I now own three DACs that are actively rotated into my system. They are the dCS Varese, the MSB Select 2 + Director, and the Lampizator Horizon 360.
I started this thread to share my own impressions.
First, my impressions of the Select 2: I find the Select 2 to be slightly warm, somewhat sweet, very balanced from top to bottom, incredibly resolving and wonderful with complex transients. It is never harsh or metallic to my ears. But, it also never approaches what I hear with analogue - that wonderful smoothness, uber natural decay and a sense of presence.
On the Horizon 360: Let me start my saying that whenever I switch to the Select 2 from the Horizon I am immediately more impressed by the Select 2. It just seems to render music across the frequency range with balance and equal favor. But, after I settle in and listen I always return to the Horizon. It is just somehow more pleasant. It has a warmth and the mid-range! It never gets harsh but it also does favor all frequencies with equal attention. It is an absolute wonder in the upper bass through the upper mid-range. The others, well, they're good, too - just not quite Ivy League (to quote a movie!).
On the Varese: I have owned a Rossini + Clock and I have spent a long period with the Vivaldi Apex. Those DACs are very impressive. Not to my tastes but still impressive. I find them to be digital sounding and even metallic in the upper frequencies. That said, they are awesome - I am using hyperbole here to make a point! The Varese is just somehow there. When I first heard the Varese I was somewhat 'meh' about it. It neither impressed me nor did it offend. It was fine. Or so I thought. But, as I auditioned amplifiers I found myself asking more and more to pair the amps with the Varese. I found that it added nothing and removed nothing. It was never harsh. Yet it never misses a beat. It is not warm nor is it cold. It is just there. But after listening to so many genres of music where it just did its job so adequately I found myself liking it more and more. With the Horizon, I tend to listen to vocals - anything mid-range focused. With the Select 2 I tend to listen to rock, classical and a tick of jazz (just trying to be cool!) But with the Varese I listen to everything - it just doesn't care. It is merely adequate in all the most incredible ways. I have no idea how to describe its voicing because I do not sense any.
I started this thread to share my own impressions.
First, my impressions of the Select 2: I find the Select 2 to be slightly warm, somewhat sweet, very balanced from top to bottom, incredibly resolving and wonderful with complex transients. It is never harsh or metallic to my ears. But, it also never approaches what I hear with analogue - that wonderful smoothness, uber natural decay and a sense of presence.
On the Horizon 360: Let me start my saying that whenever I switch to the Select 2 from the Horizon I am immediately more impressed by the Select 2. It just seems to render music across the frequency range with balance and equal favor. But, after I settle in and listen I always return to the Horizon. It is just somehow more pleasant. It has a warmth and the mid-range! It never gets harsh but it also does favor all frequencies with equal attention. It is an absolute wonder in the upper bass through the upper mid-range. The others, well, they're good, too - just not quite Ivy League (to quote a movie!).
On the Varese: I have owned a Rossini + Clock and I have spent a long period with the Vivaldi Apex. Those DACs are very impressive. Not to my tastes but still impressive. I find them to be digital sounding and even metallic in the upper frequencies. That said, they are awesome - I am using hyperbole here to make a point! The Varese is just somehow there. When I first heard the Varese I was somewhat 'meh' about it. It neither impressed me nor did it offend. It was fine. Or so I thought. But, as I auditioned amplifiers I found myself asking more and more to pair the amps with the Varese. I found that it added nothing and removed nothing. It was never harsh. Yet it never misses a beat. It is not warm nor is it cold. It is just there. But after listening to so many genres of music where it just did its job so adequately I found myself liking it more and more. With the Horizon, I tend to listen to vocals - anything mid-range focused. With the Select 2 I tend to listen to rock, classical and a tick of jazz (just trying to be cool!) But with the Varese I listen to everything - it just doesn't care. It is merely adequate in all the most incredible ways. I have no idea how to describe its voicing because I do not sense any.
