MSB Select II arrival

[Taiko Audio]

Thanks. But do you consider that a shared Ethernet interface going through a router is the optimum Ethernet interface?

Do you think that USB can be intrinsically better than Ethernet?

I'd consider not worrying about it and use your ears. It all depends on the implementation which varies wildly.

 

[QuadDiffuser]

Awaiting the arrival (anticipated to be in 2017-08) of my MSB Select II DAC, powered by the Dual Powerbase option. Keenly interested in reading more about AC power cables and power conditioning options - currently using the Shunyata Triton V3 and the Audience AU24 SE-I power chord.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Awaiting the arrival (anticipated to be in 2017-08) of my MSB Select II DAC, powered by the Dual Powerbase option. Keenly interested in reading more about AC power cables and power conditioning options - currently using the Shunyata Triton V3 and the Audience AU24 SE-I power chord.

hello QuadDiffusor, welcome to What's Best Forum.

and also, welcome to the MSB Select II 'club' and congrats on the imminent arrival of your beauty. I loved the dual powerbase I've heard at shows, and congrats on that addition too. if you get a chance we would enjoy hearing about the rest of your system.

as far as power grid I am using the Equi=tech 10WQ 10kva wall panel isolation transformer -> 10 gauge Romex dedicated lines -> Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlets and covers -> Absolute Fidelity power cords with Furutech NCF plugs.

I've not really experimented with other power cords.

for interconnects I'm using Tara Labs Grandmaster Evolution w/HFX dual grounding boxes grounded to the Tripoint Troy Signature.

when your Select II arrives please let us know what you think and maybe give us pictures too. if you don't mind it I would enjoy hearing about what led you to choose the Select II, either other options you considered or what made you decide.

and.....what color Select II chassis did you choose?

best regards,

Mike

 

[wisnon]

Mike, You are up early!

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike, You are up early!

yes; I am.

I love mornings and enjoy my listening early before work......the Select II being a particularly strong reason to get up early.

 

[wisnon]

Just sent you a PM. Sorry to disturb your ZEN time. LoL

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Just sent you a PM. Sorry to disturb your ZEN time. LoL

Norman, you are never a disturbance.

 

[wisnon]

Norman, you are never a disturbance.

i feel the same way about you too. Cheers!

 

[Narayan]

Mike do you have any further impressions to share? Curious as to how the MSB is evolving.

 

[Narayan]

I deserve that as it's hard to make a case for not going wacko on a USB cable after my decision on the Select II.

all that said, until I choose between USB/SPDIF and Ethernet the cable choice is besides the point. and there are expensive network cables just like expensive USB cables. going nuts on one of those will be a bridge i'll cross when I get to it.

This USB cable is seemingly getting the musical juices flowing and is very fairly priced:

http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=3854.0

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/34683-usb-audio-cracked-finally/

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike do you have any further impressions to share? Curious as to how the MSB is evolving.

sorry for the delay in my response. last week i had a visitor from Australia, and then I was gone on a business trip until this afternoon.

I don't think the MSB Select II has really been changing over these last weeks. but it continues to amaze me at the utter honesty that it communicates the musical essence. it's not the same as vinyl in degrees, but it misses nothing in the texture and flow of analog. I have so many digital files and formats, as well as Tidal too, and nothing even gets close to the slight discontinuity of my previous digital experiences. I suppose part of that is the SGM server doing it's part, but I've not tried any alternatives. my system is as demanding as any out there in terms of clarity and every tiny aspect of presentation.

the Select II does not have it's own brush it paints things with, it is that proverbial open window. lately I've received a number of new 2xdsd vinyl and tape rips; which has pointed me back to other of these files too. which then pushed me to bring out some of the corresponding vinyl. I've yet to find a case where I've found a nit with the Select II/SGM's viewpoint. in many cases the direct vinyl playback takes things to a higher point, but the musical flow is really alike.......and I get much more inner nuance from these files from this combo than my recollection of the other dacs I've had in my system. and I know this vinyl really well.

