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    EMM Labs DAC2X Review

    thumb.pngGerman novelist Berthold Auerbach once said, "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." That quote rings true for many audiophiles as they sit down for an evening listening session after a tough week. That quote is also apropos for millions of iPod users riding noisy trains home from work each day. The power of music reproduced through the best and worst audio systems can't be denied. Our favorite songs are just as powerful through an AM radio, iPod, or bank breaking high end system. Or are they? The short answer is no. Our favorites songs are more powerful and bring out more emotion when we feel closer to the music or artists creating the music. I found this out the easy way. Over the last couple months I've had the pleasure of using the new EMM Labs DAC2X digital to analog converter. Listening to my favorite music through this DAC was unlike anything I've heard in my listening room. The same tunes I've played hundreds times were somehow different. The songs were much more emotionally powerful as I heard artists exhale after each verse and felt the raw energy of a symphony orchestra like never before through my system. The illusion of sitting in the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra's pit or sitting on stage while Dave Mathews and Tim Reynolds play Christmas Song was more realistic than I've ever experienced from my listening chair. The EMM Labs DAC2X has the ability to transport me from my home in Minnesota to any music venue in the world better than any DAC I've heard to date in my system. This DAC not only earned a spot on the C.A.S.H. List but is the front runner for CA Product of the Year 2012. It's unequivocally the best DAC I've heard in my system.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

     

     

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    Close But Not Really

     

     

    logo.jpgThe EMM Labs DAC2X physically looks like the Meitner Audio MA-1 (Review ex.png) both inside and out. In fact both DACs share some features such as the XMOS USB receiving chip and support of PCM and DSD playback over USB. Both DACs even have the same screen printing on the circuit boards. This really threw me for a loop when I opened the DAC2X for internal photography. I saw what looked to me, and every other armchair audio engineer, like a sheep in wolf's clothing or an MA-1 in a DAC2X chassis. A call to EMM Labs removed my suspicion of a PCB board error or even worse an attempt to pull a Lexicon move ex.png on consumers and sell the same hardware in a more expensive chassis. Greg at EMM Labs explained the major differences between the two units. A major difference is the use of many proprietary and specially made components just like the flagship disc spinner XDS1. These components are hand selected and matched for optimum performance. In addition the DAC2X contains standard EMM Labs technologies such as MFAST, MDAT and hand built 5.6 Mhz proprietary discrete dual differential D-to-A converters.

     

    P1010520.pngWhat separates the DAC2X from the MA-1 and many other DACs is EMM’s proprietary ceramic PCB which is difficult to manufacture and to populate thus greatly increases the overall costs. These multi-layer ceramic circuit boards appear like any old PCB from the top but when viewed from the edge it's easier to notice the differences. The ceramic PCBs in the DAC2X spread heat better than traditional boards and quickly bring the temperature to a uniform level after the unit is powered. The red colored ceramic analog board contains the DAC chips and clocking circuitry under metal covers. These grounded covers do more than simply look nice. For example, the clock cover protects the sensitive analog circuits on the board from the digital clock circuitry and protect the clock form the rest of the DAC.

     

    P1010525.pngThe DAC2X also has a higher quality power supply than the MA-1. The X Power System v3.1 in the "2X" has better filtering and better isolation. Upon close visual and physical inspection the DAC2X's 26.5 lbs. all machined aluminum chassis, and even remote control, is much nicer than the MA-1. Rapping the top of the DAC2X with a pen or small nondestructive tool reveals a pretty dead chassis. Underneath the top cover of the DAC2X is what EMM Labs calls its Charge Management Technology. This plate full of copper circles stabilizes the electric field and further dampens the chassis against resonance. EMM Labs admits the charge management plate is controversial but insists its own listening tests, and Ed Meitner's decades of design experience, suggest the plate contributes to the sound quality of the DAC.

     

    P1010522.pngThe DAC2X has two USB inputs. One is for software and firmware updates. EMM Labs is capable of releasing new features (hint, hint) for the DAC2X that are installable via this USB port. The other USB port is high speed class 2 audio compliant. EMM Labs wisely selected the XMOS USB receiving chip that works without software / driver installation on both Linux and Mac OS X platforms. Connecting the DAC to a Windows computer requires the somewhat standard Thesycon driver that in my experience works very well. This high speed USB input accepts PCM audio up through 24 bit / 192 kHz and pure DSD audio at 1 bit / 2.8224 MHz using the newly created DoP v1.0 standard. The DAC2X's USB high speed USB input is not galvanically isolated. This isolation is not mandatory to achieve great sound but it can be beneficial in many situations. Users requiring isolation can use products like the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB that converts USB to AES or S/PDIF while providing excellent isolation from noisy computers and music servers.

