Snookered into the Chord Electronics Hugo TT2? - A Review MQA decoding And the Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC with new PSU. I have personally not observed this - with either the DAVE or my Mojo. Up to 32 bit 768kHz The best upgrade for Dave easy. The end users ears are the only ears that count. Thank me laterLoL. Sent from my SM-G928V using Computer Audiophile mobile app. Anyone make that comparison? This kind of sound really appeals to me and was really excellent to experience on lots of tunes, but was especially evident on tracks from Rumours with every part of the mix being identifiable as unique. Tailored for both the transport and the DACs daily use, our remote brings you closer to the music you love. Ok, I looked a prat but it proves that the separate PSUs are actually doing something rather than being there for show, though they do look rather cool in themselves. How does the PS Audio DirectStream DAC compare to the Chord DAC? MSB thrives off the innovation required to meet consumer demands. There's 340 pages packed with HiFi Reviews, Industry Interviews and much more. It features the very best conversion technology available, using proprietary techniques never seen before, making DAVE the most advanced DAC/preamp amplifier in the world. Auction bid 7 150 25 . This very pleasant sound I was experiencing, it could be argued, was to a large degree down to the choice of amplifier and what that added to the mix, and I do think this is a valid argument. Still, it's the way I prefer at this stage. And thinking more about it, the differences at the time could have been small because the noise level in my system at the time of the comparison were relatively higher than they are now. Focusing on our network renderer and USB input, your audio tech will be on the cutting edge. However, there are two inputs for external PSUs and a little doodad/adapter that allows the use of one external PSU. It's UPDATE VIDEO THREE for the Chord Electronics DAVE DAC REVIEW I have spent a lot more time with the DAVE Dac, still using. The end result is a digital experience defying expectations. As I listen to this tune a few times it strikes me that the Discrete is just that (discrete), it doesnt seem to add a great deal of itself to the file it is playing. Its weighty, it feels perfect, its not overly ostentatious and its perfect! Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. Mola Mola dac and the Total dac. In that time, weve pushed the industry forward with each product weve built, redefining whats possible. https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rothschild-70aab85/, Headphones and Personal Audio with Pitch Perfect Service. This gives us lots of headroom for future sample rates and audio formats.. Since the Topping D70s SINAD is ~120 dB and it costs ~$650, then given that "money is power" (as opposed to amplitude), I would expect the Chord DAVE SINAD to be at least 120 + 10*log($14,000 / $650) = 133.3 dB. I have the Berkeley Alpha Reference DAC, waiting for an upgrade. Msb Discrete Dac Vs Dave Chord [YKHGV1] Complete electrical isolation Stay updated on Bloom Audio at their. Digital: Sonore opticalModule > Uptone EtherRegen > Shunyata Sigma Ethernet >Antipodes K30> Shunyata Omega USB> Gustard X26pro DAC < Mutec REF10 SE120, Amp& Speakers: Spectral DMA-150mk2 >Aerial 10T, Foundation: Stillpoints Ultra,ShunyataDenali v1 andTyphon power conditioners,Shunyata Delta v2 and QSA Lanedri Gamma power cords, QSA Lanedri GammaRevelationinterconnect,Shunyata SigmaEthernet,MIT Matrix HD60speaker cables, ASC isothermal tube traps, Stillpoints Aperture panels. I do however like the i2S connection better than any other Im participating to both learn and make suggestions where I have experience that may help. Up to 1km lossless transmission. And in the case of a great DAC with great amps in a system with very low noise, going direct to the amps can be magical. Astrostar here, said it completely blew away any dac he had before, and mind you, he has the entry level AC model. DLNA Protocol. California crafted in-house from an aluminum billet, the enclosure feels solid yet refined. If I got a great $20K DAC for less, I would not object. Were constantly improving digital input modules to stay at the forefront of the high-end audio industry, ensuring youre always equipped with the most current digital file formats and interfaces. Given your appreciation of the Pacific Microsonics DAC, I hope you'll get a chance to hear the Berkeley in your system as well. This DAC is 11,000 and as such, it is a considerable investment to make, but I would suggest that this is not stupid money for the kind of transparency and clarity it brings. This leaner and cleaner edge has the effect of adding a level of perceived detail to the listening experience. Hope to try different formats on both DACs to see what works best in my system. What else should one expect? It would only sound like sales so we At $20,000 I recommend the MSB Premier DAC with two power supplies (KeithRs system). MQA decoding The Base module is used on the two lower DACs (including this one) and then the Preamp Output Stage for the top two DACs in the range. After a year of listening to various components I'm content. 