DAC Options

[jimbones]

Wow I was not expecting this. I compared my Auralic Vega (original) to the Baltic 4 and the Vega beat the pants off the Lampi.

 

[Another Johnson]

Wow I was not expecting this. I compared my Auralic Vega (original) to the Baltic 4 and the Vega beat the pants off the Lampi.

I was expecting it. On the bright side, now you know they don’t all sound the same.

You’ve said you’d spend up to $5k. There are some very nice DACs available for $4k and up.

Right now I’m listening to the McIntosh MDA200. Why would I do this since I have a dCS Rossini in the same system?

Because I want to listen to The David Hazeltine Trio’s album Joabim Songbook. It’s not on Qobuz so I’m streaming it from Amazon HiRez. Roon and Mosaic do not play nicely with Amazon, so I’m streaming from a Bluesound Node into the MDA200, controlled by BluOS on my tablet. I could run the Node into the Rossini, but I’m too lazy, and the MDA200…….? it sounds great.
The Holo Audio May is about $5k. Those are very nice too. PS Audio probably has some nice options too

Roon compatibility (Roon Ready is better than Roon tested) is a big plus.

BluOS is more user friendly than HEOS, or MOSAIC.

Lampizator is a niche market.

Don’t overthink this. Digital is moving so fast that you’re going to upgrade in five years anyway.

 

[jimbones]

I was expecting it. On the bright side, now you know they don’t all sound the same.

You’ve said you’d spend up to $5k. There are some very nice DACs available for $4k and up.

Right now I’m listening to the McIntosh MDA200. Why would I do this since I have a dCS Rossini in the same system?

Because I want to listen to The David Hazeltine Trio’s album Joabim Songbook. It’s not on Qobuz so I’m streaming it from Amazon HiRez. Roon and Mosaic do not play nicely with Amazon, so I’m streaming from a Bluesound Node into the MDA200, controlled by BluOS on my tablet. I could run the Node into the Rossini, but I’m too lazy, and the MDA200…….? it sounds great.
The Holo Audio May is about $5k. Those are very nice too. PS Audio probably has some nice options too

Roon compatibility (Roon Ready is better than Roon tested) is a big plus.

BluOS is more user friendly than HEOS, or MOSAIC.

Lampizator is a niche market.

Don’t overthink this. Digital is moving so fast that you’re going to upgrade in five years anyway.

Another friend of mine has the Holo May and another one has the RME. DAC Shootout!! LOL

 

[thomask]

The best value will be Starkrimson Pecanpi+ which cost 900$.



It sounds close to Dave (modified with three Farad Lps) and Mscaler which cost 20k$.



Thus you had better be in line for tour of Pecanpi+ for home audition.



It may sound better than Vega and it also streams.



https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thre...adphone-amp-tour.1175470/page-3#post-32268078



Thomas

 

[Another Johnson]

Another friend of mine has the Holo May and another one has the RME. DAC Shootout!! LOL

If you end up considering the PS Audio offering, don’t forget that you can trade working old gear during a trial period. You don’t send your trade to them until you’re satisfied with their new gear.

They trade you full retail value of the old gear, up to a certain maximum. In the case of their $7999 DAC, the maximum is $2400 in trade value.

 

[Rexp]

The best value will be Starkrimson Pecanpi+ which cost 900$.



It sounds close to Dave (modified with three Farad Lps) and Mscaler which cost 20k$.



Thus you had better be in line for tour of Pecanpi+ for home audition.



It may sound better than Vega and it also streams.



https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thre...adphone-amp-tour.1175470/page-3#post-32268078



Thomas

Same song via AVM Pre/DAC, thoughts?

 

[thomask]

Same song via AVM Pre/DAC, thoughts?

For comparison I upload the one from
Dave (modified with three Farad Lps) and Mscaler which cost 20k$.

I do not think Pecanpi+ as Dac sounds better than Dave (modified with three Farad Lps) and Mscaler.

But it sounds close to the latter at 1/20 cost.

Last edited: Today at 8:33 AM

 

[Rexp]

For comparison I upload the one from
Dave (modified with three Farad Lps) and Mscaler which cost 20k$.


Last edited: Today at 8:33 AM

What did you use to record it?

 

[thomask]

What did you use to record it?

Galaxy Note 10

 

[RHMMMM]

Coinsidering upgrading from my original Auralic Vega DAC. My budget is $5K which can be for a preowned or new DAC. I run Roon Rock on an intel Nuc and Quobuz streaming. My system electronics are CJ ET5 and P12's. Advice is appreciated. Thank You

I vote a Denafrips Terminator II 12th or Terminator II Plus / 12th if you can get it for that price. I have a black Terminator II 12th in my headphone system and an MSB Ref in my primary. I had an MSB Premier before the Ref, so have experience with multiple MSB models. I have compared the Dena and Ref, volume matched running the Dena through the MSB Ref Preamp.

I would go with a Terminator II 12th or Plus over an MSB Discrete and the latest Plus *maybe* instead of a base-level Premier if cost was a big factor, and I’d be content with it. It lacks a preamp/volume control, and the modularity and future security like an MSB has but it’s 1/2 to 1/4 of the price.

You’ll want a good streamer and my best results with the Denafrips have been with power conditioning, in my case either Isotek or Shunyata.

Note also that Denafrips is going through and releasing upgraded 12th anniversary firmware for the non-“12th” models to improve the sound. So going for the “II” but non-12th anniversary models would be ok if you’re comfortable doing firmware flash upgrades on components.