     

    Note1: Shortly after reviewing the SOtM sMS-1000 music server (Link ex.png) *my unit was updated to support pure DSD over USB playback using DoP v1.0. I tested this with the DAC2X. Playback was flawless without any special drivers to install for the DAC.

    Note2: Current owners of the DAC2 can upgrade their existing units to the DAC2X at an additional cost.

     

     

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    Where No DAC Has Gone Before

     

     

    Readers of Computer Audiophile know that I don't wax on too much about sound quality and subjective listening impressions. I give my opinion and share a few listening experiences then wrap it up. Like it or not that's just my style. This review is a bit different. The EMM Labs DAC2X left such an impression on me I want to share much of what I heard during the review period. The DAC2X was like an addictive drug in my system. I always wanted more and thought about the music I could be listening to while I was busy doing other things. This DAC brought me so close to the music and evoked such emotion when the music called for it that I seriously wanted to delay writing this review indefinitely. That's no joke. The following subjective listening impressions sound a bit like I was listening to the equipment or a HiFi demonstration and looking for details rather than enjoying the music. Nothing is further from the truth. My impressions below detail why the DAC2X is so enjoyable, so emotional, and brought me closer to the music and further from reality than every before in my listening room.

     

     

    Artist A.A. Bondy's track World Without End features him on an acoustic guitar and vocals. With the lights in my room out, the track felt personal. I felt like I was back at a party in college where there was always one or two people with a guitar sitting in the corner picking and singing. Bondy's vocals came through so pure through the DAC2X. Playing Antonio Forcione & Sabina Sciubba's Meet Me In London at 24 bit / 192 kHz really let the DAC2X shine. Sabina's vocal sounded silky smooth while Antonio's guitar was appropriately sharp. This was most apparent on the track Take Five. Sabina's smooth vocal eased from the left channel while the prickly rhythm guitar emanated from the right channel. This rhythm guitar sounded so fabulous I could hear the wood body vibrate beautifully. When the lead guitar entered the illusory sonic picture it was dead center and sounded stunning. Every pluck of a guitar string was distinct with transient starts and stops that didn't memorialize the sonic event.

     

     

    The EMM Labs DAC2X reproduced male vocals and acoustic guitar better than any DAC in recent memory in my system or otherwise. Ben Harper's Welcome to the Cruel World isn't the best example of a rangy vocalist but through the DAC2X I heard tiny changes in Ben's voice from syllable to syllable. Even better than the vocal was the decay of the acoustic guitar in the background while Ben ominously sings, "Welcome to the cruel world, hope you find your way." This isn't the most "audiophile" song but it's an emotional gem when played through such a transparent system. Continuing the male vocal trend I opted for pure DSD playback of Keith Greeninger and Dayan Kai's Looking for a Home from the first Blue Coast Collection. The details that could be heard on Keith's words were wonderful. After the last word of each verse I could hear what I would call a breath trail. Like Keith was pouring out his emotions and everything he had when singing the track. The illusion of Keith and Dayan sitting on stools in front of me performing this track made me giggle. Seriously. Another pure DSD release I used was Keb' Mo's self titled album. The track Every Morning was very realistic sounding with a touch of raspiness in the vocal. Comparing this to the PCM 16 bit / 44.1 version I immediately heard a very compressed vocal via PCM playback. The center image was very tight but the vocal sounded weird compared to the DSD version. I'm not sure there is a "right" version but I've never heard this track sound better than playing the pure DSD version through the DAC2X.

