The other issue is preference. Oppo Modwright BDP-205 full mod. This is the main advantage of DAVE (i.e. have had the opportunity to A/B many more pieces of equipment than any consumer From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates. It is an unassuming but very nicely put together component that has had a great deal of thought put into the architecture of the parts that make it up. Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. Mike, Scott has been absolutely wonderful in his support, despite my purchasing the Found-Music 2A3s used (from Art S.) He has visited once and is planning another visit after the trip your way. There is no such thing as a "FPGA DAC"! Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by mtoc, Jun 9, 2016. There is a real sense of spectacle and scale when the MSB is in the system. - Meat Loaf. Thank you, Mike. The MSB DAC comes with one external PSU as standard. Hifi Pig is part of the Big Pig Media LLP group of companies. However, to get this level of separation and detail within the soundscape the DAC is clearly having a very important role to play. How hot does the Chord DAC get? There ain't no Coupe deVille hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box. Many competing DACs will have a more comprehensive display at this price and, more commonly still, an app designed for intuitive access via smartphone and/or tablets. there are others I know about but Ive not heard them recently. I'm doing this off the top of my head. I believe it comes down to and the MSB Select II has a huge advantage over other dacs with its modularity and in-house development which promotes, in a very timely way, keeping the product at the very tip top cutting edge of digital interface developments. I'd also look at the Mola-Mola Tambaqui and the new dCS Bartok. The DAC has two modes; multi-bit PCM and single-bit discrete DSD mode. Sources: Hiby R6, Fiio x3II, Fiio x5II DACs: Dave, Yggdrasil, Hugo, Hugo TT, U12. But then we have to apply the law of diminishing returns. An FPGA does not have analog output, in the Chord DACs, VLC | M-Audio FastTrack Pro | Mac Opt | Panasonic SA-HE100 | Logitech Z623, : SET Tube Amp | Low-Noise Linear Regulated Power Supply | USB, Power, Speaker Cables | Speaker Stands | Acoustic Panels, http://igg.me/at/geekpulseaudio/x/5216671. home system and listening for that end result. You must log in or register to reply here. But dont take our word for it. I think is a good general rule of thumb, but there are some very transparent passive pre-amps out there. So I personally prefer to listen to different DACs just like I prefer to listen to analog as well as digital. Euphony Summus, EtherRegen, MSB Discrete. And this is what separates the very good from the excellent piece of audio equipment. Digital: Jay's Audio CDT2 MK2 CD transport, Modified MHDT Labs Balanced Pagoda DAC. Can it output a Low or High Voltage on a single pin in a bitstream? Since opening our doors in 1986, weve been driven by one goal: to craft an unrivaled listening experience for music lovers across the globe. It's too damn expensive, full stop. Like x 5 List None, despite working back as I always do if theres an issue! Pass Labs INT-60. Check out the awards + accolades. Now to include the HMS. Right now my favorite DACs in my system are the Pacific Microsonics Model 2 (for PCM), Phasure NOS1a (for PCM), Meridian Ultra (for MQA), and the Playback Designs MPS5 (for DSD128). Thirdly, having suggested that the brightness issue may lay elsewhere, I will shortly post a suggested tweak directly to both HMS and DAVE - that I have found to increase the "weight", "solidity" and "analogueness" of the resulting sound. Did you audition all of them in the same place with the same system? I've had many world class DACS in my studio over the years and the Crane Song is as good as any no matter the cost. The MSB Discrete, as I mentioned, came with two power supplies but you can operate it with just one with the supplied doodad. RCA outputs with the optional output module Voltage: 3.57 Vrms Maximum Impedance > 600 High Gain setting. Others might disagree but these are my findings. But even with great preamps, a great DAC in a low noise environment, will produce a more transparent sound going direct to the amps than through the preamp. Get a Lampi Golden Gate Dac and match it with the RK5u4g rectifier and PX25 DHTs or the RK242 DHT. You must log in or register to reply here. The end users ears are the only ears that count. I submit dealers use the statement "component X competes against much more expensive components" far