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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.
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@curiousjim - No, interesting thought but this will not be a regular thing. |
Six DAC Comparison - The Wrap Ok, time to pick a winner - just kidding, but it is time to stick a fork in this. Something I learned during this DAC comparison is that good sounding equipment can be achieved in many forms, through many different design choices. Also, not everybody is going to like the same thing. Look at the Tambaqui as an example. Many would rank it in the upper echelons of available DACs. It was essentially perfect but I found the presentation to be a little too pristine, too clean, with a little too much upper frequency detail for my tastes. No right or wrong, it just depends on the sound you like to hear, not unlike the six DACs I compared, which would each have their fans. Hats off to the designers and manufacturers that gave us their vision of good sound through these DACs. Each of the DACs in this comparison was a “flagship” for the manufacturer, five of them are current models, and all of them sounded good. After living with R-2R DACs from Metrum Acoustics and Mojo Audio over the past 5 years, I still found myself drawn to the Merason DAC1 MkII with its hybrid BB PCM1792A chip. To my ears, it is so very close to the Mojo Audio DACs, in the areas of rich tonality, solid bass, and harmonic weight (i.e., full-bodied and powerful). It is also smoother sounding than any of the other five DACs, followed closely by the SMc DAC. However, even though it sounds really good, I consider it just shy of pushing either of the two Mojo Audio DACs aside as my favorites. My best effort to describe the differences would be to say the Mojo Audio DACs provide more organic texture and granularity compared to the Merason DAC, which sounds smoother and more relaxed. My level of enjoyment from the two Mojo Audio DACs and the Merason DAC is very similar, and I tend to enjoy whichever of the three I am listening to at the time. The differentiator in my preferences is possibly described by a long-time forum poster under user name georgehifi, who commented on Herb Reichert’s Stereophile review of the Mojo Audio Mystique X SE. Reichert concluded his review by stating: "The Mystique X SE produced a unique, sophisticated listening experience that presented digital recordings as beautiful, probing, and engaging." Georgehifi followed up by posting: “Same happens to me every time I listen to a "good R2R dac", ya just can’t beat em, even if "some" of JA’s measurements are disappointing, as is the cost, there is something that is just fundamentally "right" with R2R Ladder doing PCM conversion, that Delta Sigma misses out on.” However, it is my understanding the two hybrid BB PCM1792A chips in the Merason DAC1 MkII do not provide a straight Delta-Sigma conversion. Benjamin Zwickel at Mojo Audio explained it like this: “The BB PCM1792A chips are what is called a "segmented R-2R"…To me segmented DAC chips sound halfway between R-2R and single-bit Delta-Sigma DAC chips…sort of smoothed over by the algorithms.” So, digital conversion in the Merason is somewhere between R-2R and Delta-Sigma. That seems to correspond with what I am hearing. IOW, I shouldn’t be surprised that I would both enjoy how it sounds and also perceive an additional smoothness compared to the R-2R DACs. I plan to continue acclimating to the sound of the Merason and occasionally reevaluate how it stacks up against the other DACs. With respect to the remaining three DACs in the comparison, my next favorite for sure is the SMc Audio DAC-2 GT-24, which has great tonal qualities and is pretty good at everything else. I view it as just a touch behind the Mojos and the Merason. The differences are nuances, such as a little additional energy in the high frequencies from the SMc DAC-2, while I perceive the Mojo and Merason DACs to have just a little more flesh and body. While these differences are small, they are noticeable to me in a direct comparison. Regardless, I could be perfectly happy living with the SMc DAC-2 in my main system, and I wouldn’t have noticed those subtle areas for improvement except in direct comparison with the other DACs. The Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC is no longer here so it is a bit harder to recap. The Aero, as I remember it, was all about energy, with good tone and body. It was a great sounding DAC at its price point, and above, but its sonic presentation simply did not match my tastes to the level of the other DACs, for the reasons discussed in my write-up. Finally, I appreciate the accomplishment that is the Benchmark DAC3 HGC. Those exceptional measurements, and good sound, at such a low price, opens up the world of high-end audio DACs to buyers operating with a smaller budget. However, the DAC3 is sort of a conundrum in that I cannot point to anything specifically wrong with how it sounds yet it simply doesn’t engage me to the same level as the other DACs in this comparison. I plan to keep it around and use it in my outdoor system where having a DAC with a volume control will simplify things. Thank you readers for your patience throughout this process and especially to those who shared encouragement and kind words. |
@mitch2 Your results correlate with previous reviews I've seen for most of these dacs. Really appreciate the greater detail and comparative nature of your review vs previous I've seen. Of these dacs, the Mojo's have long been on my list of 'want to hear' dacs, your more thorough reviews of these dacs have increased my interest.
