Advice needed: It's time for a new DAC
Hello People of Audiogon!
I received some help a little while back when I was considering upgrading my speakers so I am looking to the community again for guidance and opinions. It is time to upgrade my DAC.
My current system is Sasha DAW's driven by a Luxman L-509X.
The three DAC's on my short list are:
MSB Discrete
Berkeley Alpha V3
Chord DAVE
One thing to note is that I am in Canada so many brands are difficult if not impossible to audition.
My priority is "musicality" or "soul". What's this? Well to me, it means feeling. The Luxman and Sasha's well convey musical emotion and that is important to me. I don't know how to describe it better beyond that. They have flow (perhaps PRAT, to use another vague term). Sounds have meat to them and texture. The music feels real.
The second priority is three dimensionality.
The third is resolution.
My one caveat is no tube DAC's. Tubes, for me, just don't work well based on my listening style and habits. I love tubes, I've owned tubes and tubes are wonderful, but as things are now, I just don't want them in a DAC. Perhaps they will find their way into my system in a pre-amp in the future.
I listen primarily to Tidal but MQA is not a priority for me. I would switch to Qobuz but they were not available in Canada until recently and all my play lists in Roon are with Tidal tracks so I suspect a switch will be a real headache, but I digress. My point is MQA isn't really important and DSD isn't necessary either.
Of the above DAC's, if you have heard them, what are your thoughts/opinion?
Thank you in advance,
-Paul
Berkeley Alpha.
I love my Audio Research Reference CD9SE. I had a Berkeley Alpha Reference 3 in my system for a couple weeks. I found the ARC a tad more musical… my preference, but the Berkeley was ever so much more detailed with nearly all the musicality. It is an outstanding DAC.
Beautiful speakers you have. Have you tried a thick carpet in front of your speakers and you might try making a heavy absorption panel to put in front of the fireplace when listening. |
Hi @audiotroy
Thank you for your reply. To answer your questions: what are you using currently using? how wil you feed the dac?
How does this information help you answer my initial question?
I use AES/EBU right now and I would likely keep it the same, hence why the Berkley made the list. For context, I have, in the past owned an MSB Analog, a Berkley Alpha V1 and a Chord DAVE. I owned each, however, when I was in a condo and I was exclusively using headphones. Now, I exclusively use speakers. |
Hello @ghdprentice !
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment as you've owned the Berkeley. The CD9SE... WOW! I really adore AR stuff. The some of best amps I've heard (save the Boulder 2160) have been AR.
Thank you for your kind words. My wife doesn't like carpet, however, when I have a serious listening session, I do put down two thick blankets on the floor. It's an interesting idea you had about putting absorption in front of the fireplace. I have a bit of a fuzzy center image because of it and I never considered movable panels.
I have 4 5" thick Vicoustic panels on the walls behind the DAW's. They make a minor difference as-is, but I wonder if they were on a discrete stand with casters that I rolled out (like the blankets on the floor) if that would help... Very astute observation and thank you for the advice.
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@bigfatpaulie When I want to evaluate DACs I use my headphones (RAAL SR1a or CA-1a) to really hear my gear. When you had your phones which DAC did you like the best? The DAC I own now is what sounded the best on my phones. Tidal vs Qubuz. I have both and I do not even think about it. Just enjoy the music with which ever has the tune I want. I grew up in Toronto and there were a lot of good shops then. I still see some of the same stores around and some new ones with even higher priced gear. BTW - how long is your speaker cables?
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@bigfatpaulie In all honesty, the T+A DAC 200 should be in that list above considering all of the priorities you list (soul, holography, and resolution). I've said it before but I still think the DAC 200 is the best I've heard under $15K. In full transparency I am a T+A dealer, but I've had more than one customer switch from the DAVE to the DAC 200 because of its improved sound staging ability and soulfulness. |