     

     

    One of my all time favorite albums is Chet Baker's Chet. The track Alone Together can be good on any system but stunning through the best components. There's no doubt I've never heard this track sound this good. As Chet nears the end of some notes one can hear excellent detail in the small changes of the notes. The changes are so delicate but so clear through the DAC2X. Depending on Chet's physical and mental state at the time of recording he may have ran out of breath toward the end of the notes. Throughout the track one can hear excellent air around the cymbal in the right channel. In addition to this, as each note of Chet's trumpet fades a terrific decay can be heard from the left to right channel as it crosses from microphone to microphone during the recording. Similar to the album Chet is John Coltrane's Standard Coltrane. Don't Take Your Love From Me is a nearly ten minute lush track that, to paraphrase Berthold Auerbach's aforementioned quote, truly washes away the dust of each day. The sound quality of this track with its horn on the left and bass & drums on the left was really great. Each of Paul Chamber's bass notes was terrifically clear as John wailed away on the smooth tenor sax though the opposing channel. Similarly stunning was Joe Morello's drum solo about 2:30 into Dave Brubeck's Take Five. Through the DAC2X the drums sounded so real from the left channel with the decay drifting to the right channel. Meanwhile Eugene Wright's impressive bass plucking can be heard in the center of the sonic image. The DAC2X reproduces the bass notes without bloat or added unnatural vividness.

     

     

    The DAC2X's ability to transport a listener to a concert venue is terrific. Listening to Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds play Christmas Song live from Luther College gave me a sense of being at the live show. The illusion was really good for a pop record. A sense of ambiance and spaciousness at the venue could be felt during as people coughed during the track. The DAC2X brought out the most in this recording. Looking at it like the "2X" brought out more flaws only decreases one's enjoyment of the listening experience. I elected to sit back and enjoy this performance. To misquote English poet Robert Graves. "A remarkable thing about Shakespeare Diana Krall is that she is really very good in spite of all the people who say she is very good." The sense of being at the actual venue was even better on Diana Krall's Live in Paris album. The emotion in her voice during A Case of You was very clear. I could sense the pride she has for her home country of Canada when she sang, "On the back of a cartoon coaster, In the blue TV screen light. I drew a map of Canada, Ohhhhhh Canada." The detailed, delicate, yet powerful sound quality brought this track to the next sonic and emotional level. Another female vocal I enjoy very much is Christina Aguilera's Save Me From Myself off her double album Back to Basics. XTina's very close mic'd vocal sounded incredible. I noticed for the first time how much of a role the violin plays throughout this track. Now I hear the violin throughout the entire track on all DACs but it was the DAC2X that enabled me to notice this seemingly obvious detail.

     

     

    Moving to R&B and Hip-Hop I listened to the twelve minute version of Isaac Hayes' Walk On By at 24 bit / 96 kHz. Standing out immediately in this track was the electric guitar. Each note was delineated from the next in a crisp fashion. It was also impossible not to be affected by Isaac's emotional and soulful vocal. Most listeners would never guess Walk On By is a Burt Bacharach song as Isaac sings it with convincing soul. One of my favorite Hip-Hop albums is the new Kanye West / Jay-Z album Watch The Throne. The best track on the album is Ni**as In Paris. I've heard this track sound ear splitting on some systems with sloppy bass and eardrum piercing highs. I'm not sure if there's a "real" instrument played on the entire track, but I really don't care. Good music is good music. Through the DAC2X the massive bass on the track was extremely controlled and as powerful as I've heard. Vocals remained clear even with massive sound effects bouncing around in the background.

     

     

    Please pass the Grey Poupon and queue the classical music. Only kidding but the juxtaposition between the previous and next tracks couldn't be better. Two classical albums I like more every time I hear are the 24 bit / 176.4 kHz HRx versions of Crown Imperial and Britten's Orchestra from Reference recordings. Crown Imperial's Niagara Falls was a stunning listen through the EMM Labs DAC2X. Each time a percussionist struck a bell I felt like a metallurgist listening for identifiable characteristics of the bells' composition. The bells were so crystal clear I could visualize them in a space way beyond my speakers. When I need to hear stunning dynamics and transients I always turn to Passacaglia from the "Britten" release. Through the DAC2X I heard amazing clarity and detail during the most complex parts of the track.

     

     

