That last part "PSAudio/HiFi Rose/Silent Angel/Matrix/Pi2/Holo Audio all have I2S outputs." I should have noted are streamers or music servers
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.
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brbrock Electrical engineers, forgive me if I misspeak anywhere below I cannot comment on the DACs in mitch2's comparison, but I can comment on the benefits of a DDC with most (not all) streamers or CD transports.....and specifically the Denafrips Pontus II/Iris combination, but that applies to most other DACs. Sorry for the detailed information, but I appreciated the education when I first got it. (1) Crystal Oscillator - The basic clock in the Pontus II is a standard (though very high quality) FEMTO clock. Crystal oscillators (clocks) and their performance are affected by temperature variation, thus the need to keep the clocks at as stable a temperature as possible.....but that, and the implementation of, can get expensive. The better the clock, the better the stability and the sound quality, the higher the price. Most low to mid quality DACs have a FEMTO clock that has no compensation for temperature, thus minor fluctuations in it's performance. The next step up is a TCXO (temperature compensated crystal oscillator), where the temperature is controlled by the use of thermistors and insulation of the crystal oscillator. The next step up from there is an OCXO (oven controlled crystal oscillator), which uses an internally adjustable "mini oven" to keep the crystal at optimum operating temperature. As I mentioned, the clock in the Pontus II is a high quality FEMTO clock with no temperature compensation, The crystal oscillator in the Iris is the higher quality TCXO temperature compensated crystal oscillator. The next step up Hermes and the top of the line Gaia use an OCXO oven controlled crystal oscillator. (2) Galvanic isolation - This isolates signals by using magnetic components. All Denafrips DDCs use a galvanic opto coupler, optically and galvanically isolating the signal (3) Optical isolation - This isolates the signal by converting to an optical transmission using lasers, thus eliminating electrical contamination......usually with an opto-coupler. All Denafrips DDCs use a galvanic opto-coupler, optically and galvanically isolating the signal (4) USB - USB transmission does not contain a clock signal, it is assigned by the receiving device. USB directly into a DAC has the DAC assigning the clock, USB into a DDC has the DDC assigning the clock which would then be passed to a DAC. High end streamers do a very good job of transferring USB data, so less phase shift and jitter; and some with very high end streamers have reported little/no benefit from a DDC. (5) AES/EBU and SPDIF - These signals do include a clock signal that is generated by the sending device, however the clock is imbedded with the data signal and must be separated by the DAC/DDC. Higher end DACs/DDCs will correct or even regenerate the clock signal, and some have the ability to turn that feature off if the incoming signal is superior (6) I2S - This is the protocol that DACs (and other digital devices) use internally to process data, so any USB, AES/EBU, SPDIF signal must be converted to I2S in the DAC/DDC. The great thing about the DDC is that it handles this conversion, and then can (if the connection is available) transmit that same I2S data to a DAC. The I2S signal has a separate pinout to transmit the clock, so it does not have to be parsed by the DAC; the DAC just converts the digital signal to analog with the already converted I2S signal using the separate signal for the clock. I suspect this is partially why so many people report that the I2S connection sounds best versus other inputs. Some external devices (streamers or CD transports) can natively output I2S, so a DDC might not be needed. Jay's Audio and PSAudio CD transports have I2S output, and PSAudio/HiFi Rose/Silent Angel/Matrix/Pi2/Holo Audio all have I2S outputs. |
@soix I have to disagree with adding a DDC. I feel that the DAC’s should be compared based on their abilities, without having the DDC safety net. The Merason has its own galvanic isolation built into the unit. If others do not include this, they may suffer in comparison, as it should be. |
@soix - Galvanic isolation - good add. In the digital audio world, a decent DDC offers tangible improvements for an $800 box! In the world of DACs, I believe there can be quite a variance in the quality of the USB input, which can also be negated by using a good DDC to accept the USB input and then output to the DAC using another type of connection.. |
@brbrock -