One thing I'd take issue is“Delta-Sigma DACs, which comprise over 95% of the DAC chips sold today, do not actually “decode” the bit stream but rather "interpolate" it. They take in the digital bit stream faster than the music is playing, analyze it, noise shape it, error correct it, interpolate what they think the musical signal was supposed to look like, and then output a flawless waveform. Not quite the waveform which was quantized, but a very smooth and very even waveform. That is why Delta-Sigma DACs sound so smooth and refined. This is also why Delta-Sigma DACs have an advantage when playing mediocre sources such as music streamed from the internet.”,
Don't have issue with the technical aspect of explanation, issue is with the generalization of delta sigma dacs as smooth. Based on my ownership of numerous delta sigma dacs, and extensive number of reviews of these dacs delta sigma dacs most often described as incisive, extremely detailed, the complete opposite of smooth. R2R dacs are most often described as quite the opposite of delta sigma, these described as most natural, easy going, relaxed. And this is what I hear with my Laiv Harmony vs Musetec's and previous delta sigma. And I don't mean to suggest delta sigma can't be refined, its simply the characterization of being smooth. IME delta sigma dacs get their bad reputation from masses of cheap Chinese dacs that measure well and sound cold and clinical.
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@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. |
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. |
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.
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@trentgordon - Thanks for the update. It sounds like either choice is a win. Interesting that you were able to change the sound of the Aero with different tubes. I believe Michael Lavorgna at Twittering Machines was planning to post a Part 2 to his Aero review after trying some tube rolling. It seems that many are interested in DAC comparisons at that $4K price point. |
Thank you @curiousjim! I am listening to a new/upgraded Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe Optical today - long name but great product and great people to work with for customer satisfaction. |
BTW all, I am still curious to hear a Holo Audio May KTE, and also a totaldac unity and would add write-ups on those DACs if I had the chance. If any Holo May KTE or totaldac owners out there are interested hearing a Mojo Audio DAC and would be willing to loan/swap DACs for a month (one of my Mojo DACs for a May or totaldac) with no cost except each of us pays shipping/insurance each time we ship, let me know. |
@curiousjim - Sonore have been doing this for awhile now, an optical cable directly feeds the streamer, which is called their Signature Rendu SE Deluxe (optical). SGC is a good place to buy one or, directly from Sonore. I started using optical cable for my 45-foot run from my network room to my system room for a couple of years now (by using converter boxes) but I have been using the Sig Rendu SE optical for just under a year. This new one is fully updated to their latest version (more than just a firmware upgrade). The sound is clear and smooth, but also full, natural, and with good body - light years from mechanical. The Sig Rendu SE Deluxe is their flagship one box PS plus streamer board but the real bargain is virtually the same streamer board w/o onboard PS (ultra Rendu) for only $1K, or $1,600 for the optical version. Many are perfectly happy using that smaller version to stream, or as a streamer following a dedicated server. I can’t say how much better the one box SE Deluxe is for between 3x-4x the price, but I wouldn’t go back in my main system, because that streamer plus my SGC sonicTransporter i9 (Gen 4) gives me as good a digital signal as I have heard in my system. SGC and/or Sonore also sell a high quality optical converter and a switch with both Ethernet and one optical connection to help people switch over to using optical signal transmission. |