2 DAC | Audionet Pre G2 preamp | Audionet Max mono blocks | Vivid Audio Giya G2 Series 2 | 4 JL Audio Fathoms | Echole ICs /SCs / Siltech Classic 550L jumpers, Shunyata PCs / Eth. Point 75 EmmLab Dac2 I paid 9K$ for this on 2010. Dave gets a "thumbs up" overall from me though. I'm looking for suggestions on DACs I should listen to as possible replacement of my Chord Dave. Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/absolute-top-tier-dac-for-standard-res-redbook-cd. Who knows ?! Can it output a Low or High Voltage on a single pin in a bitstream? Can't beat the form factor of it though, great for off a desk top. I have heard the Dave and EMM Labs DAC2x up against aMakua that I subsequently purchased. The evolution of the original irreverent and irrelevant and non-authoritative site for headphone measurements, i.e. dCS Bartok>Chord DAVE>MSB discrete discreteR2R R2R DAVE BartokdCSBartok Elevator Pitch Review: Built in America, the MSB Discrete is a modular DAC that also acts as a preamplfier, though, as supplied, it has no analogue inputs. I hate to repeat myself, but there are no absolutes in audio, only preferences. Dealer's should be required to state they're a dealer every time they post or have a disclaimer in their username. Triangle Magellan Concerto 2< AQEverest< Vitus Audio SS-010 Mk2< AQDragon High Current< AQWELXLR< ChordQutestDAC w UpTone JS-2 & AQ Dragon Source < AQDiamond USB< InnuosPhoenix USBwAQ Dragon Source< AurenderN100H & AQ Dragon Source< NetGear GS105GESwitch w UpTone LPS1.2< Supra CAT8 Ethernet Lampizator Pacific SE -> Ayon Crossfire III or Circle Labs A100 -> Avantgarde Acoustic Trio LE 26 with 4x REL Carbon Special ,SACD Player: Audio Aero La Fontaine. T&A Dac8 (for DSD512) or Lampi Atlantic for any native rate DSD playback. The Discrete is a genuine high fidelity DAC and a fabulously built one to boot, add in the modular input flexibility and you have a pretty stunning product with excellent future proofing. Yes, you read that right, the Select DAC is the best part of 121,000! Thanks. Like the rest of the main body of the DAC and the PSUs, the remote is hewn from a block of aluminium. Personally we have A/B 76 different digital front ends.. A fully balanced, ultra-high precision, discrete ladder DAC architecture ensures each note tells a story. RCA outputs with the optional output module Voltage: 3.57 Vrms Maximum Impedance > 600 High Gain setting. Btw, my MSB friend and I used the internal analog preamp for MSB and built-in digital preamp for DAVE. @astewart8944--two years ago in Feb of 17 i did audition the original Formula dac in my system directly compared to the Lampizator GG 1.5 and the Nagra HD and preferred the Formula for its greater space, lower noise, and more neutral and fast presentation. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates. Congratulations on the upgrade and enjoy it in good health. The Premier is a super-high-resolution, completely silent, utterly dynamic component that lets music flow through it less hindered than through anything else I've heard. You are using an out of date browser. We used PCM (16/44,1 to 24/192) and DSD 64 and 128 for the comparioson. As the topic suggests, looking for comparisons on the above Dacs from people who have atleast heard and compared 2 of these dacs. Its a clever thing meaning that their products are repairable and upgradeable for example, you can have a card that is set up for single-ended outputs or balanced XLR outputs (for review we have the balanced version). @yyzsantabarbara, your dealer quote is interesting, I suspected that the Mola Mola was that good. And this is what separates the very good from the excellent piece of audio equipment. Like others said, I'd try first an MScaler with DAVE. Audiogon Discussion Forum Chord DAVE - DAC - Digital to Analog Conversion - Audiophile Style more might come to mind and I will add them. By But the differences