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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
sns
3,258 posts
 

@mitch2 I previously owned Singxer SU6, this with Musetec 005, preferred usb over my OpticalRendu vs I2S with the Singxer. Now have Denafrips Gaia with Tubulus Ximius .5M cable, prefer I2S  vs usb for both Laiv Harmony and Musetec 006. This with a much improved usb board in 006 vs the Amamero in 005, Harmony usb nothing special.

 

Gaia superior to Singxer in usb isolation on input and implementation of OXCO clock on I2S. Singxer SU6 as good as it is, simply doesn't play in same universe, build quality, design, parts quality in Gaia all far superior. Meaningful improvement in sound quality reflects this superiority, and the Tubulus cable I'm using provides another substantial and meaningful improvement. A lesser optimization of I2S than this may change equation of which interface superior.

brbrock's avatar
brbrock
55 posts
 

@debjit_g You mentioned the Musetec and Mojo DAC's are different.  Can you explain how they are different.  Can you mention some of the DAC's you have had in the past?

debjit_g
280 posts
 

@debjit_g You mentioned the Musetec and Mojo DAC's are different.  Can you explain how they are different.  Can you mention some of the DAC's you have had in the past?
 

@brbrock as I was mentioning earlier I can’t justify a real comparison between the two as I did a bunch of mods to my amps/pre, music server, etc right after I received the X SE. They were already in the pipeline, so I couldn’t avoid it. As with burn-in/break-in, it’s a roller coaster ride, especially when it involves Furutech NCF components. I will get to a meaningful comparison when my system settles in but these two DACs have different flavor - I will not say more but at a high level, Mojo is more of denser, Musetec is more airy. However, take these with a grain of salt and my opinion might changes later. 

debjit_g
280 posts
 

@brbrock For what it’s worth, some of DACs I owned, PS Audio Direcstream, Denafrips Terminator, Mytek Brooklyn, Mivera Purestream, Matrix Audio Element X (excellent measuring DAC), 4 Lampizator models (Amber 3, Baltic 3, Baltic 4, Atlantic TRP), Aqua La Scala, Musetec 005 and now the X SE.

My plan going forward is to upgrade the X SE to NC and then also get the 006 (I am very much fascinated by the choice of parts and design).

mitch2 OP
4,006 posts
 

@sns 

"Gaia superior to Singxer in usb isolation on input and implementation of OXCO clock on I2S. Singxer SU6 as good as it is, simply doesn't play in same universe, build quality, design, parts quality in Gaia all far superior.  Meaningful improvement in sound quality reflects this superiority," 

I never owned the Gaia, but I did own the Hermes and had problems with it requiring me to send it back to Denafrips, although that may have been a fluke.  I do see the potential advantage of the Gaia DDC when using Denafrips' Terminator DAC since it offers the ability for clock syncing.

I am not here to argue about sound quality between DDCs, and I am not promoting the Singxer SU-6 so I don't really have a dog in the fight, but I can say that inserting the Singxer did nothing to degrade the sound of my system and that it has worked reliably the entire time I have used it.  Here are links to review measurements of both the Singxer SU-6 and the Denafrips Gaia by the same reviewer.  The SU-6 was reviewed a couple of months prior to the Gaia and below are some conclusions by the reviewer,

"Overall, the Gaia is an excellently performing DDC.
It falls ever so slightly behind some other choices like the DI20HE and SU6 in performance, but the added features, and matching aesthetics with Denafrips dacs may be more important to many."

and,

"Those wanting the absolute best performance should still look to the Singxer SU6, but for the added flexibility of non-USB inputs, 768khz support, dual AES output, and a matching aesthetic for Denafrips DACs, the Gaia is a great choice."

 

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