and come out much more in favour of a Denafrips Ares II and a Venus II. It required the latest FW Update to be put on the Venus II to create a comparison where the Venus was to present itself as a worthwhile alternative consideration. 

Home Built DAC approx' £300, build knowledge, careful schematic design and topology, along with knowing how to isolate within the Circuit, will create a lot for little. Fortunately these skill sets do not all belong to the main influencers of a design for the Big Brand Names. 

Was not the not too long passed Ken Ishiwata from Marantz a Pioneer of this way of thinking with works he undertook for Digital Sources produced his Employer of 41 years.   

The Old Measured Performance as the Criteria to decide if the Design for a Model is to supply the ubiquitous end sound that all who hear cannot deny themselves from purchasing 

Years Spent taking the time to meet a large selection of Audio Enthusiasts. Ones Like Myself, as well as those who are EE Skilled, being very Capable of Building Audio Devices. Has shown to me, that a knowledge of how a Audio Device can be voiced for the end sound to be produced is the ultimate method to produce a Audio Device.

When voicing is done correctly, the Designer / Builder will have the say on the end sound, in a commission build the end user can also contribute to the devices voicing. It is having this understanding of Schematic - Topology and the needs for the devices Structure, that really makes a Audio Device wanted to be heard more in use and most likely will for many become a Device that is a Keeper. 

The Measurements across many devices can be seen to be in the Ballpark of the Spec' that are usually looked at as being required. Skilled EE's see through the Published Spec' and can see where the complications with the Schematic is creating typical unattractive influences on the Signal being produced and having gain added.

As said in a previous post, a DIY Built DAC costing not too much monies, has sat very comfortably in the Company of more expensive Branded Models. On one occasion the DIY was instrumental in encouraging the owner of one model of a Branded DAC to sell their DAC. On another occasion the new Purchased DAC that was a replacement for the sold DAC, was a increased in purchase Model from the same Brand. This new upgraded model was not able to compare favourably either with the DIY DAC. It was only when a FW Update was added that the Branded Model was to be much improved match for the DIY DAC. 

My subjective evaluation of the comparisons, especially following the most recent demo's of each in use, left me feeling either as SS Designs, either could be easily lived with in conjunction with my own commission built Valve Design DAC.

Having the 'sat in front off experience', not assessing measurements,  goes a very long way to assist with finding the place that one would be best represented when deciding to direct their monies at a purchase.

The present options to have Three Sources for replaying recorded, that have a large volume of relatively easy to acquire recordings available, when used an a Standalone Source, or in conjunction with each other. All require different considerations to attain the best from each as a method to produce the signal to be further processed to add gain to become an end sound.

I strictly keep the experience of listening to recorded music in keeping with my thoughts about being able to encounter Live Music Performances, which is the pursuit is to be entertained. 

When listening to live music, I might have an input into how I experience the music, i.e, where I may be located in the Venue, and what mindset I will have when at the event. Beyond that there is very little control, everything else to be experienced is the design of others.

With Audio Devices and Recorded Music to be replayed, there is much more choice. The recording chosen, producer of recording chosen, the Genre, the Source used to create the signal for the audio system to process. The choices are endless.

The question is how much of the experiencing different options is actually a form of entertainment. I know from my own experiences had in this area, the time spent comparing can develop into becoming laborious and all the stimulus that can be had from listening to music, is at risk of being lost.

There is always change to be found, put one Source Item on a selection of different mounting devices and change is disenable. Same outcome can be speedily discovered for swapping umbilical's between Source and Amplification.

Once more from experiences had, In a room with a Group, getting all present to be unanimous in their findings and assessment is quite a challenge. The idea is not to be unanimous, the idea is to learn how each individual is discovering their stimulation and where they are seeing attraction. I am only party to witnessing this unanimous from a Group on a few occasions following multiples of attending meet ups where Group assessments were to occur over many many years. 

Within my own Local HiFi Group, there are regular meet ups made to carry out comparisons, both Digital and Analogue Sources along with supporting devices to enable them to be used. Within Group discussion at the time of the meeting and the courteous follow up mails that come through after the get together, clearly shows there is a broadness in the ideas formed about the experience had, in some cases from individuals with a very healthy experiences of audio equipment, the thoughts shared are quite alien to ones own. 

I have no concerns for the assessments being reported on in this thread, I am encouraging of it. What I do not see is consistency in the reports that are possibly to follow from others sharing on an experience had. The Individual undertaking this Threads assessments will prove to be a valuable aid in steering others towards a DAC to be experienced. The idea of another discovering the like for like for their own report, if presented, is where the reports on experiences had, have the potential to become quite varied and not containing content that is matching.

Today I am more interested in the social aspect of what my interest in audio equipment used for replaying recorded music can bring into my life, very similar to how I experience live music throughout my life, it has never been a sole experience. The person who wrote " Comparison is the Thief of Joy" even though not being about audio in its context, certainly has created a saying that is worthy of taking on board when getting bogged down in audio equipment.  

@mitch2 You stated in your Post 

"  and my relationship with them goes back around 20 years, first as a tire-kicker, then as a client, and finally as a friend, which says a lot about how they work with all of their clients. "

@brbrock You stated in your Post

 " You can get a custom amp, preamp or DAC made and it is a very fun and unique experience.   You are a part of the build by choosing exactly how it will be built out.  The quality of the build and equipment surpasses the price by far. "

Both of these statements are closely related to my own experiences had to produce the system in use today.

845 Power Amps are commission built by an EE almost 25 Years ago, who prior to this during the 90's the same EE, had built for me a Stereo Power Amp', a Pre-Amp' and Phonostage. Today the same EE who is a friend, in the sense they get an annual bottle of their favourite Tipple sent as a gift at the New Year, is converting the 845's to be a Balanced Input.

One owned Phon' and DAC in use today, both use Valves and are both Commission Built, where I was involved with the Phon' from conception through to finalising the design.

The other Phon' in use, is produced as a working model for myself by the designer of this Phon'.

The TT and Tonearm are both quite different from their original designs, where the modifications are undertaken by a individual recognised in the UK for their acquired skills for such delicate treatments. The individual who has undertaken this work is today a friend and is visited on occasions during the year, with plenty of phone calls shared as well.

The Speakers are fully overhauled and modernised, by a UK leading Service for Quad ESL 57's. 

Moving away from the mainstream supply of Audio Equipment has helped myself, become acquainted with individuals who are willing to assist with educating a inquisitive mind, additionally to this, a system is now produced that is uniquely Bespoke, and has proved to be a system that is very much enjoyed for the discernible qualities it presents, by myself and others who get to spend time listening to it.

At present the system is limited to being a CDT > DAC source only.