Six DAC Comparison

@viber6 - The Tambaqui is a very good sounding DAC and based on my time with it, more refined sounding and enjoyable to listen to than the Benchmark, which is still a bargain at it's price.  However, just because they both measure well, doesn't mean they sound the same.  I could live with the Tambaqui in my main system but I prefer the more organic, textural, presentation of the Mojo DACs as well as the  richer, fuller, and more relaxed sounding presentation from the Merason. 

The one I would still like to hear is the HoloAudio May DAC that John Atkinson reviewed, measured, and described as follows.  "In almost every way, the HoloAudio May (Level 3) is the best-measuring D/A processor I have encountered, rivaled only by the Weiss DAC502 and MBL N31."  Regarding the sound, he said, "The HoloAudio May (Level 3) is one of the best-sounding D/A processors I have tried."  If it is really that good, it should be an absolute bargain at it $5,600 price, for the KTE version.  I simply have not heard it and therefore cannot say one way or the other.    

Thanks for your reply.  I have the original Benchmark DAC 1.  Reviews said the DAC 2 was warmer and more "musical" than the 1, and the DAC 3 was getting back to the DAC 1 tonal balance.  Actually, don't laugh, I prefer my old Sony CD player alone compared to the Sony digital out going to the Bench 1.  The latter is smoother, warmer compared to the Sony alone.  So the Sony is actually more raw and brighter than when used with the Bench.  Both the Sony and Bench 1 are old products, but the Sony is even older.  I have to admit that the raw quality of the Sony is a detriment, but the sound is tighter and leaner.  I suspect that the additional interconnect cable (the old Illuminati from Chris Sommerwerk) and added analog gain stage electronics in the Bench 1 probably is adding some veil.  Many people have claimed that the ultimate performance is from a complete CD player vs transport + DAC, although my limited experience is insufficient to evaluate this.

As a performing violinist in orchestra and chamber music, what excites me is close up detail and HF extension.  By comparison any audience seat reveals much less detail and overall clarity.  I know your preferences are far different from mine, but I have learned much from your careful comparisons.  That makes you a skillful observer and writer.  Your integration of published reviews (which are usually biased) with your honest personal observations is a model of great reporting.  Most media in audio and other matters cannot be trusted.

@mitch2 

As the owner of a recently purchased  Mojo-Audio X SE I agree with comments regarding it's sound signature.  I don't have the Z chips or the nano-crystalline (NC) chokes but even so the sound is full and engaging.  I don't agree with difference being incremental though.  My previous DAC was the PSAudio MK1 and the MHDT Orchid before that and each provided a significant upgrade to the sound from the previous.  That said I was happy with each one of them until I heard the upgraded component.  
I wish I had your talent to express what I'm hearing but I'm pretty much tied to "Mojo good, sound like". There was so much work involved in this post I just want to say Thank You

OP… “but something that requires the reader to be more sensitive to the words written and sometimes “read between the lines” to identify both negative as well as positive aspects of the equipment being reviewed.”.

Just in case this isn’t obvious to anyone… this very true and critical to understand reviews. If you are sensitive to this then professional reviews are very very valuable. I have been reading The Absolute Sound and Stereophile since they began… and they are great sources of information. Damned by faint praise is a big reality. I don’t hold it against reviewer for not being really direct… but most are very obvious about shortcomings. High end audio is about subtitles, and it starts with reading.

I've been demoing the LTA Aero and Mojo Mystique Y in my system this last week and thought I'd share my early impressions.

System is Roon Nuc - Ifi Zen Stream w/ elite LPS - DAC - Luxman l509x - Spendor D9.2.

I previously had a Lumin T2.  I don't think it synergized well with the spendor Ds and luxman.  It was too detailed and analytical for me for speakers which already lean a touch that direction for my tastes.  On some advice on another thread, I decided to try a couple r2r DACs.

Both of these DACs completely changed the system for me.  Albums I previously thought were poor recordings revealed by my revealing system are now enjoyable.  There is more weight, organic richness, tone and life to the music.  I could happily live with either one.  Its going to be difficult to decide.

I swapped tubes in the Aero to the Ray Tubes Reserve 6sn7.  That changed the character of the Aero and made me realize how tube rolling can influence the sound.  The 6sn7 toned down some of the incisive zippy nature of the Aero and gave more tonal richness, lifelike insight into the music.  I've also been trying a Cary SLP-05 tube preamp into the separates input on the luxman which is pure magic.  The Aero with stock tubes straight into the Luxman gave perhaps 30% of the tube magic vs including the Cary in the chain. The Ray Tubes Reserve 6sn7 gets me 70% of the tube magic while retaining more of the drive and solidity of the Luxman preamp.  The aero with the 6sn7s into the luxman I would describe as spacious, detailed, insightful, organic, rich, airy and alive.  The band sounds in my room vs listening to a great recording.  Acoustic and jazz shines.

The Mojo also sounds fantastic and swapping back and forth between the Aero and also including the Cary preamp it's difficult to nail down a clear winner.  The Mojo is smooth, dense, very composed and clear.  The soundstage is a touch narrower but more dense.  It is even handed.  It also has similar giddieup to the Aero with the 6sn7 tubes (although not as much as the stock tubes which want to boogie).  I seemed to like the Mojo best relative in comparison to the Aero with more produced music like Abbey Road or an Eryka Badu album. 

At this point I'm leaning towards the Aero with the upgraded tubes and sticking with the Luxman vs going tube pre / ss power amp.  It gives me some of the tube magic while keeping the setup simpler and it sounds fantastic.  Its a tough call though, the Mojo also is a lovely DAC.  I have more listening to do.  Thanks to all the folks on this forum sharing their experience.  Really happy with how things are sounding over here.