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@mitch2 and @vthokie83 and @trivema I have a few questions about some of the equipment in the study. Mitch do you know the DAC chip used in the SMc Audio DAC? Also is part of the purpose other than correcting timing of a DDC to be able to change inputs? Many DAC's do not have an optical input such as the SMc audio and Mojo Audio, because of this I am not able to connect the TV to watch movies etc. |
It was more challenging than I anticipated to choose a small group of music selections that were both representative of music I listen to, and also suitable to highlight attributes of the of DACs being compared. I started by creating a new playlist in Roon, where I could accumulate and compare tracks, and I eventually chose a smaller group of selections that I have grouped and listed below. Music Selections (Title, Artist, Album) Jazzy,
Vocals
Rock
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@vthokie83 and @trivema - Unfortunately, I do not have the Denafrips Pontus II DAC with an Iris DDC to include as part of the comparison, or any Denefrips DAC. I have considered trying a Terminator (in whatever iteration) several times but the timing or opportunity were never just right. I did try the Hermes DDC in my system for a couple of months but I had integration and performance problems getting it to work properly. I will say the Denefrips USA support team was very helpful and eventually sent me a new unit that worked, but I ended up selling it. I do like the idea of using a DDC (for having a variety of output options and lowering jitter out) and I currently use the Singxer SU-6, which I found to be a basic plug-n-play unit that has worked perfectly since I installed it. |
mitch2 It'll be interesting to see your findings, and what you hear in your system Trivema & Soix I still find the Denafrips Pontus II DAC with an Iris DDC via I2S to be the most musical, enjoyable, and fun DAC combo out there. I have upgraded every other component (preamp, 2 amps, speakers, cables, receptacles), but I still do not feel the need to rush out and replace the pair......I find them an incredible bargain I have tested several $4,000 to $5,000 DACs along the way (I won't mention names because I don't want an argument), and still find my liking for the Pontus/Iris combo. Yes I absolutely will upgrade my DAC at some point within the next year, and yes I know there is better sound to be had......but I will take my time to make sure it still has that fun and enjoyable sound that I currently have. I lust for a Lampizator Pacific or Poseidon, but that'll have to wait a couple of years |
@agisthos - The only brand new unit is the LTA Aero, which was burned in at the factory for a week and has been in my system and turned on full time for three weeks, while playing music some of the time, maybe 30 hours. The Merason is an original DAC1 that was upgraded to MkII months ago, and the others I already owned. |
I don't care what my Lampizator Poseidon measures, it's the best DAC for my system. My second system has a great DAC (and great measuring DAC as well) which is 70% as good and certainly as enjoyable, small and really cheap now that it has been discontinued (half a dozen rave reviews), the Topping D70s. To really beat the cheap Chinese DACs, one generally has to spend a lot of money. Haven't heard the Schitt units but their new transport for $1200 is great, the Urd. |
@mitch2 You certainly have major task in front of you here. I'm just in beginning process of comparing three different dacs, two being new purchases. What I've discovered is leveling the playing field is very difficult. I will be testing a single R2R dac to two sabre chip dacs, these sabre chip dacs usb likely to be optimal input, I2S for R2R. And then my system presently already optimized for usb, will be purchasing one of two top DDC;s in order to provide optimal I2S.
So, you're using Singxer SU-6 which I previously owned, while this is one ot the better DDC, there's still better out there, examples being Denafrips Gaia or Musician Phoenix. And then we have the question of optimizing usb inputs as well. Herein lies the problem when trying to compare dacs, optimizing inputs is the single largest variable in attempting to provide level playing field and extract maximum potential from all dacs.
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I’ll counter with “Ignorance is bliss.” One person’s “bogged down” is another’s valuable opportunity to learn very helpful and useful information, especially in the context of this thread. I choose to continually learn and enjoy doing it, but that’s me. |
@pindac Many thanks for your wise post and your gentle admonition to re-focus on what matters first: The music. I am currently in the midst of spending far too much time researching the system I haven’t put together yet, and this is what I needed to hear. Thanks again. |
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.
