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Author Topic: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion  (Read 5583 times)

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Negura

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High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #30 on: September 15, 2015, 12:27:19 AM »
Why not talk both. It's a thread. You have your chart thread space and this could be different. We could actually have an un-orthodox bash at high priced stuff too. Might need to rename the thread accordingly indeed.

High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion.
« Last Edit: September 15, 2015, 12:35:20 AM by Marvey »
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Marvey

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #31 on: September 15, 2015, 12:49:15 AM »
High priced but not high-end:

EMM DAC2 (Not DAC2X)
The EMM DAC was originally $10K. Unresolving with smoothed over attacks. Inoffensive to the point of boring.

Ringingears' Wadia 850 or 850?? CDP/DAC
PCM1704 bass. Nice lush warm sound, but really... Had the Teac VRDS mechanism... Just ask Ringingears (or the 6 or 7 other pyrates who have heard this) if he wouldn't want an Yggy over this.
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Negura

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #32 on: September 15, 2015, 01:02:01 AM »
DAC not high-priced, but high-end: The Theta V A with a good transport. As it happened it was the MSB UMT streamer via AES.

Excellent transient precision, yet explosive, less warm sounding than on an average USB-to-whatever interface, wide open sound stage with superb depth, tight but punchy impactful bass. Great background clarity. Captivating mid-range. No signs of long term listening discomfort at all. Unexpectedly good, but not the last word in resolution as obviously the chips hit a ceiling. Tonality a bit warmer than neutral.

Downsides: Legacy, Very difficult to source one.

« Last Edit: September 15, 2015, 01:25:41 AM by Negura »
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Luckbad

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #33 on: September 15, 2015, 01:56:45 AM »
Quote from: schiit on September 14, 2015, 07:41:24 PM
There will never be an Yggdrasil 2. There's no need for one.

It's called "upgradability." An unfortunately overlooked concept in our all-too-expensive industry.

You make me want to buy your Schiit. Unfortunately, I'm a basshead and fatigue easily. The few Schiit products I've tried were very clear and resolving but seemed to etch treble.

Do you have anything that a basshead would love? Maybe you guys could make a better Audio-GD Compass 2 that lets you roll dacs.

MultiBi(t)frost with ESS, TI, Wolfson, etc. plug-ins?

I'd never buy another brand if you made a chameleon dac.
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Marvey

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #34 on: September 15, 2015, 02:40:59 AM »
At first thought: Audio-GD DAC 19 (PCMx1704) + Upgrade to the Amanero combo384 USB module.

Depends. Which Schiit gear did you find etchy? Also, have you heard Yggy or Gungnir or Gumby? Trying to calibrate.
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Anaxilus

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #35 on: September 15, 2015, 02:42:53 AM »
Quote from: Negura on September 14, 2015, 09:34:57 PM
Ha! Who doesn't. I'd rather push you to deliver more (and pay some upgrades) where I'm finding the product has some limitations vs the mega-buck gear...

You don't need to. He gets enough schiit from me and Marv. I know if he sees me coming toward him at a meet he's thinking, "Oh wtf crazy shit is he going to bitch about now?" ;P
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Anaxilus

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #36 on: September 15, 2015, 02:45:52 AM »
Quote from: Negura on September 15, 2015, 01:02:01 AM
DAC not high-priced, but high-end: The Theta V A with a good transport. As it happened it was the MSB UMT streamer via AES.

So how did you find the transport to compare to your prior USB streamer from your original DAC comparison?
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zerodeefex

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #37 on: September 15, 2015, 03:27:51 AM »
Quote from: Negura on September 14, 2015, 07:09:31 PM
You know I am crazy enough I might just try it. And if only from shows I do have an idea what you are talking about. The only problem is that both myself and wife are a bit OCD about the vinyl pops that are bound to occur. I find it distracting, which is why I am stubborn on digital. My father had a large vinyl collection - it was such a relief to move to CDs from this one point of view.

I'm surprised that you haven't really gone in the direction vinyl. I can say that even my modest setup pulls me away from the gumby some nights. Not to mention the joy of finding a great recording randomly when you're out.

Tonight it's Everybody's Talkin' from the Tedeschi Trucks Band. I think this is the best master I've heard of this album (one of my favorites).
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Luckbad

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #38 on: September 15, 2015, 03:37:59 AM »
Marvey, I've heard Modi/Magni/Vali (gen 1) on my own setup and Gungnir/Yggy with some non-Schiit amp.

I thought the high enders were bright and the low enders weren't really better than the Titanium HD sound card I had at the time.

I got an Audio-GD C-2 Class A last week and Hands' old NOS-1704 today. It's waiting for me in a box for when the wife goes to sleep.

I also have a Reference 5.32 on the hook in a few weeks if I want it. I need to see how I feel about the NOS-1704 and to figure out if the ACSS connection, balanced, and oversampling are worth it.
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Hands

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #39 on: September 15, 2015, 04:12:21 AM »
Could be you'll like non-oversampled, or maybe it's something else. It would be a big help knowing what amp you were using on the higher end Schiit DACs, if not multiple.
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