between great DACs is small. StereoNET (Australia) is part of an international network of publications owned wholly by Sound Media Group (Australia). Gbel High End [Divin Noblesse], [Divin Marquis], ([Epoque Aeon Fine]). First let me preface my comments by stating that I have not heard a lot of high end DACs in my system. Actual auditioning of the unit prior to purchase is paramount. Digital Audio Forum: DAC, Transports, Digital Processing Forum, 4x20A circuits | Audioquest Niagara 3000 | Paul Hynes SR4T + HDPlex HD500 PSUs -> Music PC w/JCAT XE nic, HQPlayer, Roon, Tidal / Qobuz | HDPlex HD100 PSU -> OCX clock + EtherRegen | Aqua Acoustic Quality LinQ streamer | Aqua Acoustic Quality Formula xHD Rev. He liked the Mola Mola Tambaqui over these others listed below. I've tried it in my system and I don't like it. I havent heard the Rockna. Vega DAC 6/10 As dynamic as the Weiss, but a little too edgy in sound emphasised presence made female voices a bit hard on the ear. MSB Discrete | The Ear Actually the ChordHugo M Scaler and the Blu Mk. Hmm.. - Roon Endpoint. Both DACs connected directly to power amp using each DACs volume controle. Would love to hear your opinions of which was better and why? It's too damn expensive, full stop. and this is borne out in the sound that this DAC brings to the party. Then we have the Integrated Clock module and Im starting to get the whole modular approach to the design of the MSB DAC. connection because it eliminates some parts and gets you closer to a direct luxury apartment hotels paris. It will kick your ass. Still would like to listen to the Soulution 760 DAC, Mola Mola DAC, Trinity DAC, MSB Select DAC, and maybe the Light Harmonic Da Vinci DAC, Gryphon Kalliope DAC, TotalDAC of some kind, Phasure NOS1A DAC, Esoteric Grandioso DAC, TAD DA1000 DAC, Audionet DAC, Chord Dave DAC . This effect was evident on track after track but didnt feel like it was overly exaggerated. I actually like the simplicity of this and it is very intuitive to use when you get into setting up and menu diving, though diving is over-egging it a bit as the Discrete is a doddle to set upif you do it right, but more on that in a while. In that price range, you would be mad not to addthe MSB Premier DAC to your list as well. I recently bought a DAC with a digital volume control precisely to bypass the preamp, but when I compared the two approaches there was very little between them. The more observant of you will have read this and noticed that there is no mains inlet. Putting price aside, what are your thoughts about the Hugo TT as an integrated DAC+amp? Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Hifi Pig and Big Pig Media with appropriate and specific direction (link) to the original content. Sounds shrill on my workstation and work laptop. Pass Labs INT-60. However, Id argue that there is sort of two trains of thought on this subject; one where theres absolute fidelity to the source material at all costs, and another that sounds great though to the listener but perhaps not absolutely true to the original source and I dont think its unfair to say that both these positions have their place in the world of playing tunes at home. The MSB simply offered more of everything and to my ears proved again that a true multi bit converter/ladder DAC is superior to delta/sigma or FPGA DACs. I'm doing this off the top of my head. They both use FPGA for their decoding. I have enjoyed my time with the MSB Discrete DAC a great deal. I'll take a look, however I've heard they're on the warm side? You could try some of the newer dacs that has gotten good reviews. Anyway, the little bit of extra detail on the strings, the attack, and decay are all there to be heard and its a marvelous thing to listen to. The DAC comes equipped with a single power supply, but can be augmented with a second discrete power supply to enable optimized power isolation between all major components. If you send me a dave i will happily be your 4th friend who also owns a dave. I'm super happy with my Esoteric N-01, which is a noticeable step up in quality/musicality from the DAVE - as yes the DAVE sounds a bit "thin" (though extraordinarily detailed). Founded in 2010 Whats Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. So I saw the DAC lighting up and it looked fully functional, right down displaying the bit rate etc of the file playing, but no music. let me know when it's on, I'll make my way down if I can. The Chord DAVE was also on my list, but I decided to pass (my Chord retailer was very 'pushy' and not helpful). All in all the Discrete DAC is beautiful looking, minimal, easy to set up (its all but plug and play if you turn both the PSUs on) and it feels like a proper bit of audio engineering. I cant help with comparisons of two of these DACs, but I did hear the Tambaqui up against the dCS Bartok and it was a pretty close call, but ultimately the dCS sounded more analogue and more immersive, I have heard the Dave and EMM Labs DAC2x up against aMakua that I subsequently purchased. Impedance 100 Low Gain setting. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Subjective grading of DACs that I had heard during last one year period I have listened to MSB Analog DAC and Diamond DAC IV but not in the same setup as DAVE. Do diamonds shine on the dark side of the moon? An exploration of Chord DAVE, MScaler, Qutest, and Holo May, HQPlayer As a contented Qutest user, I would have hoped for "improved", performance from the Dave. 2 DAC | Audionet Pre G2 preamp | Audionet Max mono blocks | Vivid Audio Giya G2 Series 2 | 4 JL Audio Fathoms | Echole ICs /SCs / Siltech Classic 550L jumpers, Shunyata PCs / Eth. Theyre not limited by audio formats, sample rates, or even speed. The world's largest high-end audio community. Did you audition all of them in the same place with the same system? will every hear. Oppo Modwright BDP-205 full mod. It's pretty funny how everyone gives their personal pet recommendation with the utmost confidence that the buyer will like it. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I like all this attention to detail and the MSB website suggests a company that is massively proud of its American heritage and of the products they make. Best DAC you ever heard? | Steve Hoffman Music Forums However, the extra PSU does add to the cost considerably! SO/ROON/HQPe: DSD 256-Sonore opticalModuleDeluxe-Signature Rendu optical--Bricasti M3 DAC--DIY Purifi Amplifier-Focus Audio FS888 speakers-JL E 112sub-Nordost Tyr USB, DIY EventHorizon AC cables, Iconoclast XLR & speaker cables, Synergistic Purple Fuses, Spacetime system clarifiers. Since opening our doors in 1986, weve been driven by one goal: to craft an unrivaled listening experience for music lovers across the globe. Search: Msb Discrete Dac Vs Chord Dave. The MSB Discrete, as I mentioned, came with two power supplies but you can operate it with just one with the supplied doodad. Like x 5 List Also; recently MSB introduced a new interface that optimizes USB and adds fibre to reduce noise, the MSB Pro USB. And what streamer are you using to feed the DAC? There is a real sense of spectacle and scale when the MSB is in the system. Hifi Pig is part of the Big Pig Media LLP group of companies. - Up to 32 bit - 768kHz. See what the reviews are saying. This is how MSB describe these modules: Its best to think of our DAC modules as a black box: the modules take the raw digital data in and output a continuous voltage. Does anyone have formula for that? A Chord DAC converts to analog via Chord's "Pulse Array DAC" which is a discrete circuit, similar to the discrete circuit used in the MSB DACs (but not the same). The Discrete DAC Features - MSB Technology The only thing that I'd really like to see added here is an Aries Cerat. For the most part, I listened to the MSB through our LAB12 and Krell KST100 amps and TotalDAC D100 speakers. I can see the problem with this unit. Stainless steel buttons arrayed around an elegant volume wheel to optimize performance and response. This is disabled if you are outputting to a preamplifier. I would just add budget and the other components in the system are major factors to consider. UPnP Protocol I wish you would have had the Totaldac D1 Seven to try. which make some people prefer this one to MSB Select II Point 85 Chord Dave and Mscaler (or Blue II transport) This one give transparent and 3D soundstage with excellent details. Personally we have A/B 76 different digital front ends. I can see that in an A/B comparison, many other DACs sound more impressive than DAVE/Blu2. lastly; what I compare my MSB Select II to every day is my top level vinyl and top level reel to reel tape. Im sure it does have a flavour of its own, but from my standpoint, it sounds like a very neutral and transparent DAC. Whatever, the Discrete is a superb bit of kit that Id really love to take up residence in the system on a permanent basis, but thats not going to happen. Ill not get into the whole detail of this here but the MSB website does have an excellent (and interesting) explanation of jitter and why having a very low jitter clock is favourable to having a very accurate clock theres a link at the bottom of this review. It is a manual step which I forgot. More sharing . You already have a very top tier DAC. This ranking is just my subjective thinking. I hope you understand. We have what I consider to be a pretty resolving system, but we also listen to music a fair old bit for pure pleasure and so theres a valve amp currently feeding our chosen reference loudspeakers though thats not to say this system isnt highly resolving in its own right. msb discrete dac vs chord dave - 1click3d.com Regular readers will appreciate all that is taken from the MSB website and I make no apologies for not really understanding the electronics. 