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@gavin1977 indeed everything does matter, the IRIS in front of a Pontus II gave me 20% improvement, installing a dedicated power line from the panel with a true earth ground and higher grade copper outlets for all the system power another 10%, fiber optic internet with a high quality router, separate industrial grade Ethernet switch box, all with their own linear power supplies, perhaps another 5%+, all subjective of course. I have less than $2k in the above tweaks for a significant upgrade in SQ. Plus hours moving speakers around with a tape measure and laser pointer. Even a quarter inch here or there can make a difference. The Klipsch finally disappear, especially at night with the lights off! |
What I have realised is that everything matters @trivema The server/DDC, the power cables and conditioning used, interconnects also have a strong influence. In a very revealing system you can adjust the sound from a DAC in a noteworthy manner, from musical to analytical, changes in soundstage and clarity etc… I just wish I had all the ‘best’ items feeding a DAC, because then we’d know how well it scales. Some DACs can be unimpressive if unoptimised. |
@soix - I have been thinking about your suggestion and I agree - comparing them all at once is not going to move things forward. Therefore, I will use the Mojo Audio Mystique EVO Pro DAC as my baseline, since I am most familiar with it, and then compare the others to that DAC, one at a time. Michael Lavorgna at Twittering Machines does something similar when he compares whichever DAC he is reviewing at the time to his reference totaldac d1-unity. @bluethinker @audiomirror - The Audio Mirror Tubadour DAC seems to have many satisfied owners based on the posts I have read. I hadn't intended to expand my listening comparison beyond the DACs I originally listed, but I am always interested in hearing new products. I appreciate your suggestion that I give the Tubadour a try, but it would probably be best if I work my way through the DACs I have here now first. I will certainly keep it in mind. |
I’m really looking forward to Mitch’s observations. @mitch2 - Would you consider adding the Audio Mirror Tubadour DAC to your review if Vlad was willing to send it to you? |
Yes, the Merason Dac1 is a wonderful sounding Dac and took a good friends advice as he said it's overall sound signature was spot on with his top of the line Mojo Dac at half the price... I had my MKI updated to MKII and it exceeded the SQ of my wonderful SW1X III+ DHT Tube Dac; the Merason just captured more ambiance, spatial cues and space... Wig |
@mitch2 - No easing into retirement for you my friend! You have Benjamin and now Vlad at Audio Mirror wanting you to review their latest. I predict that Lukasz at Lampizator will be posting shortly with his thoughts & requests At this rate you may be tuning into a part time/full time DAC reviewer. Net is that this is positive news for those of us interested in the thoughts of a knowledgable common sense audiophile relating to a few select DAC's of YOUR choosing! |
Hello everyone, I would like to chime in as audiophile and manufacturer. I've been audiophile for over 40 yrs. I started building audio equipment in 1984. Everything I build, I build it for myself first. If I like it(if passes my taste - listening test), it becomes a product I sell. So I would like to give my two cents. DAC chips make difference. Output section and power supply too. Parts quality also. If I have to define which one does what: DAC chip - tonality, musicality and 20-25% of the sound Output section - clarity, resolution, soundstage, dynamics, coloration and 40-50% of the sound Power supply(mostly on the digital part) and parts quality - transparency, resolution, liquid and easy flowing sound, less harshness and 20-30% of the sound. I would love to have you guys audition and evaluate my Audio Mirror - Tubadour V DAC. Vlad
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Great info. As a former reviewer I’d make two observations FWIW:
So the takeaways would be that you doing these comparisons is hugely useful for relative perspective and why so many here are so eagerly awaiting your thoughts/impressions, and take the time to compare each DAC directly to the other because trying to infer firm conclusions from indirect comparisons could easily lead to erroneous findings (been there, done that). Again, FWIW. |