@mitch2 Wow that is an amazing streaming set up…can only dream. I found adding optical, a quality switch and network streamer really made a difference. I can’t justify top notch but I still came away with a nice set up at a modest price. I have thought about switching out my streamer for an Optical Redu Deluxe but not sure what improvement if any would be gained🤔. Set up: Mesh Router-FMC-Optical-FMC-EtherRegen w/clock-Stack SmoothLan-Bricasti M5-Mojo DAC. Also use a Sonic Transporter i5 as roon core in separate room and LPS’s on all. The Mojo DAC really made it! |
Thank you so much for the immense undertaking that you endured with this Six Dac comparison. I think you did an amazing job, better than many professional reviewers, imho. I truly appreciate all of the time, energy and resources you put into this endeavor. I have two questions for you... 1. In you post on 10/05/2024 you had said "...I recall a slightly dryer presentation from the non-NCZ version, that I do not perceive with the X SE NCZ or with the EVO Pro." Would you be willing to share a little more as to what you mean by a slightly dryer presentation ? 2. Also, another question if you don't mind. I have found that some audio equipment "sounds" better when played later in the evening when there isn't typically more demand on our power grids that ends up polluting the AC signal coming out of the wall socket. Have you ever experienced that? Do you feel the Mojo dacs are sensitive to the quality of the AC power coming out of the wall? Do the Mojo's sound any different when playing during the day vs later in the evening? Thanks again Mitch for your valuable contributions to this forum! Best wishes, Don
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@no_regrets - Yes, I wrote:
That comment is part summation and part paraphrasing from notes I took and emails I traded with Benjamin regarding my impressions from last year of my EVO Pro vs. the X SE that I originally owned, and I believe it is accurate. I did not have the original X SE here at the time of my recent six DAC comparison, but I do still have my listening notes and emails with Benjamin. I was pretty honest with him at that time. Benjamin calls the EVO Pro "warmer" than the X SE. We may be saying similar things while using different words. Here is an exact quote that I wrote to Benjamin when I decided to sell that original X SE:
What I can say now is that the X SE NCZ that I currently own seems to be a closer call against the EVO Pro than both my recollection and notes/emails would indicate from my initial comparison between my EVO Pro and the non-NCZ Mystique X SE DAC. That may be because the Mystique X SE NCZ is a little smoother and richer sounding than the oringinal X SE DAC I owned, it may be that there was an issue of some sort with the original X SE DAC, it could be that my listening preferences have changed a little, or it could be a combination of those things. I still really like the sound of the Mystique EVO Pro that I have here and I find it to be everything I wrote in my write-up in this thread. I believe Benjamin is right and that the X SE is probably objectively a better DAC from the standpoints of resolution, drive, and low noise, but I am still drawn to the engagement I perceive from my EVO Pro that has AD1862NZ chips. Sorry, but I just don’t have a more definitive answer. I like them both, they are both similar and both sound good, and it is just about a draw wrt which I like better. Regarding your power question, I am fortunate to live in a neighborhood with all in-ground electrical lines, although there are above-ground transmission lines feeding the neighborhood. It is not an old house so I have a 200 or 225 amp service, and run 3, 20-amp dedicated lines to my music room using 10 awg Romex. The amps get a line, the preamp and volume control get a line, and the streamer, DDC, and DACs get a line that first feeds an Isoclean 60A power conditioner. PCs to the digital stuff are all shielded. The network gear also has its own dedicated 20A line (a fourth line). Since we are not in what I would call a "city environment" and are not close to commercial/industrial entities, I doubt we have the fluctuations you speak of, and I haven’t noticed anything leading to different types of sound at different times of the day. Internet seems adequate also, and is consistently somewhere between 300-400 Mbps. |
@mitch2 "Interesting that you were able to change the sound of the Aero with different tubes.I believe Michael Lavorgna at Twittering Machines was planning to post a Part 2 to his Aero review after trying some tube rolling."
