CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

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Author Topic: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion  (Read 5585 times)

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Marvey

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #60 on: September 21, 2015, 11:02:33 PM »
Quote from: Negura on September 21, 2015, 05:26:19 PM
I am listening to the old MSB Analog: old firmware and the old USB input. At home of course.

Haha, what is this I am hearing. It's not very resolving and it has a nut size - in your head - stage, compared to what I am used to hear. It's romantic/smooth /warm sounding, with a muddy background. The transient edges are softer/more rounded. The Theta V A with a good interface probably wipes the floor with it.

You squad were right about the old one. The latest Analog sounds like a completely different DAC in a higher tier of SQ performance.

Do you know the exact changes to the latest Analog other than the Quad USB? Thinking the changes are more than just the USB. I assume the latest changes probably went up the line along to the Platinum, Signature, etc.

You tried the old Analog without the power base and with the 384 USB correct?
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Negura

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #61 on: September 21, 2015, 11:55:30 PM »
Firmware.

Just upgrading the firmware on this old battered Analog DAC has had a very significant impact (this is not my personal Analog DAC - my sample had to go to MSB as one of the clocks is out of whack completely). I have to compare the old/new USB inputs at more length, but I would not be surprised if it's the firmware that has the bigger impact. I am used to the PWD2 firmware changes, and although they were noticeable there was a more minor effect in comparison. This is not subtle at all. The Analog sounds like a different DAC: Wide open staging, clearly more resolving, sharper more precise transients, less warm to name a few. So far I have been talking about the Analog with the stock PSU.

With the old firmware I am not sure that I could class the Analog as a high-end DAC. The resolution, transient precision and sound stage / imaging are a bit of a joke comparatively. Pleasing to listen sure, but I laughed. Pejoratively.

However the latest firmware quite firmly plants it as a low/mid mid-tier high performance DAC. I'd say a notch up from the Yggdrasil. I wonder how much of the actual SQ of these MSB DACs is firmware-dependent vs actual hardware differences. With those black boxes they have we never know what's inside.

Next impressions: With the Signature 5 transport / Quad USB & Signature 5 PSU unit. Along some of these combinations it's getting difficult to stop listening to the Analog. And yes I have the Signature 5 DAC here too.


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Negura

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #62 on: September 22, 2015, 12:07:06 AM »
The whole thing.




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Hands

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #63 on: September 22, 2015, 01:07:53 AM »
I wonder if the firmware changed the digital filter.
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zeissiez

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #64 on: September 22, 2015, 01:21:56 AM »
I have compared a Rockna Wavedream Balanced Signature Dac with a Totaldac D1-dual Dac in a Boulders amp>Wilson Audio Sabirna speakers setup. They were both great in all aspects, but I prefer the Rockna's sound, which has more natural tone and the instruments have more physical presence. I wonder why the Rockna wasn't even mentioned in the thread.
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Anaxilus

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #65 on: September 22, 2015, 02:05:02 AM »
Quote from: zeissiez on September 22, 2015, 01:21:56 AM
I wonder why the Rockna wasn't even mentioned in the thread.

Really? You wonder?? I don't. I don't wonder at all that a largely headphone dominant forum with an emphasis on price performance ratios doesn't spend most of it's time trying to decipher and translate the rantings of 6moons latest 5-6 figure audio fancy springing from the dark recesses of Dracula's castle.

If anyone has a spare one lying around, feel free to send it over and we'll review it. Please include an insured return shipping label as well. TIA.

Good chance I may have run across it at one of the audio shows the last three years if it has representation here, but I wasn't stopped in my tracks by the other ancillary gear to catch my attention and take note.
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romaz

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #66 on: September 23, 2015, 03:43:29 AM »
Quote (selected)
Please do tell more. :) How is it vs your Bricasti M1. I might have the possibility to hear the TotalDAC soon.

A head-fier is selling his TotalDac d1-dual for a pretty good price and so I am evaluating it.  I am also evaluating an Aurender N10 against my Aries.  While my bias is to like what I have better, I have to say that both items that aren't mine kick butt over what I have, and not by a small margin.  This is the best DAC I have ever heard on a headphone and without question I can consistently pick it out in a blind test (in fact, I have done just this against my Bricasti 5/5 times with 5 different tracks).  In this scenario, R2R clearly beats delta sigma.  Uggh.

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Negura

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #67 on: September 23, 2015, 10:01:35 AM »
Cool. When you feel ready I am interested in the details of what you found and liked better in the TotalDAC. I always prefer to read member comments to magazine reviews. Your Aries is it the "complete" edition or LE?

Did some assh*** just neg you for no apparent reason? Happened to me the other day.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2015, 10:18:59 AM by Negura »
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Sorrodje

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #68 on: September 23, 2015, 10:54:42 AM »
Quote from: Negura on September 23, 2015, 10:01:35 AM
Did some assh*** just neg you for no apparent reason? Happened to me the other day.


Nahhh it's me. Some assholes gave me neg points as well so I give neg points to everyone randomly.. kind of revenge if that makes sense. 
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Luckbad

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Re: High-end DAC & All pretenders discussion
« Reply #69 on: September 25, 2015, 01:50:07 AM »
Quote from: Sorrodje on September 23, 2015, 10:54:42 AM

Nahhh it's me. Some assholes gave me neg points as well so I give neg points to everyone randomly.. kind of revenge if that makes sense. 

Before the forum switch we should see how many people we can max out.

P.S. I wish you people never introduced me to R-2R.
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