I own and use both the Theta Gen Va balanced and the Mark Levinson 36S.
I use them with a Conrad Johnson Premier 14 preamp and
Theta Data Basic II transport. Both DAC’S use Levinson cables to connect
to the transport. Interconnects are audioquest diamond and speaker cables
are transparent super. The speakers are DIY Poly Natalia / Swans Allure.
When switching between the two I notice the following differences.
Soundstage: The Gen V places the instruments further apart than the 36S.
The Gen V has a bigger sound stage. Often times you will hear instruments
to the outside of the speaker or directly behind the speakers. With the 36S
instruments are generally between the speakers.
Depth: Both DAC’s have good depth. However the Gen V sound jumps out
at you. The instruments appear to be placed closer to the front of the speakers.
With the 36s the instruments appear to be placed behind the speakers.
Detail and Presentation: Both have good detail but the presentation is quite different.
The Gen V spotlights high frequency sounds. As an example your attention is really drawn to cymbals and tambourines. The Gen V can make recordings sound very good
or really bad. The 36s has a darker, mellower sound. It highlights the lower frequency sounds such as drums and bass guitars. With the 36s, 98% of the recordings sound good.
Very few recordings sound really great or bad.
System Matching: What power amp I am using determines which DAC I listen to.
I use the Gen V with a Conrad Johnson Premier 11a. I use the 36S with a Cary 300B
signature amp. When I use an Audio Research Classic 150, I use the DAC that
sounds best with the CD I’m listening to.
I use them with a Conrad Johnson Premier 14 preamp and
Theta Data Basic II transport. Both DAC’S use Levinson cables to connect
to the transport. Interconnects are audioquest diamond and speaker cables
are transparent super. The speakers are DIY Poly Natalia / Swans Allure.
When switching between the two I notice the following differences.
Soundstage: The Gen V places the instruments further apart than the 36S.
The Gen V has a bigger sound stage. Often times you will hear instruments
to the outside of the speaker or directly behind the speakers. With the 36S
instruments are generally between the speakers.
Depth: Both DAC’s have good depth. However the Gen V sound jumps out
at you. The instruments appear to be placed closer to the front of the speakers.
With the 36s the instruments appear to be placed behind the speakers.
Detail and Presentation: Both have good detail but the presentation is quite different.
The Gen V spotlights high frequency sounds. As an example your attention is really drawn to cymbals and tambourines. The Gen V can make recordings sound very good
or really bad. The 36s has a darker, mellower sound. It highlights the lower frequency sounds such as drums and bass guitars. With the 36s, 98% of the recordings sound good.
Very few recordings sound really great or bad.
System Matching: What power amp I am using determines which DAC I listen to.
I use the Gen V with a Conrad Johnson Premier 11a. I use the 36S with a Cary 300B
signature amp. When I use an Audio Research Classic 150, I use the DAC that
sounds best with the CD I’m listening to.