Got New DAC - MSB Premier

[exupgh12]

A couple of days ago i went with a friend to listen to Zellaton Klassik Stage speakers (blow my mind but that's a different story).
The owner used MSB Premiers DAC with the streaming module as the source. what was familiar to me was the same filling I got in Munich on most or all the rooms that used MSB DAC as their source.

Long story short i just got myself a new MSB Premier DAC from the local distributor.
for the time being, i'm using his machine (black) till my silver unit that had been ordered will arrive

regarding sound, its better than my Melco N1ZH and Luxman D10X combo, in a couple of things - the stage is bigger, the mids are clearer and the whole dame thing is just so much closer to analog.

is it worth the price for the minor differences, hell yeah! - The easiest way to put it is: It's just more engaging to listen to.

I think Jeff Fritz sums it all up in his premier review from 2021 - "The Premier is a super-high-resolution, completely silent, utterly dynamic component that lets the music flow through it less hindered than through anything else I’ve heard. In terms of sound quality, it’s the best digital front end I’ve had in my system."

 

[bryans]

Congrats on your MSB Premier. I'm sure you have a lot of awesome listening ahead of you.

 

[LL21]

Congrats. It all starts with the source! Nice TT by the way...I know nothing about TT, but have read and heard great things about Brinkmann. (Big fan of HRS which they integrate into the design of the TT.)

What speakers are you driving, btw? And are those also going to be 'upgraded' to Zellatons?

 

[Sampajanna]

Nice and congrats1

 

[exupgh12]

Congrats. It all starts with the source! Nice TT by the way...I know nothing about TT, but have read and heard great things about Brinkmann. (Big fan of HRS which they integrate into the design of the TT.)

What speakers are you driving, btw? And are those also going to be 'upgraded' to Zellatons?

Hi,

My speakers are Magico S3MK2, I don't think or expect to replace them in the next couple of years.
saying that, Zellaton's (EVO or Klassik) speakers are superb, if i would be looking for new ultimate speakers i surely put them on my must-listen list.

 

[exupgh12]

bryans , Sampajanna
Thank you for your kind words

 

[gds7368]

Great looking system! If I may be so bold ... any way you could put those beautiful amplfiers on separate amplifier stands on the floor? (Or add anther level of shelves.) That way you could place the DAC and its separate power supply on its own shelf. My MSB components greatly benefit (in my room etc) from being on its own shelf; the sound definitely became more constrained, less layered, less dynamic, smaller soundstage when I had them stacked. At least find a way to try it !!!

 

[MarkusBarkus]

Like this? Funny. SRA stands are about six months old. A5s and no TT, otherwise quite similar.

 

[exupgh12]

Great looking system! If I may be so bold ... any way you could put those beautiful amplfiers on separate amplifier stands on the floor? (Or add anther level of shelves.) That way you could place the DAC and its separate power supply on its own shelf. My MSB components greatly benefit (in my room etc) from being on its own shelf; the sound definitely became more constrained, less layered, less dynamic, smaller soundstage when I had them stacked. At least find a way to try it !!!

Hi,

That's a great option, but I'll need a longer XLR IC between the preamp and the amplifiers - maybe in the future, I'll adopt your suggestion.

Thank you

 

[exupgh12]

Like this? Funny. SRA stands are about six months old. A5s and no TT, otherwise quite similar.

Beautiful setup

 

[exupgh12]

Some more thought on the change and differences

Luxman D10X+Melco - Quiet, sound energetic, and directness (or whatever you want to call it), the combo has great attack and macro capability, accuracy, speed, and control.

MSB Premier - Quiet, a bit less dynamic than the Luxman (a bit more refined), a wider and deeper stage, the sound has a certain tendency forward, great resolution but still preserves thick sound texture.

Vocals are to die for, the ability to "dig" into the track without being harsh on the sound.

At the end of the day, these are two excellent converters that manage to produce very enjoyable sound in my system, a sound that will put a huge smile on every listener.

