get any decent R2R or multibit dac and skip delta sigma
uninformed and far too simplistic
dac conversion method is but one of several equally important elements driving a dac’s sonic performance
Sweet Sounding DAC
Ok, here's another one of those threads seeking DAC guidance. Certainly, I have started more than my share of such questions.
This search started as a need to find a smaller DAC and streamer due to overcrowding in my cabinet. Current players Bricasti M3 and M5. But as I started looking and listening, I realized there is a sonic search as well; just to complicate the process. As much as I like the Bricasti gear, I have always yearned for a softer- perhaps more tube/ analogue sound. So the search got harder. Here are some of the contestants with my questions/ comments or concerns. I seek advice from those who actually own or know the gear to follow , I will try to be brief. BTW my budget is essentially what I can recoup from selling the Bricasti gear. So lets say 3500 to 5000 ( if I sell both pieces). The first 4 I have sampled, the rest I have read about
1. Wattson Madison; great size. Found vocals a little off/ sounded better w external streamer - but then whats the point of the DAC / Streamer
2. Lab 12 DAC: loved the sound; too big a footprint. Great vocal tone
3. Konus : real nice, still a strong contender
4. Merason Frerot with LPS: not for me ( suprisingly)
5. Audio Note: would need to be entry level due to size. Is it good enough?
6. Gold Note DS-10 + Evo. Looks good on paper; has anyone heard it? Some dealers are not so high on it
7. Ferrum Wandla: looks good on paper but would add a box ( LPS ) to my cabinet. Anyone hear it? Word is that is a rich - smooth tone
8. Audio 11 Sagra: not much to go on but supposed to be smooth and sweet sounding
9. Border Patrol: some love it and some don't. Cannot fathom who is right.
10. AudioMirrow Tubadour. Seemed like a strong contender until a user told me its not that sweet sounding. More neutral in tone. I was bummed to hear that. Not sure it has the Lab 12 tone I seek.
I think thats enough to choose from.
Any insights would be appreciated. Please refrain from snarkiness....I much too tired for snark, But I do appreciate the help.
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Uninformed and far too simplistic, eh? Try fooling someone else...For his 3.5k to 5k budget for that ’analog like’ sound, it actually costs around that much to fab certain R2R dacs. He’ll get his money’s worth. When someone’s charging 5k for a delta sigma dac, yeah right, the extra fluff’s worth all that much...NOT. The fpga gimmicks in some DS offerings to provide that ’analog like’ sound tend to be priced at the price of an arm and a leg, but, you probably peddle one of them, don’t you? |
@mdrone I'm with the others that suggest finding room for a dac that you love. The ikea wall shelf is a good idea. That said, Abbas audio seems to fit your sound profile and has a nice form factor model that might fit. Check out the thread over on WBF... https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/abbas-dac-2-1-se.31754/ |
to simplistic and uninformed, i would also add utterly clueless and insulting -- suggestion to you... learn more, spout less its an arm and a leg only when you can’t afford it... to the rest of us, it’s only money... |
@mdrone Great News that you have been able to receive a demo' of a DAC. Carrying out the footwork and experiencing the sonic being created with ones own ears and evaluating the sonic as a result of perceptions being created is a extremely Valuable use of ones time, in relation to learning about audio set ups. Out of interest the model demo'd being the Synthesis Audio Roma 69 DAC, does not seem to have appeared anywhere in this Thread. How did you discover this model? I see it is with a proportion of the circuit being a design as a Tube Circuit. Did this get demo'd in a Dealership Premises or the Home System? I own a Valve DAC with E88CC Tubes and have experiences of it compared to SS DAC's. I feel very confident in stating this DAC does not create a perception of being overbearing, it has airiness and a voluminous room filling presence, that is always commented on for the attraction it creates. The sonic trait being described by yourself, after extending listening could become a detractor, as like a overwhelming Bass Bloom, and become a repellent, where listening experiences develop into something to be endured. Caveat Emptor is always ones friend, try not to pull the Trigger on a purchase prematurely.
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