But MSB Select 2 is regarded by many as the best thats why for something 1/10 of the price to compete in anyones eyes is quite an accomplishment. I did try with just the one power supply and the Discrete remained a very strong performer with the differences being a very slight loss in the sense of separation and definition when listening intently. You must log in or register to reply here. He liked the Mola Mola Tambaqui over these others listed below. The PSUs are available to match. I say take what everyone post when a grain of salt, because an individual's preference may be different than yours. I cant help with comparisons of two of these DACs, but I did hear the Tambaqui up against the dCS Bartok and it was a pretty close call, but ultimately the dCS sounded more analogue and more immersive, I have heard the Dave and EMM Labs DAC2x up against aMakua that I subsequently purchased. 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. And what streamer are you using to feed the DAC? This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. I just heard DAVE directly connected to MacBook Pro via USB without any expensive cables, headphone amplifier, power conditioner. Yeah, im thinking a post lock-down GTG is in order. Thats not allthe CNC unibody aluminum chassis provides the discrete power supply with optimal thermal performance and an elegant design aesthetic. Once you add the second discrete PS, and a module or two for it to work, the price goes over $23-24K. UPnP Protocol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites. Look, says I theres obviously a fault with this unit as its lighting up, I can see it on the network and I can send tunes to it via the Stack streamer and Roon! We went through everything and I was getting ready to pack it up and send it back when I reached around the back of one of the PSUs and switched it on MUSIC!!! Anyway, I switched out the valve power amplifier and put in its place the Krell KST100 (all fully fettled and brought up to a better than new spec by Krell in the States) with my intention being to see what effect was the DAC and what was down to the amp basically isolating the effect to a component. This unit came with two power supplies and Ill be playing with the DAC with one and with two to compare and contrast. Will do. All in all the Discrete DAC is beautiful looking, minimal, easy to set up (its all but plug and play if you turn both the PSUs on) and it feels like a proper bit of audio engineering. the North American distributors for Rockna so I thought I would jump in on this It may not display this or other websites correctly. By 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. MQA decoding If I had been responsible for coding that display I would never tell anyone. More to follow. I listen mostly to classical music, particularly with symphonic work, I prefer DAVE to MSB. I could not so, after 2 years of trying, I bought it. Chord Dave Black New The Prime DAC With two prime DACs, MSB yields an unprecedented level of detail, reproducing the musicality, soundstage, and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you Ps Audio Directstream Dac Vs Auralic Vega Founded in 2004, Games for Change is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and . I'm looking for suggestions on DACs I should listen to as possible replacement of my Chord Dave. Focal Utopia ~ LCD i4 ~ ETHER FLOW open/C ~ LCD-2.2/XC ~ Nighthawk ~ K10 custom ~ JH Angie, Chord mscaler // Chord TT2 // Oppo PM-1 (Artisan silver headphone cable) // Beyerdynamic DT880 600 Ohm // WAVE Stream bnc cables // Kef LS50 Meta. Click to expand. The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. It's too damn expensive, full stop. What didn't you like about the Dave? It may not display this or other websites correctly. Some very good advice here. Anyway, the MSB Discrete is a machine that I consider to be highly resolving and a true HiFi product with regard to the definition I quoted above. Good points by all. Elegant design. They are all excellent DACs and at that level of performance, it's ultimately about system synergy, personal preferences and the limitations of our hearing. DAVE is perfect for headphone system because you can save space and money of headphone amplifier. Like the Lab12. 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. Powered by Invision Community. This one has similar sound signature to MSB Premier But it is half notch below MSB Premier on dynamics, details, soundstage. What I do know is that the MSB brings an excellent level of performance by way of neutrality to a system that allows other parts of the system to do their thing its sort of the digital equivalent of a very (very) good cartridge. You go off people's opinions and hope it'll match your equipment and system when you put the hard earned down. Thanks for the suggestion ecwl. The jump from Six to Seven is rather large. Supported Formats (Depending on Input) 44.1 kHz to 3.072kHz PCM up to 32 bits 1xDSD, 2xDSD, 4xDSD, 8xDSD Accepts DSD via DoP on all inputs, Digital Inputs 1x RCA Coaxial 1x XLR 1x Word-Sync Out 2x Toslink 2x Isolated slots for optional modules, XLR Outputs Voltage: 3.57 Vrms Maximum Impedance 300 High Gain setting Impedance 150 Low Gain setting. My friend who owns the Diamond DAC IV prefers the MSB. I think people buy what they like. I've yet to see a system with direct connections eliminating the preamp which wasn't improved by a adding a good preamp back into the mix! Up to 32 bit 768kHz This ranking is just my subjective thinking. No