SoundLab A1Px's, ARC REF40, VTL Siegfired II, cj GAT2, cj ART, DCS Vivaldi 2.0 stack, Taiko Audio SGM Extreme, TechDas AF1+ , Graham Phamtom III, Sumiko Palo Santos, vdH Black Beauty, ARC Phono 3, Studer A80, Crystal Dreamline, Transparent Audio Ref XL digital and Ref Gen V power cables, CenterStage footers, Nordost Qkore6' s and QB8's! Like x 5 List 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% Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. Search: Msb Discrete Dac Vs Chord Dave. Im sure it does have a flavour of its own, but from my standpoint, it sounds like a very neutral and transparent DAC. If I got a great $20K DAC for less, I would not object. The output modules are where the converted digital signals are output to analogue signals that our amplifiers can make use of and MSB make two flavours of the output module. The remainder It doesnt get too hot to touch. Msb discrete dac vs dcs bartok - wfi.pizzeria-kandel.de 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. It will kick your ass. The good DS (delta sigma) dacs that aren't hard or harsh, are a bit of a yawn, and lack bringing out the life (boogie factor) of the music, but in a . Thanks. The DAVE is very resolving, but thinner tonally in comparison to the EMM Labs. Astrostar here, said it completely blew away any dac he had before, and mind you, he has the entry level AC model. 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. And yes, you can improve it more by adding nice power source and cable. A fully balanced, ultra-high precision, discrete ladder DAC architecture ensures each note tells a story. The best upgrade for Dave easy. 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. It matches Chord Dave and Mscaler on dynamics with slightly more bass slam. 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. Playing Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jacksons Your Daddy Loves You from the Winter in America album gave me the same impression of a reach-out-and-touch soundscape with incredibly well-defined positions in the mix and a whole load of detail the over-driven sound of the electric piano at around a minute forty really stood out as being faithful to the recording; a case of high-fidelity highlighting a low-fidelity artefact? Euphony Summus, EtherRegen, MSB Discrete. They both use FPGA for their decoding. You go off people's opinions and hope it'll match your equipment and system when you put the hard earned down. So this was headphones straight out of the DAVE? I think is a good general rule of thumb, but there are some very transparent passive pre-amps out there. Elevator Pitch Review: Built in America, the MSB Discrete is a modular DAC that also acts as a preamplfier, though, as supplied, it has no analogue inputs. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. dCS Bartok>Chord DAVE>MSB discrete discreteR2R R2R DAVE BartokdCSBartok Best DACs comparison test result [[My Subjective Opinion]] Digital: Sonore opticalModule > Uptone EtherRegen > Shunyata Sigma Ethernet >Antipodes K30> Shunyata Omega USB> Gustard X26pro DAC < Mutec REF10 SE120, Amp& Speakers: Spectral DMA-150mk2 >Aerial 10T, Foundation: Stillpoints Ultra,ShunyataDenali v1 andTyphon power conditioners,Shunyata Delta v2 and QSA Lanedri Gamma power cords, QSA Lanedri GammaRevelationinterconnect,Shunyata SigmaEthernet,MIT Matrix HD60speaker cables, ASC isothermal tube traps, Stillpoints Aperture panels. Is this what passes for high end? The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. Roon/Jriver 22 -> Ayre QX-5 Twenty -> Ayre AX-5 Twenty -> B&W N802D (Transparent Cables). You must log in or register to reply here. But if you don't, what is your reference point? Didn't like it at all. Thank you, Mike. There is no dark magic involved. Not sure why you would spend so much on a DAC when the Crane Song Solaris is available at $1,949. "OK, it would be. After that you are GOLDEN. Its weighty, it feels perfect, its not overly ostentatious and its perfect! Chord DAVE - DAC - Digital to Analog Conversion - Audiophile Style You must log in or register to reply here. Chord Dave vs Mola Mola Makua/Tambaqui vs Emm Labs Dac2x vs Rockna Good points by all. Firstly, that was a very impressive list of high end components you have listened to. Some silly sausage plugged a white power cable into a black device. Thank me laterLoL. Price 9k in the U.K. To each their own, but I think Chord sounds cold and artificial. 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. 1 - MSB Discrete 2 - dCS Bartok 3 - Mola Mola Tambaqui 4 - Chord DAVE (add the M Scaler later) 5 - Keep my Ayre QX-5 Twenty, do nothing Thanks! The headamp is powerful but not involving. Who knows ?! Sonically, it is akin to the old straight wire with gain only in the digital realm. At some point you have to be content in this hobby. The Dave as a DAC actually sounds decent. I like all this attention to detail and the MSB website suggests a company that is massively proud of its American heritage and of the products they make. Taiko Audio Extreme > Sablon Audio Reserva Elite USB2022/Sablon Audio Reserva Ethernet2020> Aqua Formula XHDV2 > Sablon Audio King Sablon Interconnects > LDR pre > PuLSar45 DC SE amp > Sablon Audio Reserva speaker cables (pigtailed) > Avantgarde Duo Omega( Duelund xover). See what the reviews are saying. Many of these were already in a shootout on Audiogon with the same requirements - has to sound stellar on 16/44.1 tracks: I agree that the DAVE plus Blu 2 is spectacular, but not in a "hi fi" sense. Almost all gear I hear is pretty good and some are great but the most expensive ones are not universally the best to my ears. And I've learned to be careful and not generalize how a component will sound based on show conditions or other systems. I hate to repeat myself, but there are no absolutes in audio, only preferences. Our digital testing has been done over the last 20 + years All rights reserved. Ok, I looked a prat but it proves that the separate PSUs are actually doing something rather than being there for show, though they do look rather cool in themselves. Couldn't agree more. When we set out to make the MSB remote, the design was built from the ground up. At $20,000 I recommend the MSB Premier DAC with two power supplies (KeithRs system). Regular readers will appreciate all that is taken from the MSB website and I make no apologies for not really understanding the electronics. Is it too hot to touch? Up to 4X DSD Let us do the work of refurbishing and finding your current electronics a new hometheyll continue to be enjoyed for years to come. Sent from my iPhone using Computer Audiophile. You're very polite about how you describe your preferences, cmarin. 