2. list the Rockna Wavedream Edition sounds this good, how good does their For sure with Hugo and Qutenot even debatable. I did have the BADA Ref in my system for a short audition, and the Trinity And CH Precision C1 for a longer stay during a previous iteration of my system. Sit back and be immersed. There seemed to be a little more separation of instruments in the mix of whatever I was listening to than with the LAB12 DAC and Pre in the signal path and a slightly leaner edge to the music more clearly etched, perhaps? Wherever I read I see unanimous praise for the MSB Select II. Directstream, Bricasti M1, Jeff Rowland Aeris, Chord Dave, and today I CH Precision mono dac with clock and 3 power supplies (7 boxes)----its more spendy---$150k, Merging Technologies NADAC w/power supply and clock---much better now with the clock and power supply upgrades than my previous experience.----around $60k. There hasn't been any direct comparison of them with Select II, Trinity DAC, CH D1/C1, Totaldac D12 etc in Hong Kong yet. Additionally, MSBs robust in-house design enables the finest quality playback of PCM and native DSD, while our low impedance circuitry drives your amplification directly without adding coloration or buffering noise. Thank you all for your answers. I have great synergy in my system and see no reason to listen to every new DAC out there. as far as direct comparison with other dacs the closest Ive done is listening to the Select II at shows and then listening to other top dacs in other systems at shows. Of the ones you mentioned I'd be most tempted by the Emm Labs DAC 2x though if you can get a used higher-end Esoteric, you should jump on it. Yes, definitely, as it is those extra tiny little bits of detail that adds the cherry on top of an already rather splendid slice of musical cake brought out on tracks like the audio show mainstay Keith Dont Go from Acoustic Live by Nils Lofgren. It is just as important as the DAC itself. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Roon/Jriver 22 -> Ayre QX-5 Twenty -> Ayre AX-5 Twenty -> B&W N802D (Transparent Cables). Just go for an internal Asus card to fit in a PCI slot you should be able to get bit perfect optical output thanks for confirming suitability of current setup. It would have been a different outcome though with the Cyrus pre-amp I previously owned, which cast a veil over everything. Much appreciated. Click here to download your copy, At 11000 plus taxes as tested the Lampizator Big 7 is certainly no budget DAC, but does it deliver on sonic ability? CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE | Page 887 - Head-Fi It may not display this or other websites correctly. But dont take our word for it. as my Select II sits it would list for $116,450. I don't like Dave with or without upsampler but I do like Auralic G2 with their upsampler and clock. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Stuart Smith finds out. Daedalus Audio Apollo 11's. REL S3/SHO. Lots of time it I agree with your statement. But dont take our word for it. My wife said it Fair enough if you know some of the posters here and their listening preferences. Chord Dave DAC "Sealed Box Brand New" Never Opened !! @shkong78 Thanks for sharing your listening impressions of the Lampizator Pacific vs the MSB DACs as well as what you miss about the Pacific vs your Chord combo. and as I said earlier there is no "best" when it comes to dacs or Mola Mola Pre/dac review compared to DAVE dac - Page 2 - DAC - Digital With the Bartok now quite a few $$$ more, the Tambaqui represents a fantastic price v performance ratio that would be at home in most highly resolving systems. Powered by Invision Community. It's not just a matter of being polite, it's also about acknowledging that what we hear and what we prefer is uncertain and changes; that the comparisons were made at different points in time wherein my system had varying levels of resolution/ noise; the fact that making a change requires greater energy and usually more money than staying with what you have; and that sometimes the differences between components are not significant or actionable. