Got my Classe Audio DAC-1 in just a bit ago and have been running it through some music. Very early impressions compared to NOS1704:
- Classe makes the NOS1704 sound a bit soft on a macro-dynamic level. Classe just sounds big and powerful in comparison with more kick.
- NOS1704 does better with rhythm, transients, etc. More quickly able to hit those micro black spots that gives music swing (though it is a more gray DAC overall). So while the Classe sounds bigger and has this sense of immediate kick, it has a harder time giving you the internal rhythm of more complex pieces. Kind of glosses it over a bit. I hear this a lot on DACs with oversampling, though much less so on something like 2x minimum phase slow roll-off.
- NOS1704 sounds a bit wooly and thick in the bass in comparison. On one hand, this makes the kick drum and bass guitar sound like they have more of a real body (which I really like), but the Classe lets bass pitch and some details through a bit more easily.
- NOS1704 is on the slightly warm, smooth side. A bit syrupy. Classe has more sparkle and life, especially up top, which can make some things pop more. Not sure if the Classe's tone is more on the cool side or if I'm just used to warmer NOS DACs and the Classe is actually balanced tonally. It doesn't sound lean, but listening to it sets me on edge a bit, where as I can ease into the NOS1704 - might just be the headache I have going on right now.
- Classe sounds more holographic, transparent, blacker, and spacious yet still has that body to the tone like the few R2R DACs I've heard vs. S/D. It definitely has this quality to the sound that is seductive without being some sort of coloration.
We'll see what more listening and some warm-up time does for the Classe, and if a lack of headache won't cause the Classe to set me more on edge. Sounds very good so far, no doubt, and offers some clear improvements over the NOS1704. It just remains to be seen what I'll end up preferring in the end, as I am known for being set on edge pretty easily with a lot of gear and find NOS DACs so far to put me most at ease. The Classe is a clear step up in many regards, so don't get me wrong. I just have weird ears and a weird brain - very sensitive for some reason.
