New MSB Cascade DAC

[rau]

Hello rau, what made you pick the Cascade over the Horizon 360?

Tighter Bass

Better imaging

Better dynamics

If one does not a/b the 2 DACS
side by side same room and electronics they could be happy with either . Again I like both DACS and I am strongly considering keeping both . There is also a base price diffrence and then one needs to add modules .

 

[caesar]

Tighter Bass

Better imaging

Better dynamics

If one does not a/b the 2 DACS
side by side same room and electronics they could be happy with either . Again I like both DACS and I am strongly considering keeping both . There is also a base price diffrence and then one needs to add modules .

Other than the imaging, "tighter bass" and "better dynamics" seems like a typical tubed design weakness / solid state strength.

I do agree that these are big lampizator weaknesses, unless someone is using them with horns/ high efficiency speakers, where these weaknesses are mitigated and lampizator musicality can really shine through.

I have not spent much time with the newer MSB DAC models, but I found previous MSB models - select and reference - having poor dynamics compared to other top DACs. Previous generation MSB sounded to me as overly smooth, yet more refined and higher priced DSD dac from PS Audio. I wonder if that has changed in the new generation.

 

[rau]

Other than the imaging, "tighter bass" and "better dynamics" seems like a typical tubed design weakness / solid state strength.

I do agree that these are big lampizator weaknesses, unless someone is using them with horns/ high efficiency speakers, where these weaknesses are mitigated and lampizator musicality can really shine through.

I have not spent much time with the newer MSB DAC models, but I found previous MSB models - select and reference - having poor dynamics compared to other top DACs. Previous generation MSB sounded to me as overly smooth, yet more refined and higher priced DSD dac from PS Audio. I wonder if that has changed in the new generation.

I am using horns , as far as previous MSB DACs I wouldn't know since this is my first MSB DAC . But I have heard others state the Cascade is superior to previous models .

 

[caesar]

I am using horns , as far as previous MSB DACs I wouldn't know since this is my first MSB DAC . But I have heard others state the Cascade is superior to previous models .

Yes, I found the previous generation of MSB excellent with horns, where their lack of dynamics prowess were moot, due to high efficiency / sensitivity of the speaker.

I am guessing the Cascade is more dynamic than previous MSB generation DACs.

Congrats on an excellent system!

 

[Brucemck2]

Yes, I found the previous generation of MSB excellent with horns, where their lack of dynamics prowess were moot, due to high efficiency / sensitivity of the speaker.

I am guessing the Cascade is more dynamic than previous MSB generation DACs.

Congrats on an excellent system!

The Cascade has excellent dynamics. I upgraded from a Reference with Director and it’s markedly better in every way.

 

[Peter Bomberg]

I have the Cascade with M500 monos, Aurender N20 and Estelon Forza - all work together very well, frequently get the sensation the singer is in the room with you just 6-8 feet in front. Also amazing how some instruments or voices seem panned high or low, near or far, not only left - right - or center.

in your @SoundsGreat opinion can you pair the Forza with the M205s or do they need the M500? I have the Cascade with M205's and the X Diamond Mk II, love the system but as you know it's a drug what can we tweak to improve.

 

[itay123]

I recently had the privilege of acquiring a long-time dream component: the MSB Select II DAC, paired with dual Powerbases and fully updated with the latest 2025 software.

My previous setup included the MSB Premier with Digital Director, and I had the chance to evaluate the Reference model as well — a significant leap in both dynamics and background silence.

However, when I first auditioned the Select II, the experience was on an entirely different level. The sound struck me as profoundly different in all the best ways:

Exceptional realism and tonal weight

Natural timbre and texture

A three-dimensional soundstage that expanded in width, height, and depth

Absolute silence between notes and effortless dynamic expression


The Select II brought a sense of musical immersion I hadn’t encountered before — a shift from simply listening to being fully enveloped in the performance.

I'm now curious about the differences between the Select II and MSB’s current flagship, the Cascade.