too often. Click here to download your copy, At 11000 plus taxes as tested the Lampizator Big 7 is certainly no budget DAC, but does it deliver on sonic ability? And in the case of a great DAC with great amps in a system with very low noise, going direct to the amps can be magical. what Im saying is that comparing dacs also must take into account of all the interface advantages of each particular dac. I hope to also have an opportunity to listen to a T+A DAC8 (for DSD512) and a Chord Dave (DSD256) in my system soon (with HQPlayer). Couldn't agree more. There are a lot of people that absolutely love the M-scaler. HiFiMan Ananda, SR Orange fuses, Taiko Audio Daiza platforms, Startech FMC optical network link, Oyaide EE f/s2.0 V2 mains spurs, Akiko Audio tuning sticks, GIK Acoustic TriTraps/panels. Unless they have the exact same components as the end user, it's impossible to tell that customer how component X will sound in their system. I think people buy what they like. Conversely, you could spend a lot more and not gain a great deal in real terms. If I got a great $20K DAC for less, I would not object. Any specific reason you wanna replace the Dave? EAR FILLERS HiFi Pig Playlists on Qobuz, Transatlantic Dispatches: A New World Disorder, Astell&Kern Launch Three New Products At High End Munich 2022. After that you are GOLDEN. Founded in 2010 Whats Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. While it's an easy setup to wrangle at a show, it does seem like it wasn't doing either component any favours! Sit back and be immersed. Yes, definitely, as it is those extra tiny little bits of detail that adds the cherry on top of an already rather splendid slice of musical cake brought out on tracks like the audio show mainstay Keith Dont Go from Acoustic Live by Nils Lofgren. The BADA Ref is a great DAC and I understand the new version takes it to even another level. The MSB Discrete DAC is an American made Digital to Analogue Converter costing 11,000 plus an extra 1650 for the second external power supply. I haven't yet come across one DAC that is best and will completely dominate other great DACs across all audio evaluation parameters. 2 DAC | Audionet Pre G2 preamp | Audionet Max mono blocks | Vivid Audio Giya G2 Series 2 | 4 JL Audio Fathoms | Echole ICs /SCs / Siltech Classic 550L jumpers, Shunyata PCs / Eth. We have what I consider to be a pretty resolving system, but we also listen to music a fair old bit for pure pleasure and so theres a valve amp currently feeding our chosen reference loudspeakers though thats not to say this system isnt highly resolving in its own right. For example, the chassis for the products are made from North American-sourced metals, and then that is machined using Haas CNC machines that are built in California. However, there is nothing wrong with "taking" recommendations, which help me build a list that I can use to research then find a way to audition my shortlist. Like the rest of the DACs in the MSB range, the Select DAC is modular in its architecture with each of the modules being produced in house, as outlined above. One name that was thrown around by a few people I know is the Rockna Wavedream. Perhaps you should consider the Accuphase DC-37 currently for sale in the classifieds? Hope to try different formats on both DACs to see what works best in my system. Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/absolute-top-tier-dac-for-standard-res-redbook-cd. This very pleasant sound I was experiencing, it could be argued, was to a large degree down to the choice of amplifier and what that added to the mix, and I do think this is a valid argument. For some folk, a highly resolving and accurate system may well be described as being over-analytical, and on the other side of the audio fence, some will suggest that some systems sound nice but flawed. Others might disagree but these are my findings. MSB Technology Discrete Modular DAC Page 2. There are separate optimal PCM and DSD modes for playbacks and bit perfect playback is how DAVE performs optimally as the FPGA up samples and noise shapes everything to 104MHz 5-bit. The only other items in the chain were the Stack streamer and a pretty well-sorted network setup. in this forum and they are all very good dacs. Australian Business Number 38 650 151 296, Digital Sources, DACs, and Computer Audio, Chord Dave vs Mola Mola Makua/Tambaqui vs Emm Labs Dac2x vs Rockna Wavedream. Dedicated Line DSD/DXD | Audirvana+ | iFi iDSD Nano | SET Tube Amp | Totem Mites, Surround: VLC | M-Audio FastTrack Pro | Mac Opt | Panasonic SA-HE100 | Logitech Z623, DIY: SET Tube Amp | Low-Noise Linear Regulated Power Supply | USB, Power, Speaker Cables | Speaker Stands | Acoustic Panels, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Search: Msb Discrete Dac Vs Chord Dave. Thank you for posting! Rori You'll be shocked by how much you lose by going through a separate preamp. