Best DAC for Pink Faun? Aqua formula xHD, dCS Vivaldi, or TotalDAC d1-unity? Thanks in advance!

[gionaz]

I agree my new totaldac triunity + sublime reclocker sounds amazing

wow it's an exceptional source!!!
what did you have before? and what are the improvements?

I have Sublime with a double Reclock sublime! the second reclock gave more naturalness and a greater sense of organicity, the time you perceive as a greater closeness to the music

 

[clearsound]

wow it's an exceptional source!!!
what did you have before? and what are the improvements?

I have Sublime with a double Reclock sublime! the second reclock gave more naturalness and a greater sense of organicity, the time you perceive as a greater closeness to the music

I had many DACs Lampizator, Wadax, Moon, Aries Cerat, dCS, Bricasti, Chord, etc. but neither played as naturally as Totaldac

 

[gionaz]

I had many DACs Lampizator, Wadax, Moon, Aries Cerat, dCS, Bricasti, Chord, etc. but neither played as naturally as Totaldac

great this is excellent feedback !!!

 

[gleeds]

Two choices in your price point are exceptional. I represent one so grains of salt apply. The Lampizator Posidean is well near perfect. With a retail of $25k, it's a slight but worthy stretch. The Posidean is not colored like the Pacific (albeit beautifully so). Still, it reaches close to the Horizon, which is why Lukaz created a new digital engine and other updates for the latest Horizon 360. In short, it's a breakthrough at this price point.

The other is a new Wavedream Reference DAC Rockna Audio. I signed on to be their US distributor after hearing the current generation DAC at Munich 2024, playing alongside Trafomatic amplification and Tune Audio speakers. The sound was superbly musical, and when Sasa shared that he would not listen to digital on anything but Nicholae's designs, I was sold. The first units are expected to hit our shores in late December, with a projected retail of $24,000.

Whatever you decide, there has never been a better time to purchase a great DAC! Good luck.

 

[sbo6]

Assuming you haven't chosen yet, I owned the Aqua Formula xHD for years and it is IMO an excellent DAC. I compared it to the TD 7 and preferred the Aqua. Neither was sonically superior, more of a preference. The Aqua has more air and a bigger sense of space, the TD a bit more body (which I don't need). Ultimately. I went with a TD 12 which, as it should be is heads and shoulders better than the Aqua. Both are great DACs IME.

 

[Phantom-Audio]

I've heard that Pink Faun performs exceptionally well with Aries Cerat DACs. A number of Aries Cerat owners use the Dual Pink Faun. Personally, I have the Dual Summus and the Xact Evo.

 

[Phantom-Audio]

Assuming you haven't chosen yet, I owned the Aqua Formula xHD for years and it is IMO an excellent DAC. I compared it to the TD 7 and preferred the Aqua. Neither was sonically superior, more of a preference. The Aqua has more air and a bigger sense of space, the TD a bit more body (which I don't need). Ultimately. I went with a TD 12 which, as it should be is heads and shoulders better than the Aqua. Both are great DACs IME.

For many years, I was a distributor for Aqua, and while it is indeed an excellent DAC, it couldn't quite match the performance of the MSB or Playback Design models I had during that period.

 

[sbo6]

For many years, I was a distributor for Aqua, and while it is indeed an excellent DAC, it couldn't quite match the performance of the MSB or Playback Design models I had during that period.

Which models of MSB and Playback designs were you comparing against which Aqua, curious?

 

[worldtime]

I use MSB reference with my pinky, I believe Jord also uses reference in his system.

 

[sbo6]

I use MSB reference with my pinky, I believe Jord also uses reference in his system.

Sounds like you were comparing a 2x the price MSB vs. the best Aqua.

 

[Opabin]

I had many DACs Lampizator, Wadax, Moon, Aries Cerat, dCS, Bricasti, Chord, etc. but neither played as naturally as Totaldac

You certainly have wide experience. Which Aries Cerat DAC did you have and how long did you have it?

 

[Lee]

Me? I’m pretty happy with my lowly Rossini Apex ring DAC and its resident streamer.

Ditto.

 

[Lee]

I use MSB reference with my pinky, I believe Jord also uses reference in his system.

If I'm not mistaken there is a forthcoming MSB link to Pink Faun servers, no?

 

[Lee]

Outside of proprietary linkages, I would hope the specific DAC would not matter. Should work well with everything, right?

 

[Lee]

I had many DACs Lampizator, Wadax, Moon, Aries Cerat, dCS, Bricasti, Chord, etc. but neither played as naturally as Totaldac

Did you have the Apex versions of dCS?

 

[clearsound]

Did you have the Apex versions of dCS?

yes both Rossini and Vivaldi

 

[clearsound]

You certainly have wide experience. Which Aries Cerat DAC did you have and how long did you have it?

Helene and Kassandra Ref

 

[Rotatoubib]

I can testify that Playback Design MPD8 MK2 is really amazing with 2.16 ultra; I actuallse use SPDIF. Any opinion about the best bridge with this DAC?