I'd find it interesting if Michael doesn't have different takes on the Aero based upon various tubes given they generally all sound different to one extent or another. I have a Modwright Elysee DAC and tube changes are apparent in it and no different than in my tube preamp or 3 tube integrated amps. |
I added a eithernet to optical to eithernet to my streamer a year or two ago, but the last couple of meters is still Cat8 cable. I have upgraded most of my system since I put the optical gap in. After I’m done A/B ing a couple of USB cables ( a Silversonic Mirage USB with a Clarus Crimson USB.). I’ll pull the optical out and see if I can hear anything different. |
Some of these comparison posts catch my eye and peak my interest enough to read a few of the posts. My take away in the end is all that is accomplished a lot of the time is a bleeding corpse lying on the operating room with no definitive cause of death… In my case I find myself using the ole adage “if you find yourself tapping your foot and bobbing your head to the tune,” your ahead of the game and chances are your DAC is performing well enough to make you happy. Toe tapping provided by, Denafrips Pontus II with most recent upgraded board and RME ADI-2-Pro. A side note, my newly acquired Sound Artist LS3’s (desktop setup) are pretty damn impressive, glad I took the risk.. |
I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, there's a lot more to satisfying sonics than PRaT. For example, I've found DACs can vary significantly in terms of tonality, which is a very high priority in my case.
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@stuartk +1 I know some people who are big into PRaT and I confess I just don’t get it. Give me tonality and a good 3D soundstage and I’m a happy camper, so this toe-tapping PRaT thing is just totally lost on me if someone here can actually explain it. And here’s the thing — I’m a drummer so if anyone should be sensitive to PRaT I’d think it’d be me so I think it’s just something else maybe I’m just not sensitive to that others perceive. What gives??? |
@mitch2 , Thank you for your thorough and informative efforts. I also compared 6 dacs, but it was 5 years ago. The Benchmark DAC3 was a contender but I ended up choosing the Mojo Mystique v.3. I later traded it in for my current dac, the Mojo EVO B4B. I have been very pleased with the B4B, but your thread has given me a roadmap should I ever feel the urge to upgrade. Your description of the Benchmark DAC3 and the house sound of the Mojo dacs are similar to what I have experienced. Having owned 2 dacs that John Atkinson owns, and which he rates as class A+, and having also owned 2 Mojo dacs, all I can say is that my listening tastes are very different than his. It pays to listen for yourself to discover the type of sound you like best. |
I doubt that many folks go for PRaT only. Over my time pursuing the high end I ran into PRaT only systems, and was shockingly moved… but kept going because while they were incredibly emotionally involving… but they had wacko tonal balance and and or the absence of detail. But I also found details and slam are about the easiest thing to get in a system… then tonal balance and imaging. But if you get these without PRaT… you end up with a great sounding system without soul… one that will not emotional involve the listener. If I were to do it over again… I would follow PRaT as an absolute requirement and midrange bloom with good tonal balance and then look for better detail and more slam. I think I would have had more enjoyable systems along the way. But I had to learn and evolve and honestly PRaT was the last parameter I learned to hear / identify. Then it all fell into place. Now I have it all great PRaT, tonal balance, detail, imaging and nuanced bass. I am sure I would have got here one way or another… I guess I am just happy I did.