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Thanks guys! It's my understanding that the Wavedream only Its weighty, it feels perfect, its not overly ostentatious and its perfect! Too many DACs> Too many amps> Too many headphones. The biggest question about this device is, Yeah listened to the same HEk V2 and Chord Dave with. The evolution of the original irreverent and irrelevant and non-authoritative site for headphone measurements, i.e. Search: Msb Discrete Dac Vs Chord Dave. @astewart8944--two years ago in Feb of 17 i did audition the original Formula dac in my system directly compared to the Lampizator GG 1.5 and the Nagra HD and preferred the Formula for its greater space, lower noise, and more neutral and fast presentation. comparing top dacs directly is a bit challenging, even if you have them both together. 2. You absolutely can say that you prefer other DAC's to the Berkeley Alpha Reference. The SQ is amazingly good. The Pro USB is offered as a stand alone module for users who already have an MSB DAC that is equipped with a Pro ISL input as well as a starter kit with a Pro ISL input and everything you need to get up and running. So true jr, the discrete R2R Multibit dacs like the Terminator the Holo, MSB, Total ect ect have a life and a boogie factor to the music that DS dacs lack, and yes they do show up bad recordings. Rori is definitely welcome. If so I'd recommend the Aqua Formula xHD and the TotalDAC d1-Seven. I haven't heard MSB or theDenafrips DAC. Toggle signature. Since the Topping D70s SINAD is ~120 dB and it costs ~$650, then given that "money is power" (as opposed to amplitude), I would expect the Chord DAVE SINAD to be at least 120 + 10*log($14,000 / $650) = 133.3 dB. https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rothschild-70aab85/, Headphones and Personal Audio with Pitch Perfect Service. more might come to mind and I will add them. Stay updated on Bloom Audio at their. But if you don't, what is your reference point? After a year of listening to various components I'm content. The bottom line for me is that great DACs can make a difference over good DACs. I own the MSB Select II with the dual powerbases and 33 Femto Clock. Theyre not limited by audio formats, sample rates, or even speed. And this is where I had a problem with this DAC, though mostly the problem was of my own making. Blimey my RME ADI 2 DAC looks to have better performance at a fraction of the cost, /===============================================================/, DACs, Streamers, Servers, Players, Audio Interface, Combination Audio DAC and Headphone Amplifiers. Were constantly improving digital input modules to stay at the forefront of the high-end audio industry, ensuring youre always equipped with the most current digital file formats and interfaces. In my assessment the Makua offered a more open and spacious sound. Regular readers will appreciate all that is taken from the MSB website and I make no apologies for not really understanding the electronics. The MSB simply sounded more real to my ears and offered a more convincing soundstage and tonality and all the tiny informations in the music where integrated in the musical flow whereas the DAVE simply sounded flat and not realistic to my ears and even lacked those tiny informations. To me, the instrumental timbre seems more accurate with DAVE than any other DACs I've heard. We await Phase 2 where all DACs are assessed using upsampled data via your Lumin U1 to establish ranking and the preferred format through each. I wish you would have had the Totaldac D1 Seven to try. As the noise in my system keeps getting lower, the PM2 keeps reaching deeper to find even more musical engagement and purity in standard 16/44 files. "Im not sure if there are algorithms that can add high-frequency information that wasnt captured in the original sampled result". As I said, its an odd one to describe but you do hear it as it brings a sense of rightness to rhythm tracks. Strangely from this company is lack of any anti-aliasing on the text causing pixels to not be seen in the fonts chosen! And if I had to guess (given I haven't heard both), I'd guess it outperforms the Tambaqui. Whatever, the Discrete is a superb bit of kit that Id really love to take up residence in the system