matter what ice cream you prefer, I prefer something else. Bespoke Audio Ultimate Silver TVC passive preamp, Totaldac xlr version D1-Drivers x2, Eisteddfod 340 & 840 amps, Magico S5 speaker, MSB Select DAC, MSB Select Transport, Nakamichi 700 XLE cassette deck, Taiko Audio Extreme Server, Tripoint Troy Signature NG groundbox, PLiXiR Elite 1500 isolation transformers. I can only comment on the Emm labs, if u can get a DA2 I think you will be happy "An audiophile is only done when they go to the great brick and mortar store in the sky" Ron Resnick Out of all of the DACs I've @ricred1, youre right to point that out. The Discrete DAC uses two of these modules per unit. Thanks for the interesting reply, cmarin. Our digital testing has been done over the last 20 + years The in-house discrete design is then constructed into its own shielded CNC pocket for optimal isolation. personal preference. That's just too money for the performance. Who knows ?! It could sound analytical or hot coupled with bright combination of speaker and amplifier. I'm really anxious to hear more opinions about this DAC and noticed that DAVE hasn't got a thread of its own (only together with Mojo). Wavedream only has a couple hours on it, but from the first note it While it's an easy setup to wrangle at a show, it does seem like it wasn't doing either component any favours! The Discrete Power Supply feeds the DAC with dual low-noise power streams that are linear and independent. 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! Elegant yet commanding, our finishes are available in a matte silver or matte black anodize. that it is difficult to say you have the best in regard to dacs but Rockna is This DAC is 11,000 and as such, it is a considerable investment to make, but I would suggest that this is not stupid money for the kind of transparency and clarity it brings. I recently bought a DAC with a digital volume control precisely to bypass the preamp, but when I compared the two approaches there was very little between them. To build a simple and good system). Cheers @Stereophilus There ain't no Coupe deVille hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box. comes down to knowing what you are actually trying to achieve in a high end Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/absolute-top-tier-dac-for-standard-res-redbook-cd. 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. I have had Dave in my system. auditioned the Rockna Wavedream Edition DAC. But then we have to apply the law of diminishing returns. Thanks. The SQ is amazingly good. johndoe21ro I dont know as that was years ago and I dont have one here to test against. What did you think with the Chord Dave vs Emm Labs Dac2x? We used PCM (16/44,1 to 24/192) and DSD 64 and 128 for the comparioson. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-dac-that-crushes-price-vs-performance-ratio. I believe it comes down to I have enjoyed my time with the MSB Discrete DAC a great deal. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. I expected a lot better. 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. For sure with Hugo and Qutenot even debatable. @shkong78 how good is the dave + mscaler vs msb? It has the option for two PSUs and once you hear with both it becomes a necessity to have both. If you take a look at their website you will see that the machining shop is a fully equipped facility designed to meet the needs of a company producing high-quality cases in which the electronics will be fitted no off the shelf or cheap bent metal cases here! DAC Comparison Reference DAC Modules 4x Hybrid DAC Clock The Femto 33 Digital Inputs 4x User Replaceable Input Slots Optical and Coaxial input module Included Analog Outputs Preamp XLR Output Module - 150 Impedance RCA output available with external adapter Analog Inputs XLR Analog Expansion Modules RCA or XLR Input RCA or XLR Output Its weighty, it feels perfect, its not overly ostentatious and its perfect! Strangely, this new review is not displayed when you select the review folder on the homepage. You could try some of the newer dacs that has gotten good reviews. Digital inputs : RCA coax, AES/EBU XLR, 2x Toslink optical, 2x module slots, word . This is purely speculation based on browsing the internet over the years and internalising pro/con reviews from users. When I have done the comparison with other DACs I have had at the same time - Ayre QX5-Twenty, EAR Dac 4, exasound e32 - often the immediate impression is that DAVE/Blu 2 is not quite as good - a bit dryer sounding, not quite as smooth, not as airy or three dimensional And yet, over the longer term, it is deeply satisfying at a musical level in a way that the other DACs are not. Moving away from the actual sound of the music, one of my main takeaways from listening to the Discrete was the sense of timing it brought to music. Right now my favorite music player is from the same manufacturer of the Phasure NOS1a DAC: Stealth LPS running XXHighEnd software; again with the same caveat that I haven't heard a lot of the other highly regarded music players in my system. What ice cream do you prefer? @yyzsantabarbara, your dealer quote is interesting, I suspected that the Mola Mola was that good. ), Chord Hugo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp), DAC Noise Modulation: Chord DAVE vs Topping DX7 Pro+, Digital To Analog (DAC) Reviews and Discussion, Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review. luxury apartment hotels paris. 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