One of my friends that I helped assemble a great system over the last few years sent me a message last week. It said that he is not an outwardly emotional guy (I agree). But he was brought to tears several times listening to a song. That had never happened to him before. I am really happy to hear this, because it was the great PRaT in his system that did it. |
What gives, given that you’re a drummer? I dunno! I should clarify that while PRaT doesn’t trump tonality for me, it is crucial to my enjoyment. However, PRaT was never on my radar until I bought my Hegel H390. Reviewers had described how it "pushes the music along" (maybe not in those exact words, but something to that effect). I was intrigued but having never experienced this phenomenon, it remained purely conceptual. . . until I began listening with the Hegel in the system. I noticed I could not listen without drumming along on the arms of the big ol’ Mission rocker that serves as my listening chair. And that hasn’t stopped being the case. I don’t know whether PRaT enhances emotional engagement. It certainly enhances PHYSICAL engagement and I suppose it could be argued that if the body and emotions are simultaneously engaged, it makes for a more "global" sense of engagement. . . IF you are "wired" accordingly. Sounds like you are not, despite your chosen instrument. I guess this goes to show how different we can be and still be equally addicted to music. . . which is pretty cool. A common way to think about music as a universal language is its capacity to cross cultural boundaries. Another way to think about it might be its capacity to engage listeners who prioritize differing aspects. Finally, it strikes me as somewhat ironic that genres that lean very much on the rhythmic aspect, such Rap and Funk, don’t appeal to me. My only explanation is that it’s due to the relative absence of melodic and harmonic content. Yet, I’ve always loved Blues. Classical music, with its abundance of melodic and harmonic content, tends to bore me, due to the fact that its rhythms simply don’t bring my body on board. So, what do I make of these apparent contradictions? I don’t understand them any more than I understand why PRaT doesn’t factor as a high priority for you. I could say I find Jazz very appealing because it marries a strong and complex rhythmic aspect to sophisticated melodic and harmonic content. For me, it’s the best of both worlds. But I wouldn’t be content only listening to Jazz! Perhaps someday, there will be research into what makes any given individual respond more enthusiastically to one genre (or one aspect of sonics) than another. Until then, it appears to be fairly mysterious.
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@stuartk FYI, I'm still working with this site to fix my messaging issues. I haven't forgotten about you Sorry for the interruption... Now back to your regular programming, Best wishes, Don |
Michael Lavorgna just came out with his additional review of the Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC - Part 2 Tube Rolling. Fairly short and succent (generally a good thing), he tried five different tubes, in addition to the original tubes supplied by the manufacturer, and determined he liked three of the tube pairs better than the others, with his favorite being a pair of NOS Tung-Sol JAN-12SN7GT – Round Black Plate, Oval Mica tubes. He found that the Tung-Sol tubes,
Lavorgna contrasted his favorites with the original GE’s that came with the Aero, about which he said,
Interestingly, LTA offers two levels of Ray Tubes 6SN7s, Select and Reserve, for purchase separate from the DAC. Lavorgna ended with,
I find it nice that he took the additional time to share how changing tubes can change the sound of the LTA Aero DAC. It gives the current and future owners of that DAC something to think about.
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stuartk, Allow me to help you develop appreciation for classical music. You have great potential to enter this fabulous world, since you already appreciate its abundance of melodic and harmonic content. I'll cure you of boredom with a short 4 min example. It is the solo piano piece, Rachmaninoff Prelude in G minor, performed by one of today's top pianists, Valentina Lisitsa. Peter McGrath made a wonderful CD of her playing, titled "Virtuosa Valentina." https://youtu.be/4QB7ugJnHgs?si=qWP6Dfx-c8DX9kSN This popular piano showpiece has everything--gorgeous melody, harmony, exciting rhythm, subtle and large dynamic contrasts. The rhythm is flexible and varied to suit the changing moods. Listen particularly from 1:15 to 2:20 where she melts into a lovely melody as a respite from the strong rhythms that precede it. Note her delicate touch combined with dynamic strength in the loud passages. On youtube, listen to other performances of this piece. There is room for many interpretations according to the style and personality of each performer. For more common classical music, The familiar opening movement of Beethoven's 5th symphony illustrates the architectural complexity of the basic kernel of 4 notes everyone knows--dadada-dum. It is repeated hundreds of times by various instruments in combination at all dynamic levels and in different keys. There is an amusing recording by the famous musicologist dubbed PDQ Bach aka Peter Schikelle about this