I can push the Select II to higher SPL's and it soars and scales like the direct vinyl; that is completely unique and is a true test. the depth and content is all there.

it's this continual meeting my needs with the emotional side of the music, more subtle than a vinyl session, but still satisfying......that I love. the vinyl carries me away more overtly......and that i expect to continue. it just goes farther.

i hope this helps. my progress has more to do with my own personal feelings and how it's meeting my musical needs. I'm very satisfied with now almost 2 months living with it daily. it's something I'm excited to do every day and feel very fortunate.

right now I'm listening to a 2xdsd vinyl rip of Neil Young's 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'. this vinyl i really know well......well recorded, vivid and the music is fully alive in a analog way. it just leaps from the speakers. nothing flat or lacking presence or that realism. my vinyl is extremely linear, and this matches it lick for lick. i can sit back and ride the wave totally. each note has a lush body and lively energy and continuous pulse. there are spots in this album that have an edge where digital can be exposed. but not a sniff of that with the Select II.

would everyone (or every system) be able to appreciate what is happening here? don't know. i can only say how i view the implications of my experiences.

 

[Narayan]

Thank you so much Mike, knowing your preferences, the comparisons with vinyl and other DACs are very useful in establishing the value and prowess of the MSB and putting its performance into context. Your experiences have me almost convinced that this machine (I´m unsure how much weight the SGM adds to the musical package) might be the current epitome of digital music playback (as it should for the price) and will most likely remain at the top thanks to its modularity and future proof upgradeability, I don´t see it as a "flavour-of-the-month-obsolete-in-a-year" DAC which is high praise in a world where DACs move so fast if you blink you´ll miss it.

This is like investing in good cookware from the likes of Le Creuset, Hestan or de Buyer, they will last a lifetime and avoid you buying six, seven or more of the cheaper alternatives.

 

[wisnon]

At that price, why do you care about obsolescence of say a 15k dac? You could buy 7 iterations of that for one Select 2 and you pay for upgrades of the Sel2 ( hardware).

I think Sel2 must be appreciated for what it is and dont try in anyway to justify cost....as it cant be done.

I for one am happy for Mike as he was able to afford it and loves it. Most of us cant afford it...but the research efforts will eventually trickle down...so its all good.

 

[Narayan]

At that price, why do you care about obsolescence if a 15k dac? You could buy 7 iterations of that for one Select 2 and you pay for upgrades of the Sel2 ( hardware).

I think Sel2 must be aprreciated for what it is and dont try in anyway to justify cost....as it cant be done.

I for one am happy for Mike as he was able to afford it and loves it. Most of us cant afford it...but the research efforts will eventually trickle down...so its all good.

Justifying the cost is an entirely individual thought and decision, I have trouble justifying it but if I won the lottery I would probably consider it, others probably have no problem at all price wise, I agree with you on being very happy for Mike. Yeah the trickle down technology is already in effect with the Reference DAC which I think is only $35,000 so we´re fortunate there

 

[wisnon]

Justifying the cost is an entirely individual thought and decision, I have trouble justifying it but if I won the lottery I would probably consider it, others probably have no problem at all price wise, I agree with you on being very happy for Mike. Yeah the trickle down technology is already in effect with the Reference DAC which I think is only $35,000 so we´re fortunate there

Agreed, but you miss my point. The Sel2 is a statement by itself. The fact that its modular/upgradeable is not a justification in and of itself, as the cost of entry is heady. At that price you could by a 20K flavour dac for the next 5 years and keep em and STILL only have shelled out the entry price. If you sell the old ones for 50% off, you can play that game for about 8 years.

If you won the lottery and bought it, you would not be worrying about upgradability as you could then treat the Sel2 as a flavour too. LoL

 

[Narayan]

Agreed, but you miss my point. The Sel2 is a statement by itself. The fact that its modular/upgradeable is not a justification in and of itself, as the cost of entry is heady. At that price you could by a 20K flavour dac for the next 5 years and keep em and STILL only have shelled out the entry price. If you sell the old ones for 50% off, you can play that game for about 8 years.

