AD1865N + 611WA = PCM1789PW
This looks like an equation that didn’t come from a sensible algebra teacher.
I have been searching for a computer DAC for some time for my Mac mini and Pure Music. I was looking for a similar musical sound to that of my Audio Note 3.1x CD player (DAC One.1x: non-oversampling, tubed output: AD1865N + 611WA). Even today, this CD player with a transport rebuild, gives a dynamic musical sound with engaging timbre, timing and texture. Alright, so why not just buy another AN DAC and a USB- S/PDIF converter? I was looking for a less expensive and simpler one box solution with a headphone out. There are other NOS DACs out there, but hard to demo.
I owned a Benchmark DAC-1 USB and Mytek 192 DSD and used an Apogee Duet 2 for two weeks. These were excellent and entertaining DACs with their own flavors, but they left me wanting something.
So I went to an audio studio for a DAC evaluation of Lavry DA10, Antelope Zodiac, Weiss DAC-2, Dangerous Music D-Box and Lynx Aurora 8. The DACs were fed S/PDIF from a CD transport and I was able to A/B two at a time thru Focal SM9 powered monitors. A Hilo was ready in case none of these did the job.
Although I have listened to many music reproduction systems, this session, in an acoustically prepared mastering studio, with the big Focals surprised me with just how good 44.1 can sound. Stunning, really.
Let me just say that these are all excellent DACs, all would have their proponents and my choice was based on which presentation suited me best.
After listening for a few hours, I chose the Dangerous Music D-Box. However, this does not have a computer port, so I ordered a Source which has a 24/192 USB 2.0 port (XMOS) and it has the same DAC as the D-Box (PCM1789PW-based). The Source is a portable studio monitor controller from a company with substantial credentials in the area. This has line outs, two monitor outs (at-6dB), two headphone outs and analogue, digital and USB inputs (no ADCs). While waiting for delivery, I reviewed the threads on Gearslutz and Head-Fi where the Source has many fans.
I can also be counted among the fans after listening for 3 weeks. The sound in the demo carried over to my home system and iTunes-PM played out at 24/192 beautifully. I would say it took the USB input about 24 hours to burn in.
And now a surprise. I fed the digital input of the Source with the S/PDIF signal from my CDP, equalized the levels and listened. The Audio Note DAC in my CDPlayer and the Dangerous Source DAC turned out to be very similar, maybe even family, although with no common DNA. The Source sounds like the Audio Note without the treble roll off. So when I did the demo in the studio, I unknowingly chose a DAC which sounds very much like I already have: non-fatiguing, musically engaging and fun the listen to. Sounds great thru my AKG ‘phones as well.
It’s a keeper.