movement. PDQ plays the role of an announcer at a football game to show how the ball is repeatedly tossed around and fumbled. It is like a football game in 6 min. Beethoven was history's greatest master of building towering musical structures out of the barest essentials of notes and rhythm. It takes an education to fully appreciate anything in life. Classical music was my first language through exposure from the radio. I spoke my first words of English at age 3, but by then already knew lots of classical music. I started playing the violin at age 9, and continue to improve over 60 years later. Playing the violin in orchestras and chamber pieces has further increased my appreciation. Right now, I am bored with watching football, simply because I never took the time to learn and understand the game. Everything is an acquired taste. I hope you further discover classical music. |
stuartk, Good background. I don't know where you live, but for decades in NY, radio station WQXR has had the classical countdown before New Years Day, starting about 1 week before, from about 8 AM to midnight. It was the top 100, but then it became the top 105 when the NY Times owner dropped WQXR, and it went public on 105.9 FM. You can now listen online. No. 1 is always Beethoven's Ninth. No 2 is either Beethoven's Fifth or Dvorak's New World Symphony. This is an excellent way to re-introduce you to the great classics. Lately, the list has included smaller scale chamber music. Small scale chamber music is my favorite, because there is only 1 player on a part compared to orchestra where there are as many as 16 players on 1st violin, 14 players on 2nd violin. I dislike the chorus effect of many players on a part, which creates sonic smear. You can appreciate more nuances if there is only 1 player on a part. Of course, there is less loudness, but in return you get more subtle varied dynamics and of course more overall detail. Enjoy. |
@audioman58 makes an excellent point. Lavorgna favors tube amplification, so it makes sense that he might also favor a more neutral sounding DAC. Thanks for the suggestions. FYI, I grew up in the lower Hudson valley but now reside in N. CA. |
@rfagon - I agree with your assessment of Michael Lavorgna’s reviews of those three highly regarded DACs. I was also interested in reading his perspectives as a single reviewer listening to all three DACs in a single system. His preferences lean towards the totaldac house sound, which he describes as musical, dimensional, natural, and “startlingly present,” instead of solely looking for the best measuring, highest resolution DAC. Lavorgna uses the word “’crystalline’…to describe the sound of the KTE May DAC” and discusses how it is best paired with amplifiers that present a “softer and more dimensional sound”, and not with highly revealing/resolving amplifiers. As with the May, he advises against pairing the Tambaqui with highly resolving amplifiers such as Ayre’s EX-8 saying, “the Ayre / Mola Mola combination offered a bit too much of a good thing in terms of resolution and clarity where music could adopt a hardness that I found distracting.” Livorgna says, “The Mola Mola Tambaqui and the Holo KTE May DAC are more closely related, nearly sounding like brothers.” In addition to being resolving and displaying crystalline clarity, the Tambaqui and Holo May brothers both exhibit excellent measurements, while the totaldac house sound that he likes so much comes from a DAC that apparently doesn’t measure well. The measurements of the totaldac d1-six reviewed by ASR were so bad that Amir Majidimehr said, “I don’t think we have ever seen anything as broken as this.” This seems to bring us full circle to the adage that what measures well doesn’t necessarily sound good to everyone, and the converse about what measures poorly. IOW, regardless of how something measures, you need to listen for yourself. The Tambaqui certainly has its fans but, in a direct comparison, I preferred the sound of my Mojo Audio DACs over the Tambaqui. I respect the accuracy, power, resolution, and musicality of the Tambaqui but, to me, the Mojo DACs sound richer and more natural, which are traits I appreciate and enjoy. However, like the totaldac, the Mystique X SE also doesn’t measure that well, at least according to John Atkinson at Stereophile. I have been enjoying the Merason DAC1 MkII here, which uses a hybrid chip, but I have no idea about how it measures since I haven’t seen a review of the Merason with measurements. However, as with Michael Lavorgna and his totaldacs, I keep coming back to the sound of my two Mojo Audio DACs as being more natural, even if they are perhaps not quite as refined sounding as the Merason or as well-measuring as the Tambaqui. Here is an interesting write-up about the different DAC levels in the Mojo Audio Mystique X line, as you progress from the Mystique X, to the X SE, and then to the X SE NCZ version that I currently have here. |
I am tempted to try out Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC in my system since I have more than 50 different kinds of 6sn7 and variants.
Also I got favorable impression of Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC during Pacific Audiiofest 2024.
My current Dac is Chord Dave and Mscaler modified with thrree Farad LPS.
But I expect to audition Wadax Studio later this month at home.