If you won the lottery and bought it, you would not be worrying about upgradability as you could then treat the Sel2 as a flavour too. LoL

Yes I see your most valid point, but the point with the MSB is to cure Upgrade-abilia Tremens because you have nowhere to upgrade to and if you have, MSB have you covered, unless of course you fancy going the flavourful route and having a harem of DACs, which might be a matter for another day.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Yes I see your most valid point, but the point with the MSB is to cure Upgrade-abilia Tremens because you have nowhere to upgrade to and if you have, MSB have you covered, unless of course you fancy going the flavourful route and having a harem of DACs, which might be a matter for another day.

as far as price/investment rationalization, it can only reasonably be done if you are considering the other top level 'uber' digital choices. I'm not going to mention any, as I don't want to go down that road. but if one is wanting top level, and I mean top level, digital, that can play in the league of analog performance, then it's easy to make the MSB Select case.....particularly over time.

if 'uber' digital is not a choice then no worries.....but forget trying to make the rational case.....you cannot.

and that is how I looked at it. laws of diminishing returns certainly apply......and everyone has to decide how much additional performance they want to invest in for multiples more dollars.

we are now immune to 6 figure vinyl playback systems when you add tt's, arms, cartridges, RCM's, phono stages, etc. etc. lot's of those here on WBF. that level of investment seems reasonable. so a digital system in that price range is no less reasonable (I'm not suggesting that either really makes sense).

or a second Ferrari, or a room full of wine.

this is all just a perspective kind of thing.

and my system is particularly sensitive to anything that brings a sameness, artifact or coloration, and so the MSB Select II is a very good fit. it's a clear window. the system is in a fine balance already, I don't need any ying or yang.

 

[jep123]

as far as price/investment rationalization, it can only reasonably be done if you are considering the other top level 'uber' digital choices. I'm not going to mention any, as I don't want to go down that road. but if one is wanting top level, and I mean top level, digital, that can play in the league of analog performance, then it's easy to make the MSB Select case.....particularly over time.

if 'uber' digital is not a choice then no worries.....but forget trying to make the rational case.....you cannot.

and that is how I looked at it. laws of diminishing returns certainly apply......and everyone has to decide how much additional performance they want to invest in for multiples more dollars.

we are now immune to 6 figure vinyl playback systems when you add tt's, arms, cartridges, RCM's, phono stages, etc. etc. lot's of those here on WBF. that level of investment seems reasonable. so a digital system in that price range is no less reasonable (I'm not suggesting that either really makes sense).

or a second Ferrari, or a room full of wine.

this is all just a perspective kind of thing.

and my system is particularly sensitive to anything that brings a sameness, artifact or coloration, and so the MSB Select II is a very good fit. it's a clear window. the system is in a fine balance already, I don't need any ying or yang.

Systems at these levels are of course very senstitive and very revealing of even small changes. One needs to find a balance and in this case (and I believe with my own digital equipment) the sonic footprints are very minor. I am not comparing MSB and CH, but my guess is that they are more or less in the same league(?). As with all other high end equipment there are no free lunches.

Great thread by the way.

JP

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Systems at these levels are of course very senstitive and very revealing of even small changes. One needs to find a balance and in this case (and I believe with my own digital equipment) the sonic footprints are very minor. I am not comparing MSB and CH, but my guess is that they are more or less in the same league(?). As with all other high end equipment there are no free lunches.

Great thread by the way.

JP

the CH Precision (3 box) Mono dac was also on my radar (same price range as the MSB Select II). at some point I hope to hear it. maybe if I'd heard it three times at shows rather than the MSB Select II I would own it.

 

[asiufy]

Hi,

For what it's worth, I have a CH Precision C1 DAC for sale. The client upgraded to an MSB Diamond V, and now has a SELECT II.


cheers,
Alex