@soix - Sorry to drag this out but comparing six different DACs takes more time than I allotted! It might have been better (certainly easier) to compare two of them and then two more, and then two more, and then the three that I liked most and then the three I liked least. However, unlike a playoff, the goal is not to pick a "winner," but rather to simply report observations. I did post a picture of five of the DACs on my system page. The Mojo Audio Mystique X SE NCZ is not in my system right now as I do not have room, so I will move it in later. A couple of early observations would include that they all sound good, just different. There is not a single one of the six that I couldn't live with in my system, but I do like several better than the others. My preferences are most likely related to the music I listen to and the sonic preferences I prefer from my system. In my previous post, when I talked about liking a richer tone than I was getting from the Metrum Acoustics DACs, in general, the six DACs here do provide that. Another observation is that IMO the professional reviews of these DACs accurately portray what I am hearing - mostly. I would say there are embellishments and, as well, there are times you must read between the lines or pick-up on subtleties within the review but, in general, I would say the reviews are accurate. The specific SMc Audio DAC-2 that I have here has not actually been reviewed, but the previous "Ultra DAC" iteration received an extremely positive (almost too much so) review years ago at 6moons. While constructed from the same platform, the DAC-2 that I have here is different, and is supposed to sound better. When I get down to discussing my specific observations and comparisons, I do not intend to reinvent the wheel and will probably quote some of those existing reviews. I will also share that I really wanted to like the Merason but didn't like it so well at first. However, the more I listened, the more I liked it and now, even if it doesn't turn out to be my favorite, I do find it hard to switch to something else. It is just so easy to listen to and displays this rich sounding musicality on just about every type of music I throw its way. It is also absolutely unflappable, regardless of how hard you push it. |
Thanks for all the great info and follow up, but this is such a tease! 😜 Really looking forward to your thoughts, and Mojo is now back on the short list for my next DAC upgrade — very interesting about the choke power supply. My main concern with Mojo is I’m a stickler for upper octave detail/air, sound of stick hitting the cymbal, etc. and was concerned their DACs might be a little soft sounding up there for my tastes, but I guess we’ll see… |
Moving along with the DAC comparisons, I have provided a (rather long) summary of my digital audio background below. Background My background in digital audio started with CD players by Dennon, Theta, Pioneer, and others, and then later the top players from Lector, Ayre, and Muse. The next step was to use a CD transport into a separate DAC (Assemblage 3.1) and then later a modified Mac mini serving digital files to a DAC. I remember the Assemblage 3.1 (along with their D2D-1 converter) sounding relatively musical and looking back, there seemed to be a lot of attention to the power supply as well as using a Burr-Brown DF1704 24/96 digital filter and a pair of the Burr-Brown PCM 1704 24/96 DAC chips per channel. One of my Lector players used a BB PCM63 DAC chip and I remember how musical that player sounded, as well as perceiving a more detailed but somehow less organically musical sound after “upgrading” to their newer model that used the PCM1704 chip. Next, I moved to a couple of mid-priced DACs such as Ayre’s QB-9 DSD but still found the sound somewhat “digital” compared to my Lector and Muse CD players. After reading Srajan Ebaen’s 6moons review of the Metrum Acoustics NOS R2R mini Octave DAC, I purchased the Metrum Octave, then their Hex, and then moved up to their flagship Pavane and later Adagio. I enjoyed those Metrum Acoustics DACs, and particularly the Pavane, and perceived R2R DACs as having a more realistic and less electronic sounding presentation compared to others, like the Ayre, but I wanted something with a bit more meat on the bone, or maybe a bit richer tonality. Benjamin Zwickel, proprietor/designer at Mojo Audio, had tricked out my Mac mini as a music server so, after reading a very positive review by Jeremy Kipnis at Enjoy the Music about Mojo Audio’s Mystique v3, with its five choke input power supplies and AD1862N DAC chips, I decided to give it a try. Kipnis said this about the v3,
My time with the Mojo Audio Mystique v3 convinced me that I could indeed be satisfied with the sound I was hearing from my digital source. However, Benjamin does not sit still so to keep up I moved up the Mojo Audio line to the Mystique B4B21 and then the (previous) flagship Mystique EVO Pro, which IMO is the pinnacle of the design that began with the v3. A short time later, Mojo Audio came out with a similar but somewhat new design, predicated at least in part by their need to change the casework on their DACs. They christened the new DAC the Mystique X (for extruded case). After reading another round of positive reviews for that newest Mojo Audio DAC, I purchased a Mystique X SE. In short, I still preferred the sound of the EVO Pro over the X SE, and so I sold my X SE. After discussing this with Benjamin, I learned about limited edition Z-chips that Benjamin was putting into some of his DACs as a premium offering (AD1862N-Z chips were originally used in higher end Dennon CD players), and so I opened up the EVO Pro and sure enough, I found Z-chips. I have been happy to sit tight with the Mystique EVO Pro and enjoy the music. However, I sometimes like to try new stuff so I took an opportunity to purchase a Mola Mola Tambaqui, which I owned for a couple of months over the holidays. Even compared to the Tambaqui, I still liked the natural sound of the Mojo Audio EVO Pro DAC better, so I sold the Tambaqui. More recent opportunities resulted in my accumulation of the DACs I am currently comparing:
