New MSB Cascade DAC

[exupgh12]

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.

Lee, I agree with Ron on this issue. After hearing both setups, I found no meaningful performance difference between the Premier with the Director versus the Premier equipped with the Pro ISL module but without the Director.

If I were considering an upgrade path for the Premier, I'd focus on finding a used Reference unit or, even better, move up to a Select 2 like @itay123 did. Or if one have the resources, go for the Cascade. other of those approaches would deliver more substantial improvements than the Director addition.

 

[Young Skywalker]

In my case, the value of the Digital Director was realised with the Network Renderer, an input module that swallows network noise and generates its own processing noise. The sonic difference was significant to me and that’s before one considers the vastly more advanced digital filtering that the additional DSP power the Director confers. What does that sound like? A reduction in hashness with less than stellar recordings, presumably due to the new digital filter. Greater resolution, manifesting as a greater perception of space (recorded ambience), and stronger dynamics, presumably due to a lower noise floor.

Would these benefits be the same with a traditional disc transport? I hope to find out some day when I can prioritise a CEC TL2N over mortgage repayments. Would the benefit be less with the Pro-USB module (which uses similar optical isolation as the Director) between music server and DAC or between music server and Digital Director? I would expect so.

Ultimately, I justified the Director’s purchase price by not spending similar money on a boutique music server.

What does my endgame digital look like? That would be an upgrade from Reference DAC and Reference Digital Director to Cascade DAC. Noting that I use the analog input switching and volume control portion of the DAC as my preamp.

 

[itay123]

Totally agree.
In my setup, the D.Director did absolute wonders, I have a highly transparent setup, and every small change is clearly audible.

At the time, I chose to invest in the D.Director rather than swap my DAC for a used Reference that was offered to me.
Looking back, I can confidently say that the Premier + D.Director combo brought me surprisingly close to Reference DAC-level performance.
Upgrading to a Reference DAC just didn’t feel worthwhile at that point.

That is… until my good friend, who also happens to be the MSB importer, got his hands on the Select 2.
Let’s just say, staying indifferent was no longer an option.
Yes, it cost almost twice as much as a brand-new Reference DAC, but the performance gap between the Select 2 and the Reference or Premier + director comboI had previously tested was simply glaring.
So much so that I seriously considered selling my beast of a Pilium preamp just to help fund it.and use the Select 2 vol control.

But in the end, combining my current pre (which is in a league of its own) with the Select 2 (updated both in hardware and software for 2025) was simply too good to pass up.
When a rare opportunity like that shows up, you don’t hesitate. You jump.

Bottom line?
If someone doesn’t hear the dramatic difference in their own setup, I’m sorry, but something in that chain clearly isn’t clicking.
And don’t even get me started on the ISL Pro connection, it’s a game changer, plain and simple.

 

[exupgh12]

In my case, the value of the Digital Director was realised with the Network Renderer, an input module that swallows network noise and generates its own processing noise. The sonic difference was significant to me and that’s before one considers the vastly more advanced digital filtering that the additional DSP power the Director confers. What does that sound like? A reduction in hashness with less than stellar recordings, presumably due to the new digital filter. Greater resolution, manifesting as a greater perception of space (recorded ambience), and stronger dynamics, presumably due to a lower noise floor.

I also have the Renderer module, and the sound difference between it and the Pro ISL module is quite noticeable—very much in line with what you’re describing when using the Director.

In my opinion, if someone is looking to upgrade from the MSB Premier DAC and stay within the MSB ecosystem, it’s better to go for the Reference or Select II, or Cascade DAC if you can afford, rather than adding the Director.