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Author Topic: Beresford DACs and AMP  (Read 4183 times)

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Hands

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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2015, 08:11:05 PM »

Best know what you're getting into before dumping money on a NOS DAC of any kind. They are not for everyone and have inherent compromises. Most people are better served by a good oversampling DAC. But, in a nutshell, that 1543 DAC is on the warmer and thicker side of things (cleans up with better sources but is still in that area). Metrums are more agile and less thick. Yes, less micro-detail and resolving ability than the Metrums even, but more fun/musical or whatever, if you want to say that. If you're like Anax and need good resolution and details to get drawn in, generally stay away from most or all NOS DACs. If you want something smooth, more on the euphonic side, and are drawn more to ambiguous "feelz" them maybe NOS will work for you. I stick with NOS DACs but recognize that I'm in the minority and have particular reasons for going that route.

Modi Uber would be a safer starting choice for most. Or something like a Gamma2, which you can find used for good prices.
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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2015, 08:35:44 PM »

No I had the hm602 And for some genres I liked it but not for all genres. To be honest I listen to the bifrost uber and I thought it was a waste of money. I wanna a intro desktop dac but don't know which one to get I think in a month or two I'll get the

modi 2 uber
Starting battery dac
And the beresford mk ii

And a/b them before having to return two of them
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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2015, 08:39:01 PM »

If I had to guess, that Starting Point 1543 DAC will be more similar to the HM602 than not, so there's some level in safety knowing that before purchasing. Did you not like the Bifrost Uber or just did not find it worth the cost?
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Sorrodje

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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2015, 08:54:21 PM »

For sure the Beresford Caïman will not be as blurry and muddy than the HM602.  Owned the hifiman, hated it, sold it quickly.  i'll see right now If I noticed it in the "worst piece of gear you've ever met" .  :)p13

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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2015, 09:57:08 PM »

If I had to guess, that Starting Point 1543 DAC will be more similar to the HM602 than not, so there's some level in safety knowing that before purchasing. Did you not like the Bifrost Uber or just did not find it worth the cost?

it was ok I guess but I felt it was cold an clinical,  the song was there but it didn't connect musically.  As if the individual notes were played without allowing them to decay not what I was expecting from a audiophile dac. 

I'm suprised you say that about the starting dac as the hm-601 has a butterworth filter to roll of the top frequencies and uses opamps that are known to be warm.  When you say they are similar are you using the headphone out or line out of the hm 601 to compare?  never used the line out as I didn't have a amp at the time.

For sure the Beresford Caïman will not be as blurry and muddy than the HM602.  Owned the hifiman, hated it, sold it quickly.  i'll see right now If I noticed it in the "worst piece of gear you've ever met" .  :)p13



I didn't think it was that bad but I didn't want it as my sole source.  Right now I am more interested in the Bushmaster mkII than the caiman.  I think my ears can handle more tremble than yours Sorredje (no offense).  I love the sonnet 2 with the hd800 but I do know that the sonnet 2 already cuts of the very top and very bottom, so I think we might have slight different taste (because as I said I wish I had your headphone + amp combo). 
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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #15 on: March 15, 2015, 10:32:44 PM »

Oh, well I was just making assumptions about how the HM601/2/3 sounded (NOS 1543 based, as far as I know), but maybe the the Starting Point 1543 DAC will sound noticeably different. It definitely isn't cold and clinical...
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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #16 on: March 15, 2015, 10:39:39 PM »

Oh no the cold and clinical comment was for the bifrost.  I don't think that the hm 601 upsampled but I know it used digital filters and opamps for an active I/v stage so that's what i meant
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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #17 on: March 15, 2015, 10:57:41 PM »

Gotcha. As far as I know, those HFM 60X players didn't oversample (which explains the roll-off) or upsample, so you should expect more of the same from that SP 1543 DAC. Could be wrong. If you didn't like the Bifrost, you might not like the Modi Uber...would have to hear them both to say, though.
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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #18 on: March 16, 2015, 07:40:24 AM »

I didn't think it was that bad but I didn't want it as my sole source.  Right now I am more interested in the Bushmaster mkII than the caiman.  I think my ears can handle more tremble than yours Sorredje (no offense).  I love the sonnet 2 with the hd800 but I do know that the sonnet 2 already cuts of the very top and very bottom, so I think we might have slight different taste (because as I said I wish I had your headphone + amp combo). 

That makes sense.  The Sonett is indeed smooth and not the last word in extension. What I appreciate is the association with the HD800.

Consider the Caïman as analog like but resolving enough . The Metrum is not resolving enough in my frame of reference . IMO the Bushmaster is treble oriented and more on the lean side with a slight sizzle . Kind of U shaped sound sig .  No USB though ;) .

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Re: Beresford DACs and AMP
« Reply #19 on: April 25, 2015, 05:01:36 AM »

I wanna a intro desktop dac but don't know which one to get I think in a month or two I'll get the

modi 2 uber
Starting battery dac
And the beresford mk ii

I owe y'all Caiman impressions. :-[

Between Caiman and Starting Point, it depends which phones you'll be using.

I enjoy Caiman more with all my phones except ESP950. With that one, it sounds just a little bright and I preferred Starting Point. Caiman isn't a bright DAC so it has to be the Kosses. It also suggests that Starting Point has some treble roll off.
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