Sorry for such a long-winded background write-up but hopefully it provides context regarding my digital source and DAC journey up to this point. |
@fuzzbutt17 Thank you for the explanation of power supplies. I read your post a few time over and just want to clarify a few things and ask some question? LC power supplies are power supplies with large chokes? CLC power supplies are made of just capacitors. To determine if it is an LC power supply you just look for the large chokes? Some people talk about moving towards tube DAC's because of timing timbre harshness etc. In some of these DAC's they have the LC power supply which is correcting time timber etc. What do you think the tube is doing in these DAC's? Does the tube cover some of the bad stuff in the CLC power supply? |
@ gavin1977 CLC is an excellent power supply and also stores energy similar to an LC power supply but the LC is still slightly better. With an LC power supply the rectification multiplier from AC to DC is only .9 vs 1.414 with a capacitive or CLC power supply. That means the power transformer has to be 50% larger and heavier. Some would call this "electrical torque." The size of the choke can be significantly smaller in a CLC power supply to achieve the same inductive reactance which is also a cost, size, and weight saving. The crest factor in an LC power supply, meaning the peaks and valleys of the DC after rectification, is literally 50% that of a capacitive or CLC power supply. That means the capacitors have literally half as much work to do. The heat in an LC power supply is 50% of a capacitive or CLC power supply making them last significantly longer. And an LC power supply has the highest impedance to AC and lowest impedance to DC of any power supply typology making it the most tolerant of AC noise and providing the most effortless power to DC. Because a CLC power supply is considerably smaller, lighter weight, and less expensive to manufacture, they are significantly more popular than the LC. Of course because a capacitive power supplies are even smaller, lighter, and less expensive to manufacture, they are the most popular. The funny thing is that since nearly all high-end audio electronics use capacitive power supplies everyone is used to hearing the time and tune distortion so very few people notice it. You should see people's jaws drop at audio shows when I play them 1940's and 1950's recordings that were made with LC choke input power supplies in the recording studios. When played on one of our DACs the difference between them and modern recordings made with capacitive power supplies is unmistakable. Very few companies aside from those who manufacture the best-of-the-best of tube amps use LC or CLC power supplies. Recently a few companies, such as Schiit and Musical Fidelity, are making solid-state power amps with LC choke input power supplies (kudos!). The ridiculous thing is that the laws of physics are identical with micro amps and mega amps so it always makes me wonder why these same companies who apparently know the benefits of chokes in a power supply are not putting them in the preamps and DACs they manufacture. |
@ Mitch2 The Mystique EVO Pro (2018-2020) originally sold for $11,999 and with the Z chip upgrade it would have been $12,999. Originally we sold the Mystique X SE for $9,999 and the NC nano crystal core choke and Z chip upgrades are $2,500 making that DAC $12,499. But due to higher sales volumes our manufacturing costs have gone down so we lowered our prices. Our new Mystique X AM (2024) with amorphous core chokes is identical to our Mystique X SE (2021-2023) and sells for only $8,499. And our new Mystique X NC with nano crystal core chokes sells for only $9,999. |
It’s an intelligent design. Can you explain more about what you mean in the differences of how a pure C vs CLC power supply store energy? ”The capacitive power supplies used in most DACs don't store current the way a choke/capacitor power supply does resulting in the music being off time and tune and corrupting the harmonic structure. The more energy a note requires, such as a belting vocal or a booming bass note, the more off time and tune that note is from the rest of the music.”
