Aries Cerat Kassandra II Ref DAC: Wow!
- Thread starter morricab
- Start date
how does this compare to the msb select 2 fully upgraded?
Hi
Josh, you could have told me you posted a question In this forum. I do own the MSB Select 2 with dual power supplies and upgraded clock. I also have the LE Kassandra. On weight the Kassandra certainly wins being that I cannot even lift the power supply while I can lift all 3 MSB modules. The problem with making a call of “best” for me is that I have not compared them directly. The MSB lives in my transistor based system and the Kassandra lives in my tubed based system. Since both rooms are flawed I like to compare via phones. Through the phones, they both can sound stunning but even the phones are very different. The MSB Select headphone amp only allows for electrostatic drivers(Stax SR009 S) while the gigantic Aires Cerat amps drive more conventional phones(Focal Utopia). Additionally the MSB is driven by a Taiko Extreme server while the Aires Cerat is driven by an Aurender SW 20 SE. Hence, it’s impossible to say which is the best. So, maybe one day I will insert the MSB into the Aires Cerat system or vice versa(Josh would have to do the lifting in that case) and then I could officially pronounce a winner. Ultimately though I think it will boil down to a matter of personal preference-they are both exceptional products. Since Aires Cerat is introducing a new top of the line DAC, that could change the whole paradigm.
Josh, you could have told me you posted a question In this forum. I do own the MSB Select 2 with dual power supplies and upgraded clock. I also have the LE Kassandra. On weight the Kassandra certainly wins being that I cannot even lift the power supply while I can lift all 3 MSB modules. The problem with making a call of “best” for me is that I have not compared them directly. The MSB lives in my transistor based system and the Kassandra lives in my tubed based system. Since both rooms are flawed I like to compare via phones. Through the phones, they both can sound stunning but even the phones are very different. The MSB Select headphone amp only allows for electrostatic drivers(Stax SR009 S) while the gigantic Aires Cerat amps drive more conventional phones(Focal Utopia). Additionally the MSB is driven by a Taiko Extreme server while the Aires Cerat is driven by an Aurender SW 20 SE. Hence, it’s impossible to say which is the best. So, maybe one day I will insert the MSB into the Aires Cerat system or vice versa(Josh would have to do the lifting in that case) and then I could officially pronounce a winner. Ultimately though I think it will boil down to a matter of personal preference-they are both exceptional products. Since Aires Cerat is introducing a new top of the line DAC, that could change the whole paradigm.
Thanks Billy, guess the verdict is still up in the air on this one. The Aries Cerat sounds like good build quality but i must admit - not too convinced on the weight . A higher bmi does not necessarily mean better in every regards
it sounds a champion on the scales
it sounds a champion on the scales
Once you are dialed-in on the MSB program below Select, the Kassandra needs to be really good to knock-out the MSB. Unless your dealer is happy trade in against MSB new price.... Having said that, if you are in the market for one of these fantastic DACs, you might have a hard time to choose...
No review, or a detailed write up is found on their site for the Kassandra Dac.
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