I would like to make sure I have enough money for the above whose retail price is 41k$.
Thomas |
Checked out the link you provided for comparative reviews of Mojo line and noticed the reviewer, like Lavorgna, utilizes tubes in his system. I'm unfamiliar with the gear in question so it's not clear to me whether this is a SS amp + tubed pre or what but, this brings up a question: do the Mojo DACs require tube amplification to sound "natural"?
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Not in my system, which is posted here on Audiogon. SMc Audio solid state preamp and two SMc Audio solid state monoblocks. Another interesting article/post on that site is which provides one writer’s perspective on different categories of gear. If you look at the DAC list, you will find the Mystique EVO Pro 21 in the Holy Shit!! tier, but the X SE was apparently not listened to. It does provide a perspective on the Mojo Audio house sound, although IMO the X models move away from the "coloration" mentioned by the writer. However, OTOH, I believe what he calls "coloration" is a sonic attribute I find compelling on my EVO Pro Z, to the point where I seem to be unable to sell it an settle in with only the X SE NCZ. |
@mitch2 Do you play (stream) your music from a hard drive or do you stream from the internet. How does the Mojo DAC's sound streaming from internet from Tidal etc. compared to streaming from a hard drive? I think I read earlier in the thread that Mojo Audio is coming out with some DAC's PCM based and I am curious if those are more geared towards streaming from the internet. They also sound interesting in the fact that the power supply is external and modular and you can easily upgrade. |
@brbrock - I both stream and play local music files. My digital front end is outlined on my virtual system page and essentially consists of playing either files recorded in FLAC and stored on a SSD inside of my sonicTransporter i9 (Gen 4) server, or music streamed from Tidal or Qobuz over Roon, with the i9 serving as Roon Core and a Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe Optical as a streamer and Roon Ready player. Streamed music and and files played from my local library sound so close to each other that I have not spent time trying to discern whether I can actually and consistently hear a difference. Mojo Audio DACs are PCM based and as mentioned on their website,
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Why don’t many these dacs put in inputs like I2S which are the current best when implemented correctly , even 75ohm inputs MIA , for many of us use DDC-Reclockers to further clean the incoming signal far better then what comes out of a computer or streamer, using Oven clocks and massive filtering with galvanic isolation which I2S is their favorite medium ,even Good Transports are now using I2S Aqua mojo, LSA Lampi. They leave it out which puts off lots of potential buyers. |
Depending on your budget I sell my self Denafrips products ,I hear a lot of equipment to the many audio get togethers I have gone to over the past 2 years , in the $3k range the Pontus Gen 15 is not a bias it is far better built then anything in the $3k price class but $1k less it’s the Ex Venus 12 , The T+Aw200 dac is very good with a lot of tuning possibilities , as good or better then the New Denafrips Terminator 15, or Holo May KTE dac the Mojo. Sounds good $7k on up has at least some inputs , I2S inputs should be standard ,many people have nice digital transports like Esoteric, Jays Audio which allows you to play SACDs k and many people use a DDC I2S is the best soundin digital input currently, even the LTA aero which I think sounds nice with the 2 tubes missed the mark , even they agree ,the next modification will have I2S . DDC to clean the incoming signal from their computer or streamer with absolutely make a improvement , look at the Chord Dave pretty $$ expensive to most then has a ad on reclocker that is what makes it special combined together. That’s my opinion and many others , PS audio set the standard on the pin out that most cable makers are now using for I2S . |
@audioman58 You have now become the new audiotroy with self-serving and completely shameless self promotion. |
Hey soux you could not be more wrong ,I help people with msay things with products I don’t own or sell ,your ignorance is apparent , if you read. The 1000s of input regarding audio, I get emails and phone calls weekly .Having owned a Audio store for over a decade and know modding well ,in 40 years in Audio systems synergy is more important then monies. I not once ever stated Denafrips was the best ,I it is a excellent product and great value ,is this wrong ? I have told many on which products maybe a good fit for their Audio system even if they don’t spent a $ Dime , just loook at my feedbacks from buyers , have a good day !! |