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-dac-that-crushes-price-vs-performance-ratio. there are others I know about but Ive not heard them recently. "OK, it would be. Would I pay extra for the second supply? After that you are GOLDEN. of the 5 systems are completely different, our rooms are completely different The LED display, slaved to the audio clock, is refreshed between data processing to drastically reduce electrical interference. The Discrete DAC, the successor and highly improved replacement to the now-famous Analog DAC is the MSB DAC that everyone has been waiting for. We can operate our current DAC modules at up to 6 MHz for PCM and up to 50 MHz for DSD. Equipment used: - Roon - 3-in 1-out XLR switchbox - Goldpoint SA2X Attenuator - Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier - Hifiman Susvara headphones (Also used Arya and HD800S but for the most part susvara) Video review of DAVE + Mscaler here: Price 9k in the U.K. It's just more financially viable to me for the performance and price ratio. Whats Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. You already have a very top tier DAC. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $14,000. This is a very odd one to describe but came to the fore on tracks like Pan Eros from World Of Drums and Percussion. The modular nature of MSB products allows you to have the bits you want and leave out those you dont, The display is a bit basic but it does what it needs to and you can see it from the other side of the room, Detail and transparency are the main features, Allows a real insight into the makeup of a track, Brings a sense of timing being bang on the money, Detail isnt a result of the higher frequencies being artificially pushed, Both PSUs are not absolutely necessary but once you remove one you want to put the other back in. dac at a reasonable price. The lo-res display also makes menu ]set-up fiddly because it doesn't have enough space to display words. its that good. Going by the performance of the Mola Mola Makua (pre with dac module) it will be extremely good. The PM2 is very special. I have heard a lot of top DACs at shows or other systems but not in my own. Many competing DACs will have a more comprehensive display at this price and, more commonly still, an app designed for intuitive access via smartphone and/or tablets. Check out our support page and technical specifications > Click Here, 10100007 - Discrete DAC with Supply- Gallery - 1200px, 10100007 - Discrete DAC with Supplies - Gallery - 1200px, 10100006 - Discrete DAC - Gallery - 1200px, 10100003 - Discrete DAC Badge - Gallery - 1200px, 10100005 - Discrete DAC MSB Logo - Gallery - 1200px, 10100004 - Discrete DAC Jack Panel - Gallery - 1200px, 10100008 - Discrete DAC Basemetal - Gallery - 1200px, 10100009 - Discrete Supply Options - Gallery - 1200px, 10100010 - Discrete Supply Cover - Gallery - 1200px. Perhaps thats a bit of an odd example for me to use as its a bit World Music but you are also made aware of the rightness of timing on percussive techno tracks. The It is not hard to audition these DACs in Melbourneand this is your best way to work out your own preference. The Dave as a DAC actually sounds decent. There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. Right now my favorite music player is from the same manufacturer of the Phasure NOS1a DAC: Stealth LPS running XXHighEnd software; again with the same caveat that I haven't heard a lot of the other highly regarded music players in my system. Chord DAVE Review (DAC & HP Amp) And now that my system is much more resolving, it's possible that the differences could be larger and my preferences could change. As it stands, the Discrete offers a very good solution should you be a music lover that plays only digital files and you can go straight into a power amp. Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator. Thanks. Anyway, the MSB Discrete is a machine that I consider to be highly resolving and a true HiFi product with regard to the definition I quoted above. Once complete there are measurements and functional tests before the final products are inspected, cleaned, and packed up ready to be shipped, but not before a white glove inspection by either Jonathan or Daniel. Compared to some other similarly priced DACs ($10 - $15k MSRP) I prefer the Discrete with 2 Discrete PS.