Six DAC Comparison
I am in the middle of comparing the sound of six different DACs in my system. I own them all (I know weird) but one of them is still within a trial/return timeframe.
Not to share specific comparisons today, but a couple of observations so far are that first, they all definitely sound different from each other. On one hand, they all sound pretty good and play what is fed to them without significant flaws but on the other hand there are definite sonic differences that make it easy to understand how a person might like the sound of some of them while not liking others.
Second, raises the observation that most of them must be doing something to shape the sound in the manner the designer intended since one of the DACs, a Benchmark DAC3 HGA, was described by John Atkinson of Stereophile as providing "state-of-the-art measured performance." In the review, JA closed the measurements section by writing, "All I can say is "Wow!" I have also owned the Tambaqui (not in my current comparison), which also measured well ("The Mola Mola Tambaqui offers state-of-the-digital-art measured performance." - JA). The Benchmark reminds me sonically of the Tambaqui, both of which are excellent sounding DACs.
My point is that if the Benchmark is providing "state-of-the-art measured performance," then one could reasonably presume that the other five DACs, which sound different from the Benchmark, do not share similar ’state-of-the-art" measurements and are doing something to subtly or not so subtly alter the sound. Whether a person likes what they hear is a different issue.
@mitch2 - Thanks for your thoughtful reply. The audiophile bug or malady, depending on the day or if my wife is in included in the sample respondents, draws me in with the persistent quest for that elusive auditory nirvana state. The Lampizator’s seem to have a near cult life following, so thank you for the perspective. |
Thanks @bluethinker; I'll do so, for sure. And my workaround for the Rose is simply to use the RCA coax output (Rose) to it's mate on the Mojo, and run my transport through AES to the corresponding Mojo port. And yes @devinplombier, I meant to say devices running Linux in general. Benjamin also mentioned Lenovo, and as I have one of their tablets, that's what stuck. All the while, the Mojo Mystique X '24 continues to burn in -- 10 to 12 hours a day -- and is sounding better and better. My understanding is that at around 240 hours, the lotus blossom unfolds, and Kate Bush appears with her Fairlight in my livingroom. Yet another in a series of aspirational states! |
@zmann007 - Let us know when the lotus flower unfolds! |
I have a comment about and experience with a couple of DACs. I have been listening to a NAD 3050 integrated amp that is only a few months old. The amplifier itself is fabulous. The unit contains an internal DAC and it has been enjoyable to listen to the system. However, I decided to hook up a BluMe DAC to see if I could hear a difference with some songs of which I am very familiar. When I played the BluMe DAC, I was amazed at the difference! The instruments sounded much deeper and wider for the soundstage and you could focus on individual instruments with the BluMe DAC. Depth of the soundstage is something that I am striving for as it gives me the best listening experience. Further, some songs have two different base notes playing that are quite close in frequency. The deck supplied with the unit sounded garbled and the BluMe unit allowed me to hear the two separate notes with great distinction. I would have to say that the DAC inside the NAD unit is inferior to the BluMe unit. Due to the three dimensional holographic affect that I get with The BluMe unit, I no longer use the internal DAC inside the NAD 3050. I will be experimenting with other outboard DAC units To experience the differences. |