If I had to live with only one device, the Premier is my choice, as it holds the stick from both ends more perfectly (dynamism, super-high resolution, absolute silence, and musicality on the verge of analog magic).

Since the D10X is a combined device (CD\SACD), this eliminates the need to choose between, and both devices remain with me.

 

[bryans]

Sounds like you really can't make a bad decision with either unit. There is a lot of great gear these days. Enjoy!

 

[exupgh12]

Sounds like you really can't make a bad decision with either unit. There is a lot of great gear these days. Enjoy!

Thank you, indeed we are blessed with much great gear these days, either unit is excellent
I feel lucky not to be troubled by that as i can keep both.

 

[3125simon]

Some more thought on the change and differences

Luxman D10X+Melco - Quiet, sound energetic, and directness (or whatever you want to call it), the combo has great attack and macro capability, accuracy, speed, and control.

MSB Premier - Quiet, a bit less dynamic than the Luxman (a bit more refined), a wider and deeper stage, the sound has a certain tendency forward, great resolution but still preserves thick sound texture.

Vocals are to die for, the ability to "dig" into the track without being harsh on the sound.

At the end of the day, these are two excellent converters that manage to produce very enjoyable sound in my system, a sound that will put a huge smile on every listener.

If I had to live with only one device, the Premier is my choice, as it holds the stick from both ends more perfectly (dynamism, super-high resolution, absolute silence, and musicality on the verge of analog magic).

Since the D10X is a combined device (CD\SACD), this eliminates the need to choose between, and both devices remain with me.

are you using the Melco as a server in both cases - i.e. also with your MSB?

 

[exupgh12]

are you using the Melco as a server in both cases - i.e. also with your MSB?

No only the luxman unit is connected to the Melco (this why i reffer to the Melco+Luxman as one unit).
The MSB Premier I have now at home is here till my DAC arrive and it doesn't have USB or Pro ISL installed on it (my Premier will have this as well as the Renderer 2).

to check the Dacs i grouped both DACs in Roon, this made it easier to do an A, B test fairly easly.

 

[pnp]

No only the luxman unit is connected to the Melco (this why i reffer to the Melco+Luxman as one unit).
The MSB Premier I have now at home is here till my DAC arrive and it doesn't have USB or Pro ISL installed on it (my Premier will have this as well as the Renderer 2).

to check the Dacs i grouped both DACs in Roon, this made it easier to do an A, B test fairly easly.

It would be very interesting to know how your new MSB compares to the Luxman with both units connected to the Melco.
Please keep us posted about it...

 

[alfa100]

A couple of days ago i went with a friend to listen to Zellaton Klassik Stage speakers (blow my mind but that's a different story).
The owner used MSB Premiers DAC with the streaming module as the source. what was familiar to me was the same filling I got in Munich on most or all the rooms that used MSB DAC as their source.

Long story short i just got myself a new MSB Premier DAC from the local distributor.
for the time being, i'm using his machine (black) till my silver unit that had been ordered will arrive

regarding sound, its better than my Melco N1ZH and Luxman D10X combo, in a couple of things - the stage is bigger, the mids are clearer and the whole dame thing is just so much closer to analog.

is it worth the price for the minor differences, hell yeah! - The easiest way to put it is: It's just more engaging to listen to.

I think Jeff Fritz sums it all up in his premier review from 2021 - "The Premier is a super-high-resolution, completely silent, utterly dynamic component that lets the music flow through it less hindered than through anything else I’ve heard. In terms of sound quality, it’s the best digital front end I’ve had in my system."

did you use external preamp?

 

[exupgh12]

did you use external preamp?

Yes, Absolare pre amp.

PREAMPLIFIER | Absolare USA LLC

www.absolare.com

 

[exupgh12]

It would be very interesting to know how your new MSB compares to the Luxman with both units connected to the Melco.
Please keep us posted about it...

connecting the MSB to the Melco trough ProISL module just gained more, more quiet, more micro and macro dynamic, better stage, air and resolution. the ProISL is decently the way to go with MSB, at least till you decide to jump on the new Digital Director MSB introduce at the beginning of the year.