A Question.
If I add the Select 2 Digital Director (making it a full 4-piece Chaisis DAC), would the Cascade still hold an advantage?
Or would a fully loaded Select II system be equal — or possibly even superior — to the Cascade?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

 

[Kingsrule]

Everything you say about the Select II vs. Premier holds true to the Cascade vs. Select II even with the DD added to the Select II stack. This holds true with the Cascade before the BDT upgrade. Now with the BDT upgrade its just no contest....

 

[itay123]

Ok, thanks for the clarifications.

By the way, the huge gaps that are felt are also from the Reference, to the Select 2.

The Premier even with the addition of the Director is simply not a contest, compared to the Reference and certainly the Select 2.

Now regarding the comparison between the Select 2 and Cascade
It would definitely be interesting to make a comparison between the two.

Thank you very much for your response on the subject.

 

[Peter Bomberg]

Ok, thanks for the clarifications.

By the way, the huge gaps that are felt are also from the Reference, to the Select 2.

The Premier even with the addition of the Director is simply not a contest, compared to the Reference and certainly the Select 2.

Now regarding the comparison between the Select 2 and Cascade
It would definitely be interesting to make a comparison between the two.

Thank you very much for your response on the subject.

in my opinion there isn't much to compare one is very good the other is simply amazing I listened to 1 track on the premier or reference (with the director) then the cascade and I simply didn't see the need to go back, it's that big a difference!

 

[itay123]

The Select 2 had been a dream of mine ever since it was released. Over the years, I’ve had all of MSB’s DACs pass through my setup's — starting with the Analog DAC, followed by the Signature V, the Discreet with dual power supplies, and the Premier with the Digital Director.

I was just about to close a deal on the Reference, planning to add the Director later, after falling in love with it all over again.

The gap between the Premier and the Reference was significant — even with the Director included in the Premier setup.

Right after I said “yes,” I learned that my friend who distributes MSB in my country, just got the Select 2 in his possession.
He just brought it over and I took the opportunity to test it in my setup,
in every possible configuration — as a DAC only and also as a full preamp.

Just like the massive difference I felt between the Premier and the Reference, the leap from the Reference to the Select 2 left me speechless.

These differences made me curious about how much the Cascade upgrade can further improve performance — and that's why I’m sharing this.

Yes, I will purchase the Digital Director for the Select 2. It’s definitely coming.

 

[Massimo66]

Il Select 2 era un mio sogno fin dal suo lancio. Nel corso degli anni, ho utilizzato tutti i DAC di MSB nei miei setup: a partire dall'Analog DAC, passando per il Signature V, il Discreet con doppia alimentazione e il Premier con il Digital Director.

Stavo per concludere un affare sul Reference, pensando di aggiungere il Director in un secondo momento, dopo essermene innamorato di nuovo.

Il divario tra il Premier e il Reference era significativo, anche se il Director era incluso nella configurazione Premier.

Subito dopo aver detto "sì", ho saputo che il mio amico che distribuisce MSB nel mio Paese era appena entrato in possesso del Select 2.
L'ha appena portato e ho colto l'occasione per testarlo nella mia configurazione,
in ogni possibile configurazione: solo come DAC e anche come preamplificatore completo.

Proprio come l'enorme differenza che ho notato tra il Premier e il Reference, il salto dal Reference al Select 2 mi ha lasciato senza parole.

Queste differenze mi hanno incuriosito su quanto l'aggiornamento Cascade possa migliorare ulteriormente le prestazioni, ed è per questo che condivido questo articolo.

Sì, acquisterò il Digital Director per Select 2. Arriverà sicuramente.

In Palermo there is a friend of mine who is a fellow citizen who has done the same path as you and today he is with the Digital director and the select 2 with dual power supply. He is also registered on What ‘s Best forum. If you want I can put you in touch with him to get some feedback on how much the Digital directors influence the sound in general. He too, at a certain point E had given up on the top preamplifier of the Bumester. 808 mk 5 but then he changed his mind and took the new top Solution 727. Great show at the house of this friend of mine.

 

[MattK]

The Cascade has excellent dynamics. I upgraded from a Reference with Director and it’s markedly better in every way.

Good to hear, I am about to do the exact same thing.

 

[exupgh12]

Spent a couple of hours last night with a seriously refined system: MSB Cascade DAC, Antipodes Oladra, Audio Nostrum Saturn speakers, Engström Monica and Lars, and Shunyata power.