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Hello Benjamin. I hope things are well. My comparison includes two of your best DACs but as you point out, the Mystique Y Fe would be a much closer competitor to the LTA Aero since they are basically the same price. Of the six DACs currently in this comparison, only the Benchmark costs less. The SMc would be the next higher priced but attaching a number to it is hard since it is not a regular offering and I know they put a lot of extra effort into it. It would be at least 50% more than the Aero and your Y Fe. The Merason is $8,500 and your other two DACs probably originally listed/retailed for north of $10K with the (unobtainable) Z-chips and the NC chokes. You have shared before that you believe the Y Fe punches well above its weight and provides much of the benefits of your other DACs at a much lower price. |
Hi everyone. This is Benjamin from Mojo Audio, the designer of the Mystique line of DACs. I just wanted to give you a bit of a perspective on our DACs and I wanted to offer Mitch one of our new entry-level Mystique Y Fe DACs ($3,999) to add to the comparison. Our new Mystique Y is almost identical in circuit, power supply, component parts, and chassis to our award-winning Mystique X, but sells for about half the price. Certainly more in line with the cost of other DACs in his comparison. First thing I wanted to say is that we don't use any "voicing" to make our DACs sound a certain way. Our main design criteria is harmonic coherency: if the harmonic structure of the notes align from the lowest lows to the highest highs then it simply has to be correct. This is what gives the music proper time, tune, texture, timbre, musical flow, emotional content, and all of those other adjectives music lovers are looking for. The unique thing about all of our DACs is that we use LC choke input power supplies which are the largest, heaviest, least efficient, and most expensive power supply typology. The LC choke input power supply was developed by Western Electric and Bell Labs about 100 years ago, and unless the laws of physics have changed in the past 100 years, it is still the only power supply typology to provide instantaneous effortless power. The capacitive power supplies used in most DACs don't store current the way a choke/capacitor power supply does resulting in the music being off time and tune and corrupting the harmonic structure. The more energy a note requires, such as a belting vocal or a booming bass note, the more off time and tune that note is from the rest of the music. When people talk about how organic and natural our DACs sound what they are actually hearing is the coherent harmonic structure and harmonic alignment we get from our LC choke input power supplies. Also don't be confused: those tiny high-frequency filter chokes that are about the size of a jellybean companies like LTA use to filter out HF noise from their switch-mode power supplies are nothing like the massive Lundahl chokes with exotic core materials we use in the linear power supplies in our DACs. The shrimp and steak served off the steam tables in those all-you-can-eat restaurants are not the same shrimp and steak you get at a 5-star restaurant. Another thing I wanted to touch on are bench test specifications such as the ones done by Stereophile magazine. Those tests are not incorrect, but they are incomplete, and they are often inaudible. Stereophile has named our Mystique X SE a "B" class recommended component for the past two years. Our "B" rating was due to our bench test measurements not being up with many of their favorites like the Benchmark DACs. Of course the "less than" specifications are all inaudible. For example, John Atkins criticized our Mystique X SE for only resolving 18-bits of resolution yet he has also stated that he's never measured any recording with more than 18-bits of resolution. And despite claiming 24-bits most good recordings actually have less than 10-bits of resolution. The important take away is that the Reviewer from Stereophile found that our DAC sounded better than anything he compared it to. How is that possible if the bench test measurements were audible? My favorite analogy in regards to bench test measurements being incomplete is this: picture a sphere, a cylinder, and a cone. All could look identical when measured in two-dimensions but all look quite different when measured in three-dimensions. In any event, I would like to invite all of you to take advantage of our 45-day no-risk audition and hear one of our DACs in your system. I can honestly say that I can count on one hand with fingers left over the number of DACs we get returned for refund in any given year. And I can honestly say that literally half the reviewers or editors from the magazines who reviewed our DACs ended up purchasing the demo unit as their digital reference. I think that says it all. |
@mitch2 Out of curiosity what DAC's have you had in the past before the six DAC's you are comparing. I know you have said you love the Mojo Audio and SMc DAC's. What other DAC's have they bested. |
Having just read this thread, it seems as if many comments are responding to the wrong thread. @mitch2 Thanks for spending the time and effort to provide your listening impressions. I have a DAC3 that you are listening to and am interested to your impressions. It is my oldest component and might be the next upgrade. If you have time will you post the tracks you are listening to as test tracks. Hardware is great, however I am always looking for different songs. |
@mitch2 - I’m also looking forward to your personal experiences with your listed DACS. I just upgraded my Merason DAC1 to the mkii version and am absolutely delighted with how it sounds in my system. That said, would love to hear your perspective on how it sounds in comparison to the others, especially the new LTA DAC. I have the LTA preamp and love it. |
@mitch2 - Looking forward to your observations on the DACS under review. I’ve just upgraded my Merason Dac to the MKii version and I’m very happy with it. I am curious about your assessment of the new LTA DAC. I have an LTA preamp and I love it. |
@curiousjim drop an IRIS DDC in front of your Pontus II. You may decide no need to upgrade. |
@mammothguy54 - thank you, and glad you can still enjoy the things you love to do. |
I agree 100% about "wonder how I ever found time for a job". I am in retirement year 6 and it has been a great ride. Developing my new audio system, fishing for big tuna and yellowtail, and skiing only on weekdays (no more weekends or holidays). I will soon be developing my digital front end and am following this thread. The LTA Aero has my attention, quite favorably. I will audition it next weekend at the Pacific Audio Fest, in Seattle. @mitch2 thank you very much for such an immense effort. I look forward to your further analysis and reports.
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