I was testing in my system:
Lampizator Amber 3
MHDT Pagoda
Chord Qutest
Audio note 1.2x siganture
Audio note 2.1x signature
Chord Mojo (jus for fun)
So the strongest were Lampizator Amber 3 and Audio note 2.1 signature. Lampizator has very good details, drums were superb, but vocals in my system did not had "love" - flow like AN 2.1x which ticked all these fields. By my surprise AN 1.2x was better than MHDT Pagoda (with stock tube) and it was nothing bad and nothing special, Pagoda was better than Chord Qutest (chord is absolutely too much hyped, when i heard it i do not understand for what people are giving very good reviews to them...)
When i got Sootto RCA (single wire working like coaxial) cable from innuos streamer to my AN 2.1x signature now the things became wonderfull and total it was cheaper than to get new Amber 3 dac. Chord mojo is a joke, my fiio E17 alpen i liked more that mojo with Meze 99c or just playing from TV.
I was really sceptical regarding Audio Note dac but now i would always test it with other dacs, of course if you have possibility (dealer) to do it. Also please give chance to Lampizator (i would like to test Lampizator Baltic) as they give 6 days trial and you loose nothing, really great dac!
Lampizator Amber 3
MHDT Pagoda
Chord Qutest
Audio note 1.2x siganture
Audio note 2.1x signature
Chord Mojo (jus for fun)
So the strongest were Lampizator Amber 3 and Audio note 2.1 signature. Lampizator has very good details, drums were superb, but vocals in my system did not had "love" - flow like AN 2.1x which ticked all these fields. By my surprise AN 1.2x was better than MHDT Pagoda (with stock tube) and it was nothing bad and nothing special, Pagoda was better than Chord Qutest (chord is absolutely too much hyped, when i heard it i do not understand for what people are giving very good reviews to them...)
When i got Sootto RCA (single wire working like coaxial) cable from innuos streamer to my AN 2.1x signature now the things became wonderfull and total it was cheaper than to get new Amber 3 dac. Chord mojo is a joke, my fiio E17 alpen i liked more that mojo with Meze 99c or just playing from TV.
I was really sceptical regarding Audio Note dac but now i would always test it with other dacs, of course if you have possibility (dealer) to do it. Also please give chance to Lampizator (i would like to test Lampizator Baltic) as they give 6 days trial and you loose nothing, really great dac!