It wowed me right away—yet the more I listened, I got pulled in even further. The system is quiet, clean, and natural, with a slightly warm sound. No sharp edges, no hype. Just music, open and unforced with tones of detail.

The speakers create a big soundstage, but everything stays grounded and believable. The Cascade DAC (that is fed from the Oladra server) is subtle—it doesn’t draw attention to itself, but you notice how everything just sounds right - yes, the Cascade is better in any aspect from any MSB DAC (Premier, Reference, Select 2) I've listened to before in this system. Together with the Engström gear, it all adds to a sense of warmth and flow without softening or over-detail.

The best part of listening to this system - I wasn’t thinking about gear, just the music.

It's a system that’s easy to love—and hard to walk away from.

 

[Lee]

The Select 2 had been a dream of mine ever since it was released. Over the years, I’ve had all of MSB’s DACs pass through my setup's — starting with the Analog DAC, followed by the Signature V, the Discreet with dual power supplies, and the Premier with the Digital Director.

I was just about to close a deal on the Reference, planning to add the Director later, after falling in love with it all over again.

The gap between the Premier and the Reference was significant — even with the Director included in the Premier setup.

Right after I said “yes,” I learned that my friend who distributes MSB in my country, just got the Select 2 in his possession.
He just brought it over and I took the opportunity to test it in my setup,
in every possible configuration — as a DAC only and also as a full preamp.

Just like the massive difference I felt between the Premier and the Reference, the leap from the Reference to the Select 2 left me speechless.

These differences made me curious about how much the Cascade upgrade can further improve performance — and that's why I’m sharing this.

Yes, I will purchase the Digital Director for the Select 2. It’s definitely coming.

I've heard the before/after of a Director on the MSB Reference and it was significant.

 

[itay123]

I've heard the before/after of a Director on the MSB Reference and it was significant.

Thank you for your response.
Back when I had the Premier, adding the Digital Director made it clear just how much the Premier alone was lacking in comparison to the combined performance. There's no doubt that once I add the fourth component of the Select II, the Select II Digital Director, the result will become even more breathtaking, realistic, and natural.

I often see people investing heavily in streamers while pairing them with relatively modest DACs. The true performance lies in the quality of the DAC.

And yes the Select II remains one of the finest DACs available today.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I've heard the before/after of a Director on the MSB Reference and it was significant.

Hi Lee,

This is the difficulty of quantification in a subjective hobby.

I heard A/B/A on the Director. I did not find it to be a significant improvement. I found it to very slightly smooth the sound in a positive, natural and organic way.

 

[itay123]

Back when I first auditioned the Premier, the Digital Director wasn’t even part of the conversation, and truth be told, its price alone wouldn’t have made it an easy addition. I had the Premier for a little over a week, gave it a thorough workout from every possible angle, including the Renderer V2 module and ISL-Pro connectivity. It sounded good, no doubt, but I wasn’t entirely convinced. I found myself going back to a different DAC I owned, one that cost significantly less but still left me unsure.

I spoke with our local distributor, who suggested I try the Digital Director, which, mind you, costs more than half the price of the Premier. I was skeptical, to say the least. I had already mentally moved on, leaning toward the Reference, which had impressed me deeply. Still, I gave it a shot.

The moment I plugged in the Director, it was a revelation. The low end came alive, black backgrounds became truly black, and the soundstage and imaging took a serious leap forward. It was, without exaggeration, a game changer.

After a long session of A/B/A comparisons, I committed: grabbed the black Premier that was in stock (would’ve preferred silver, but oh well) and kept the one-and-only black Director unit.

Now, with the Select 2 in place, the updated 2025 firmware version, brand new and fully refreshed, I can honestly say my setup/result was turned upside down. A total transformation.
This DAC is simply phenomenal.
A dream that came true.

 

[Lee]

Hi Lee,

This is the difficulty of quantification in a subjective hobby.

I heard A/B/A on the Director. I did not find it to be a significant improvement. I found it to very slightly smooth the sound in a positive, natural and organic way.

That could be down to how resolving the system is that you heard it on. The system I heard was Magico M3s and it was not subtle.