All to say, I think a Denafrips is a hell of a deal for the price and it’s right at your budget.

 

[Nuforce]

I highly recommend the Audio GD R7HE.

I have one and it is very impressive.

Read the Stereophile reviews it is in their hall of fame amongst other giants

 

[jadedavid]

I was expecting it. On the bright side, now you know they don’t all sound the same.

You’ve said you’d spend up to $5k. There are some very nice DACs available for $4k and up.

Right now I’m listening to the McIntosh MDA200. Why would I do this since I have a dCS Rossini in the same system?

Because I want to listen to The David Hazeltine Trio’s album Joabim Songbook. It’s not on Qobuz so I’m streaming it from Amazon HiRez. Roon and Mosaic do not play nicely with Amazon, so I’m streaming from a Bluesound Node into the MDA200, controlled by BluOS on my tablet. I could run the Node into the Rossini, but I’m too lazy, and the MDA200…….? it sounds great.
The Holo Audio May is about $5k. Those are very nice too. PS Audio probably has some nice options too

Roon compatibility (Roon Ready is better than Roon tested) is a big plus.

BluOS is more user friendly than HEOS, or MOSAIC.

Lampizator is a niche market.

Don’t overthink this. Digital is moving so fast that you’re going to upgrade in five years anywa DAC's come in many flavors and shades of colors.

DAC's come in many flavors and colors. (musically speaking).
Environmental spaces add their own signature to the audible results.
And further, listener preferences play a major part in reproduced musical perceptions.
There are so many variables.
With all that said, I find your comment on the Lampizator Baltic4 curious.
I have heard many opinions on the B4 but "on the bright side" has not been one of them.

 

[jimbones]

DAC's come in many flavors and colors. (musically speaking).
Environmental spaces add their own signature to the audible results.
And further, listener preferences play a major part in reproduced musical perceptions.
There are so many variables.
With all that said, I find your comment on the Lampizator Baltic4 curious.
I have heard many opinions on the B4 but "on the bright side" has not been one of them.

I dont recall saying it was bright. After 3 listening sessions I find that the Lampi needs about 3 hours minimum to settle. It was better when given appropriate time to warm up. But the best of the three was the Holo May KTE.

 

[morricab]

Coinsidering upgrading from my original Auralic Vega DAC. My budget is $5K which can be for a preowned or new DAC. I run Roon Rock on an intel Nuc and Quobuz streaming. My system electronics are CJ ET5 and P12's. Advice is appreciated. Thank You

Ayon CD5s. It is a cd player, a DAC and a preamp...used for around $4K.

 

[sbnx]

While you can improve your sound considerably with a new Dac in that price range, I’d recommend dealing with your network and streaming solution first. The Silent Angel line has an array of products that can make that Vega sound like a new Dac and remove some bottlenecks should you decide to upgrade later on.

I have to agree with Skip. Since you are streaming then making sure your network is as good as possible will reap major sonic reward. If you have already invested in the network then upgrade the DAC. Otherwise even a great DAC is going to be choked by the network. $5K would go a long way toward improving your network. Network switch, LPS, Aardvark, Ethernet cable, clock, etc.

One thing to consider in a DAC is does it have Clock in or out. If you get a network switch with a clock in then you can run both the DAC and Switch off the same clock which will greatly improve sonics.

I think for streaming it is important to think of the network and DAC as whole ecosystem.

 

[Another Johnson]

DAC's come in many flavors and colors. (musically speaking).
Environmental spaces add their own signature to the audible results.
And further, listener preferences play a major part in reproduced musical perceptions.
There are so many variables.
With all that said, I find your comment on the Lampizator Baltic4 curious.
I have heard many opinions on the B4 but "on the bright side" has not been one of them.

Bright side does not refer to the sound. It refers to the fact that it is a positive thing to have learned. Perhaps it is an American idiom.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

I have to agree with Skip. Since you are streaming then making sure your network is as good as possible will reap major sonic reward. If you have already invested in the network then upgrade the DAC. Otherwise even a great DAC is going to be choked by the network. $5K would go a long way toward improving your network. Network switch, LPS, Aardvark, Ethernet cable, clock, etc.

One thing to consider in a DAC is does it have Clock in or out. If you get a network switch with a clock in then you can run both the DAC and Switch off the same clock which will greatly improve sonics.

I think for streaming it is important to think of the network and DAC as whole ecosystem.

That is solid advice. I would like to recommend basing the system on Roon. It's a great, convenient solution, that got me addicted. It would require a PC, or Mac to run on, but that computer can be hidden anywhere in the house, and doesn't need to stay near audio. As it shouldn't.

 

[jimbones]

The network upgrade is one Ive been struggling with. I have a buddy that I consider a Guru when it comes to the techy stuff and his opinion is that it is BS. I have verizon service and a fairly new router that is 3 years old, and NAS. I ethernet to my Roon Rock.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

The network upgrade is one Ive been struggling with. I have a buddy that I consider a Guru when it comes to the techy stuff and his opinion is that it is BS. I have verizon service and a fairly new router that is 3 years old, and NAS. I ethernet to my Roon Rock.

I'm sure your local dealer will be happy to lend you some gear for an audition. Make up your own mind with tests

 

[jadedavid]

Bright side does not refer to the sound. It refers to the fact that it is a positive thing to have learned. Perhaps it is an American idiom.

MYbad. After re-reading the post in question I now see that you were referring to the fact that there was experience gained from an experimental situation.
My old eyes don"t catch on to punctuation anywhere near as well as they used to (or should).
Carry on.