on a permanent basis, but thats not going to happen. Can't beat the form factor of it though, great for off a desk top. The formats that is used in comparison test is all 16bit / 44.1KHz, not DSD The Result : 1st : Select DAC II Full Option - 100% 2nd : Trinity DAC - 90% Additionally, MSBs robust in-house design enables the finest quality playback of PCM and native DSD, while our low impedance circuitry drives your amplification directly without adding coloration or buffering noise. Hmm.. MSB Technology's Discrete DAC was the best DAC I'd heard in my systemuntil the MSB Premier showed up. Of the ones you mentioned I'd be most tempted by the Emm Labs DAC 2x though if you can get a used higher-end Esoteric, you should jump on it. As it stands, the Discrete offers a very good solution should you be a music lover that plays only digital files and you can go straight into a power amp. fake by any means necessary jacket. There's 340 pages packed with HiFi Reviews, Industry Interviews and much more. Over the air updates will ensure that your renderer always has the latest capabilities and ultimate convenience. A Chord DAC converts to analog via Chord's "Pulse Array DAC" which is a discrete circuit, similar to the discrete circuit used in the MSB DACs (but not the same). other dacs I have enjoyedin no particular order; I would not call this second tier; but I prefer what hear from my Select II to what Ive heard from these. Sounds shrill on my workstation and work laptop. I have a PS Audio DSD ATM and it is also on the warm side which is good, but I'm thinking I need something more neutral due to my speakers being fairly warm and full bodied in their own right to take my system to the next level. Since this forum is mainly USA based and we are in the UK, I have very little to gain business wise here. However, its also very nice to listen to in this system, though I would say it is more accurate/true to the original DAC than our LAB12 DAC or perhaps our Lampizator BIG 7. It's easy! I don't understand why Chord DACs have to be so damn ugly! To my ears it makes music sound unnatural. As you mentioned imaging better, incredible PRaT with MSB. Equipped with high-visibility and a wide viewing angle, the display is both easy-to-read and stunning, exhibiting our love for intuitive features. Your web browser does not support iFrames. Aurender W20-> Lampizator Pacific SE -> Ayon Crossfire III or Circle Labs A100 -> Avantgarde Acoustic Trio LE 26 with 4x REL Carbon Special ,SACD Player: Audio Aero La Fontaine. DLNA Protocol. Auction bid 7 150 25 . The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. Cheers @Stereophilus @shkong78 how good is the dave + mscaler vs msb? So, essentially, around the back of this DAC we have XLR output modules, dual power inputs (more on this in a moment) the digital input module (XLR, RCA, and two optical), and the USB input. There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. Given your appreciation of the Pacific Microsonics DAC, I hope you'll get a chance to hear the Berkeley in your system as well. The AC modules are fully balanced at every stage, have no buffers, IV converters, or transistors in the signal path, and have no active devices used in the conversion process at all. Specifications: Type: Digital to analogue converter with volume control. Tailored for both the transport and the DACs daily use, our remote brings you closer to the music you love. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Fair enough if you know some of the posters here and their listening preferences. The DAC comes equipped with a single power supply, but can be augmented with a second discrete power supply to enable optimized power isolation between all major components. How does it compare? @shkong78 Thanks for sharing your listening impressions of the Lampizator Pacific vs the MSB DACs as well as what you miss about the Pacific vs your Chord combo. Compared to some other similarly priced DACs ($10 - $15k MSRP) I prefer the Discrete with 2 Discrete PS. Up to 8X DSD Directstream, Bricasti M1, Jeff Rowland Aeris, Chord Dave, and today I I hope you understand. This effect was evident on track after track but didnt feel like it was overly exaggerated. To cut a long story short: A burnt in MSB Analog DAC with Power Base demoed side to side to a burnt in DAVE was no challenge for the MSB. Our publication is supported by its audience. The Discrete is a genuine high fidelity DAC and a fabulously built one to boot, add in the modular input flexibility and you have a pretty stunning product with excellent future proofing.