The Analog DAC

**docvale** · 06-09-2012, 11:56 AM

MSB released a new DAC, the Analog DAC. Obviously nobody can have already listened to it, but does anyone know whether it has to be considered the new top of the line or the entry level?

Price seems to be cheaper than the Platinum Signature IV, I say "seems" as if you want the matching power supply, rather than a computer standard supply, you need to add almost $3K

The most interesting thing is that it seems to include the femptosecond control clock. The optional Galaxy clock in the Platinum IV is $9K by itself

so, if included (maybe in an easier realization) this could make this DAC a piece of gear to crave for...
They also contemplate an analog volume control for preamp bypass.
http://www.msbtech.com/products/anal...e=platinumHome

**catastrofe** · 06-09-2012, 03:36 PM

Based on MSB's own writeup, this is their new entry level unit.

**docvale** · 06-09-2012, 03:46 PM

well, they advertise it as "The Most Technologically Advanced DAC in the World!"

They stress the fempto-jitter stuff and, if you consider to use the matched power supply and to add all the 3 input sets, it will retail for more than the Platinum IV.

Anyway, I'm a little confused.
The Platinum (which is considered by many, audiophiles and professionals, the best DAC in the world) is a fairly young product.
The introduction of the Galaxy clock is also super recent. The new DAC is not reported to have new ladder chips, I think that most of the difference should be in the treatment of the signal in the digital domain (re-clocking, 80bit processing), plus the chance to tailor the flexibility according to the buyer needs: from a USB-only DAC (a la Ayre), to a multiple input + no need of preamp unit.

**hiroshige** · 06-09-2012, 04:13 PM

My understanding is that this is the replacement for the MSB PowerDac, which is the entry level before you get into the Platinum, Signature, and Diamond. But I see where the confusion comes from based on on the incorporation of some of the new tech into the entry level dac.

**opus111** · 06-09-2012, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by docvale

Anyway, I'm a little confused.
The Platinum (which is considered by many, audiophiles and professionals, the best DAC in the world) is a fairly young product.

I must confess I'm skeptical of this claim that its widely considered the best. Do you have links to listening tests and/or reviews to back it up? From reading their own blurb it looks like the DAC is designed towards measurements (beating an existing chip) rather than by listening.

**hiroshige** · 06-09-2012, 06:11 PM

I don't know if it's widely considered the best since this is rather subjective but if going solely by reviews as you ask, it is considered one of the better dac's. HiFiCritic which doesn't accept advertising in their magazine (I suppose to provide more objectivity) gave it their highest rating they have ever given for a dac. Review can be downloaded at http://www.msbtech.com/reviews/HFC21...rez-Review.pdf

Other reviews of the dacs and links to the review on their own website: http://www.msbtech.com/reviews/revie...sb&Product=dac

**docvale** · 06-09-2012, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by opus111

I must confess I'm skeptical of this claim that its widely considered the best. Do you have links to listening tests and/or reviews to back it up? From reading their own blurb it looks like the DAC is designed towards measurements (beating an existing chip) rather than by listening.

Even if I provided 50 reviews saying this, it couldn't be a statement anyway: our hobby is filled with relativity, regardless the fact that this word make an oxymoron when matched with "high fidelity".

Anyway, I can tell you that in the main Italian audio magazine, the least measurement guy of their board, the vinyl-dude Marco Benedetti, defined the Platinum IV as the best DAC he'd ever listened to.
He stated that in his personal system it outperformed the dCS Debussy and the Boulder 1021, which he had tested in more or less the same period. For those who speak Italian: http://www.mondoaudio.it/img/uploade..._Marzo2011.pdf

Also, the audio engineer Marco Lincetto, head of the Italian audiophile label Velut Luna, considers this DAC as his personal reference for his listening sessions.

I know a number of forumers, ranging from technology nerds to unbiased music lovers, that put this DAC at the very top.

ToneAudio raved for it, and the reviewer was another vinyl enthusiast... Alon Wolf has it in his test room (together with the mighty Pacific Microsonics)...

Notwithstanding, I'm writing all these things just because you debated what I reported. Personally, I've listened to all the various dCS Debussy, Playback Des MPS-5, Platinum IV, Meitner MA-1, Emm Labs DAC2SE, Bricasti and Weiss Medea, but all in uncontrolled settings (different systems, most of the components listened for the very first time), so I cannot tell which is the best performer.
I'd probably pick the cheapest one on the second-hand market

**opus111** · 06-09-2012, 06:38 PM

Thanks

The Martin Colloms write-up is interesting in that the MSB beats the Metrum by 20 points on CD. But the price difference is around 26dB.

The only mention of an MSB DAC on MC's list (on his site) is from a 2008 rating (provisionally) at 55, which is a lowish score considering the prices of their units. Its beaten handsomely by both Rega and Naim. His previous highest score is from the Metrum Octave (he's not updated his list recently enough to include it, but the review of the Metrum gives his score, I recall its 180 on CD). So what stupdendous innovation have MSB developed in the past four years to almost quadruple their score? This enquiring mind wishes to know.

Another interesting thing from that review - no FFT plots, but a linearity plot. The linearity plot was the measurement I was hinting at in my earlier post. Why does MC not present any other plots, rather than the very measurement the DAC is designed to ace? Finally MC lacks credibility in his measurement technique for showing a THD @20kHz. Such a measure is fairly meaningless for a DAC without qualification - such as the sample rate being employed.

I shall look at the reviews you cited with interest.

**tomelex** · 06-09-2012, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by opus111

Thanks

The Martin Colloms write-up is interesting in that the MSB beats the Metrum by 20 points on CD. But the price difference is around 26dB.

The only mention of an MSB DAC on MC's list (on his site) is from a 2008 rating (provisionally) at 55, which is a lowish score considering the prices of their units. Its beaten handsomely by both Rega and Naim. His previous highest score is from the Metrum Octave (he's not updated his list recently enough to include it, but the review of the Metrum gives his score, I recall its 180 on CD). So what stupdendous innovation have MSB developed in the past four years to almost quadruple their score? This enquiring mind wishes to know.

Another interesting thing from that review - no FFT plots, but a linearity plot. The linearity plot was the measurement I was hinting at in my earlier post. Why does MC not present any other plots, rather than the very measurement the DAC is designed to ace? Finally MC lacks credibility in his measurement technique for showing a THD @20kHz. Such a measure is fairly meaningless for a DAC without qualification - such as the sample rate being employed.

I shall look at the reviews you cited with interest.

Yes, specs without meaning....agree with your point.

Slightly off topic but I enjoyed your blog and see you have a sony pcm-m10. I enjoy the heck out of the little fellow and I do all my digital recording to it, and it carries easy enough when traveling and in the car and sounds great too. Drives my senn headphones with no problems too.

Cheers,

Tom