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. So yes it's a question of being polite, but it's also about acknowledging the limitations inherent in making absolute pronouncements about differences between high performing components. UPnP Protocol With a better matched preamp presence may be acceptable. What didn't you like about the Dave? Up to 32 bit 768kHz Also, it is worth noting I heard the v1 DAC 2X, not the v2. Impedance 100 Low Gain setting. With the MSB there has been a great deal of attention paid to ensuring the signal stays as pure as possible and is not affected by other parts of the DAC or outside sources; modular construction, dual power supplies, isolation of USB etc. @ricred1, I would like to suggest you take a look at the Mola Mola Tambaqui when it arrives later this month I understand. Focusing on our network renderer and USB input, your audio tech will be on the cutting edge. Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/absolute-top-tier-dac-for-standard-res-redbook-cd. The sonic signature is detailed and yet easy to listen to, with the Discrete bringing a sense of the recordings scale (big or small) to the listening experience. Putting price aside, what are your thoughts about the Hugo TT as an integrated DAC+amp? Too many DACs> Too many amps> Too many headphones. 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. But of course, I love window shopping and perusing top tier systems including illustrious more familiar gear like Lampi, TD, MSB, Ares Cerat, Aqua. It's UPDATE VIDEO THREE for the Chord Electronics DAVE DAC REVIEW I have spent a lot more time with the DAVE Dac, still using. dacs and server competed against much more expensive dacs and servers sound wise This all-American theme is continued in the companys PCB Shop where they use circuit boards produced for them in Silicon Valley, which are then made ready for the automated adding of the smaller components and hand-fitting bulkier components before washing and inspection. Once you start playing a tune the DAC works out the sample rate and chooses the correct playback clock. let me know when it's on, I'll make my way down if I can. and this is borne out in the sound that this DAC brings to the party. DACs Overview - MSB Technology in this forum and they are all very good dacs. It's easy! MSB Technology Discrete Modular DAC Page 2. Talking of cool lets talk about this remote. The SQ is amazingly good. For sure with Hugo and Qutenot even debatable. You are using an out of date browser. prefer to keep our test results among ourselves. Looks like your budget goes up to ~$20k? There seemed to be a little more separation of instruments in the mix of whatever I was listening to than with the LAB12 DAC and Pre in the signal path and a slightly leaner edge to the music more clearly etched, perhaps? Your web browser does not support iFrames. It is a pretty DAC but usability is left behind. Superior conversion begins with clean and stable low-noise power. It's my understanding that the Wavedream only DAVE stands for 'Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis', a moniker that best reflects the product's . With the Bartok now quite a few $$$ more, the Tambaqui represents a fantastic price v performance ratio that would be at home in most highly resolving systems. dac at a reasonable price. Regardless if the buyer has never auditioned the unit, and found it corresponding to, Simaudio Moon Neo 260 DT CD Transport / Empirical Audio reclocking system: Synchro-Mesh Reclocker driven by Dynamo Linear Power Supply, 2 x Reference BNC digital cable / Schiit Yggdrasil Less is More (LIM) DAC / Octave HP 700 preamp / Octave RE 320 stereo amp with Super Black Box / Reference 3A Reflector monitors, on Sound Anchors Signature stands / dual JL Audio Fathom 112 v2 subwoofers / Cables: ZenWave Audio D4 interconnects, ZenWave SMSG speaker cables / Diverse Herbie's Audio Lab footers / Acoustic treatment: Tri-panels, window plugs, ceiling diffusers (all ASC), diverse carpets chosen for acoustic properties (wool, polypropylene basketweave), Sure absolutely agree that paying that much money without auditioning (preferably in my house, with my own equipment, in my room) does not make much sense. Can't beat the form factor of it though, great for off a desk top. 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. I did have the BADA Ref in my system for a short audition, and the Trinity And CH Precision C1 for a longer stay during a previous iteration of my system. This would help to take your digital playback upa few levels. Toggle signature. Wavedream only has a couple hours on it, but from the first note it There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. This latter track is a good track for me to play when listening to new kit as it is basically a drum machine and an acid box and this latter did sound just like a 303 there in the room. very important and our preference connection is an i2S connection. What ice cream do you prefer? Triangle Magellan Concerto 2< AQEverest< Vitus Audio SS-010 Mk2< AQDragon High Current< AQWELXLR< ChordQutestDAC w UpTone JS-2 & AQ Dragon Source < AQDiamond USB< InnuosPhoenix USBwAQ Dragon Source< AurenderN100H & AQ Dragon Source< NetGear GS105GESwitch w UpTone LPS1.2< Supra CAT8 Ethernet