Hi Blue,
I tried EML 45 Mesh Glob Ann Edition and I prefere 101 D WE replicas much more, I agree with bonzo75.
Your comments abour Audio Aero , GG and PCM and DSD are very interesting to me.
After nearly two months with my new speakers - Avantgarde Duo Mezzo XD I think that I still prefer PCM from Audio Aero, for me it is more transparent and dynamic then Big 7 PCM ,even with R2R board. And I do not need more then 24/96 kHz, only Hrx from RR makes a difference .
Also the the noise floor is lower from La Fontaine in my setup.
I still put the best DSD native recordings from Fone above PCM for their outstanding palpability , 3 D sound stage and organic sound. To my surprise, DXD from Lampi is as good as best native DSD but I have only few recordings from 2L Nordic Sound.
Last month after having installed a new cartrigde - a Shelter Harmony I am back to my vinyl collection, the sound is in par with best native DSD, if not better. I am not a big fan of 128 fs DSD, native 64 fs recorded with good analog mics is just enough for me.
In my opinion transport is a key element in digital setup , did you ever try an Aurender?
My experience with S10 and W20 convinced me that the transport can improve the sound even more then the DAC does.
I am very courious about T+A Dac 8 but Aurender cannot convert DSD to higher resolution.
Hello Marslo, good to hear from you again. You must be enjoying the new XDs so much you've not had time to post your in depth opinion ;-)
Like yourself I've had a long 'love affair' with Audio Aero from Capitole MKII, Prestige SE to LaFontaine and have always enjoyed the presentation throughout probably due to the Anagram/stars reconstruction module.
A truly analogue sounding digital device. However I now think that I've finally found a DAC that surpasses this analogue like sound with equal parts verve and relaxation. I'm trying really hard to describe the sound and feeling deficient in vocabulary to explain how it differs from the AA sound whilst still keeping the essence of that sound.
Briefly, the soundstage is more expansive, resolution greater, noise floor lower and palpability greater. All these attributes are enhanced with an increase in volume whereas with the AA the sound occasionally became congested and course.
I had the GG, with the EML45s, insitu for a week or so but even though I appreciated the increase in SQ over the AA felt that ultimately the GG wasn't for me. Just something 'not quite right'.
This DAC8DSD has won me over with both PCM and finally DSD and honestly prefer it over the AA. The real development will be when I get to hear everything upsampled to DSD512, currently maxing out at DSD128 and PCM384.
I'm gushing over this new DAC so please take it as one man's opinion and await the reviews and comments from Munich. It may just be worth a try in your system with the Aurender or the soon to be released SGMS against the GG/AA and your comments would be greatly appreciated from fellow WBF readers.
Spirit will be popping around next week for a listen and I want his honest opinion, even at this half way mark towards full server and full upsampling.
It's even got a headphone out and I pick up my HEX tomorrow, oh happy days.
Blue58
Ps. Full report on the XDs please.