AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > The Lounge > General Audio Discussion

General Audio Discussion All other Audio Q & A

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #21  
Old 01-29-2022, 01:20 PM
Pyro's Avatar
Pyro Pyro is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 2,027
Default

Interesting showing.
__________________
2CH Room PMC MB2se(2). JL Audio F113(2). McIntosh C1000C/T, MC2301(2). PS Audio Directstream DSD, PowerPlant 20. Clearaudio Ovation/Magnify/Stradivariv2. Misc: Wireworld Cables and Interconnects. Stillpoints Ultra 5, Ultra SS. GIK Acoustics Bass Traps. DIY Computer Audio Transport. Racks. Adona.
TV&Movies PMC EB1i(2), CB1i, OB1i(2). SVS Ultra16(2). McIntosh MC207. Bryston SP4.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 01-29-2022, 01:41 PM
cleeds cleeds is offline
Senior Member


 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,432
Default

This is an interesting comparo! Can you tell please us more about the test itself? How did you switch between DACs? Did you match levels?
__________________
Primary sources: VPI TNT III/SDS turntable, SME-V arm; Bryston BDP-3 digital player; Bryston BDA-3 DAC; McIntosh MVP-881 disc player; McIntosh MR-80 tuner. Preamplifier Audio Research Ref 5SE; Audio Research Ref Phono 2SE; Moon 430 HA. Amplifiers Conrad Johnson Premier 1B; Audio Research D-300; Bryston 4B. Speakers Infinity IRS Beta. Recorders Tandberg TD20A; Crown SX-822; Nakamichi 670ZX; Alesis Masterlink ML-9600. Power Tice Power Block/Titan (x2); McIntosh MPC1500; API Ultra II-20; multiple 20A derated dedicated lines.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 01-29-2022, 01:48 PM
JoeN's Avatar
JoeN JoeN is offline
TechDAS AF 1 & Vitus MP
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 879
Default

Thanks for the DAC shootout. Very Interesting!
__________________
Jazz Junkie

Magico M3s; Vitus Masterpiece Components; TechDAS Air Force One; 2 x SME 3012-R; Airtight Opus 1 and MSL Platinum Signature; Taiko Audio Extreme + Switch; Albedo Metamorphosis Signature cables.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 01-29-2022, 01:54 PM
Vintage Pete's Avatar
Vintage Pete Vintage Pete is offline
Remembering Dan



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 7,500
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JBT View Post
MDA1000 came out in 2004. All these years later it's still in play.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grasshopper View Post
It’s truly a classic!!!
Yep....my thoughts exactly! Mine is never going anywhere.
__________________
Pete

No. 35


Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers

Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna

Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling

Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator

High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 01-29-2022, 01:55 PM
Vintage Pete's Avatar
Vintage Pete Vintage Pete is offline
Remembering Dan



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 7,500
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeN View Post
Thanks for the DAC shootout. Very Interesting!
Ditto....a very interesting thread indeed!
__________________
Pete

No. 35


Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers

Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna

Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling

Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator

High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 01-29-2022, 02:19 PM
JemHadar JemHadar is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Belgium, Europe
Posts: 2,307
Default

Thx for sharing…we can never have enough shootouts [emoji106]
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 01-29-2022, 03:00 PM
Grasshopper's Avatar
Grasshopper Grasshopper is offline
Aspiring Audiophile
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: My House
Posts: 1,263
Default

We also had an OG Yggy in the mix, but after hearing the Less is More, the group said "pass" to the Ladder based Yggy-

I've heard the Yggy sound great in isolation, but the night of the shootout the LIM just didn't make the cut-

Quote:
Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2 View Post
Thanks for the write-up and looking forward to results with the other two.
Yes, would be nice to throw in a "ladder-DAC' to see folks response. Don't believe any of the ones listened to are (but, I could be wrong).
__________________
Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds)

Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 01-29-2022, 03:05 PM
Grasshopper's Avatar
Grasshopper Grasshopper is offline
Aspiring Audiophile
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: My House
Posts: 1,263
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cleeds View Post
This is an interesting comparo! Can you tell please us more about the test itself? How did you switch between DACs? Did you match levels?
We initially thought about a very complicated setup so we could level match everything...but in the end, decided to make it fun.

Everything was fed from a MacMini using Audirvana as source through the Berkley Alpha USB to convert to AES to keep all things equal.

From there, we just adjusted volume to "taste".

I recognize this isn't perfect (I did play with the Lumin afterwords as a source, which did a good job taking off some of the rough digital edges when compared with the MacMini...but didn't alter the basic presentation).

Our audience ranged from obsessed hobbyists like myself, to a veteran who owned a hi-fi shop, who's setup probably 10,000 turntables.

Some dacs had us tapping our toes, and some we just wanted to turn off immediately-
__________________
Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds)

Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 01-29-2022, 03:16 PM
Grasshopper's Avatar
Grasshopper Grasshopper is offline
Aspiring Audiophile
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: My House
Posts: 1,263
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pyro View Post
Interesting showing.
I agree-

I can see how the PS Audio can happily anchor the digital front end (as a DAC only...the Bridge II as a streamer sounds terrible. Initially I thought there was something wrong when I first setup. A quick call to PS Audio confirmed they think its terrible too...LOL. Which is why we'll be seeing a new Directstream Dac and Streamer from them very soon. Bridge II could probably help in an NAS setup, but that isn't what I've got for now).

In Isolation, listening to the PS Audio had me understanding what the fuss was about. It is very smooth, and has pretty strong bass.

At least in my system, what it doesn't do is change the venue (if that makes sense). In other words, more detailed dacs transported you to the hall where the music was recorded. Spaces became big, or small, all depending on the recording. Decay was WAY more pronounced with the dCS.

The PS is a pleasing sound...and a flavor I could see switching in like one changes a cartridge. In direct comparison, I found it to be more homogenized though, making every venue sound very similar, and heavily putting it's fingerprints on every.

In all fairness, my system is crazy revealing, and the D'agostino Preamp is like an NHL goalie. It isn't forgiving, and doesn't let anything slip by that wasn't in the recording or source.

One of the participants took my Yggy LIM home to pit up against his OG Yiggy and couldn't hear a difference in his more "forgiving" system.


On a side note, I hate even the slightest hint of brightness. This is what let me to try the PS (and order a couple tube dacs) to begin with.

The dCS for me can sound bright. After the shootout, I played around with the source and found I could tame this a bit making it closer to what I like.

Still, I can't wait to hear the Lampi on Monday (and am getting to know the AMR now).

I will also hear a Rossini in my setup on Thursday...so I'll be sure to post my experience there.
__________________
Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds)

Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 01-29-2022, 03:17 PM
Grasshopper's Avatar
Grasshopper Grasshopper is offline
Aspiring Audiophile
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: My House
Posts: 1,263
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JemHadar View Post
Thx for sharing…we can never have enough shootouts [emoji106]
Agreed! I too love shootouts-

I've enjoyed the others that have been done. Glad to contribute!
__________________
Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds)

Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:46 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video