DAC Shootout - Tons of Fun

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by essrand

Love your thread. Read 16 pages of it on one slow Sunday afternoon!

A thought came to me as I read through......



You seem to like tube DACs and Koch's Playback DAC design, what about a DAC that is both?



The Nagra Tube DAC (the next iteration of the Nagra HD DAC designed by Andreas Koch) and it is a vacuum tube DAC.

I own it, and it got me off the DAC upgraditis. Perhaps a contender for you as well?



And if you feel like you could try the new Nagra HD DAC X which is priced to compete with MSB Select 2, and some people in the forums seem to like it better than the Select 2.

If you want to bring that bad boy to northern Colorado, I’d love to hear it

I’m probably off the “buy and try” train for a bit.

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc jmajma

How compares the MDA1000 to all these wonders?

MDA1000 sounded very good in isolation.

Once we introduced next level Dacs it didn’t come close and had to go.

[Jean-Marc jmajma]

Thank you, I didn’t read the whole thread, after all these tests what is the podium in your opinion?

[joel_hifi]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc jmajma

Thank you, I didn’t read the whole thread, after all these tests what is the podium in your opinion?

Jean-Marc, I would highly encourage anyone new to this thread to read through what is most likely the most entertaining shoot out currently on the web, well worth any audiophile’s time! Salutations, Joel

[JoeN]

DACs are system dependent. There’s no one DAC that sounds the same in every system and room.

When I tried out MSB in my old system it didn’t sound as good as the EMM Labs DA2V2, so I purchased the EMM. However now that I have new speakers (Magico A3s upgraded to M3s) I desire to retry the MSB Select II DAC w their new digital director. My thought process and question here is did the A3s hide some of the potential of the MSB DAC?

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by JoeN

DACs are system dependent. There’s no one DAC that sounds the same in every system and room.

When I tried out MSB in my old system it didn’t sound as good as the EMM Labs DA2V2, so I purchased the EMM. However now that I have new speakers (Magico A3s upgraded to M3s) I desire to retry the MSB Select II DAC w their new digital director. My thought process and question here is did the A3s hide some of the potential of the MSB DAC?

Truth!

And as each DAC sounds different- we all have different tastes.

Just like a fine dining restaurant. At a really good restaurant, there aren’t any bad menu items…just different flavors. Likewise, there is no “best” as we each are chasing a different experience/sound.

It’s sure been fun messing with flavors!

[JoeN]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Truth!

And as each DAC sounds different- we all have different tastes.

Just like a fine dining restaurant. At a really good restaurant, there aren’t any bad menu items…just different flavors. Likewise, there is no “best” as we each are chasing a different experience/sound.

It’s sure been fun messing with flavors!

Tasting flavors is an excellent way to express it. As long as it isn’t cabbage I’m fine.

[JoeN]

I finally was able to listen to and test the MSB Select II again - but this time in my new system.

I thought I may have missed something in my older system (Magico A3s, Pass, Luxman) that would sound better in my new system (M3s, EMM, Pass, etc.).

Different tastes for different people. The EMM still sounds the best to me. Details and real soul to the music. The EMM DA2 V2 with the EMM Pre is superb. Though I know others like it, for me the MSB is just too digital. Not enough warmth and soul. I still haven’t heard the Wadax which is said to be very good as well.

I’d still like to try the Horizon DAC, but I’m pretty sure my ultimate DAC search is done.

Still trying out some other mono amps though. A few more months I should know that…

Originally Posted by JoeN

DACs are system dependent. There’s no one DAC that sounds the same in every system and room.

When I tried out MSB in my old system it didn’t sound as good as the EMM Labs DA2V2, so I purchased the EMM. However now that I have new speakers (Magico A3s upgraded to M3s) I desire to retry the MSB Select II DAC w their new digital director. My thought process and question here is did the A3s hide some of the potential of the MSB DAC?

[streetspirit]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Truth!

And as each DAC sounds different- we all have different tastes.

Just like a fine dining restaurant. At a really good restaurant, there aren’t any bad menu items…just different flavors. Likewise, there is no “best” as we each are chasing a different experience/sound.

It’s sure been fun messing with flavors!

Mola Mola???

Any thoughts or listening impressions?

Mitch

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

MDA1000 sounded very good in isolation.

Once we introduced next level Dacs it didn’t come close and had to go.

Well! LOL