    Throughout the entire review period nothing made a bigger or more memorable impression on me than listening to Ottmar Liebert's One Guitar at 24 bit / 96 kHz. I've never heard a better reproduction of this album than through the EMM Labs DAC2X. Period. The air around the entire recording space is stupendous. I'm willing to bet some CA readers can identify what material this floor is made of and how large the room is after listening to this album through a great system and the DAC2X. The decay of each guitar note is unsurpassed by neither the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC with Alpha USB nor the dCS Debussy. The difference in decay reproduction was easily and immediately identifiable when comparing all three DACs. Another major difference between the Alpha/Alpha combo and the DAC2X is reproduction of the upper midrange and higher frequencies. The Alpha/Alpha combo can sound a skosh thin up top compared to an appropriately fuller sounding DAC2X. Comparing the Debussy to the DAC2X the first and largest sonic difference I heard was the in the lower midrange and bass frequencies about 600 Hz and below. The Debussy appeared to emphasize the lower frequencies or even play guitar and bass notes lower than I thought sounded correct. Granted I was not present at any recordings and don't know what's more accurate. On the other hand the EMM Labs DAC2X reproduced this lower midrange and bass extremely well. I consider the DAC2X the most "up-the-middle" DAC I've heard in my system. It isn't bass heavy or thin on top or anything other than neutral. I've previously discussed the sounds of the Alpha DAC and Weiss DACs as being on one side and the dCS DACs as being on another side. Both have different sounds that attract most users to one or the other. The EMM Labs DAC2X is a DAC that's smack in the middle of these two groups. The "2X" doesn't borrow the best of each DAC rather it's a different animal that beats to it's own drum.

     

     

    Conclusion

     

     

    cash-logo-black-thumb.jpgThe EMM Labs DAC2X is the most detailed, neutral, and transparent DAC I've heard in my system. A better power supply, ceramic circuit boards, and well damped chassis are the foundation that elevates the DAC2X well beyond the capabilities of the Meitner Audio MA-1 and many of its competitors. At $15,500 the DAC2X should perform better and it clearly does in all areas. No DAC has brought out so much emotion or brought me closer to my favorite music that the DAC2X. This wonderful hobby is first and foremost about music and its reproduction. Well engineered components that reproduce our favorite music are only tools. These tools are built to be invisible or disappear as soon as the play button is clicked. The DAC2X produces the best musical illusion and performs a better disappearing act than all other DACs I've heard in my listening room and many other rooms. To remove any doubt I will state with emphasis, the EMM Labs DAC2X is unequivocally the best DAC I've heard in my system.

     

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    Product Information:

     

    • Product - EMM Labs DAC2X digital to analog converter
    • Price - $15,500
    • EMM Labs - Link ex.png
    • Product Brochure - Link (1.2MB PDF) ex.png

     

     

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    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Chris,

     

    Great article on the Dac2. Wish I could afford one.

     

    Just wondering if you've ever considered reviewing the Phasure NOS1 USB dac. I am pretty amazed at the sound and have compared it directly to several setups, both Mac and PC, and including Tim's amazing Mykerinos/PMII rig, which is my ear's reference. The Phasure is really impressive sounding and I think any tweakers out there would be really impressed.

     

    Just wondering if it is on your radar.

     

    Thanks.

    /LM

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    Chris,

     

    Great article on the Dac2. Wish I could afford one.

     

    Just wondering if you've ever considered reviewing the Phasure NOS1 USB dac. I am pretty amazed at the sound and have compared it directly to several setups, both Mac and PC, and including Tim's amazing Mykerinos/PMII rig, which is my ear's reference. The Phasure is really impressive sounding and I think any tweakers out there would be really impressed.

     

    Just wondering if it is on your radar.

     

    Thanks.

    /LM

     

    Hi Lee - Thanks for the kind words.

     

    The NOS1 USB isn't on my review radar at the moment.

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    Hi Lee - Thanks for the kind words.

     

    The NOS1 USB isn't on my review radar at the moment.

     

    Sure hope you get a chance to hear this Dac. I am really impressed and also have the Berkeley as you may remember. The Phasure to me has a more natural, musical sound and I feel, while the Alpha has incredible depth of soundstage and very detailed sound, the Phasure has infinite transparency and a smoothness that is about the most natural sounding I have heard yet from a digital rig. And it's a tweaker's paradise. The software player (XXHighend) has great synergy with this dac, offers an infinite number of settings for memory, latency and other variables and literally takes over and shuts down Win 7 during playback (always a good thing IMO).

     

    I really like it with the kernel streaming driver (KS mode).

     

    To me this is a system to watch, er listen to...

     

    See you soon at CAL Audio?

     

    /LM

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    Chris,

     

    Great article on the Dac2. Wish I could afford one.

     

    Just wondering if you've ever considered reviewing the Phasure NOS1 USB dac. I am pretty amazed at the sound and have compared it directly to several setups, both Mac and PC, and including Tim's amazing Mykerinos/PMII rig, which is my ear's reference. The Phasure is really impressive sounding and I think any tweakers out there would be really impressed.

     

    Just wondering if it is on your radar.

     

    Thanks.

    /LM

     

    Lee, how would you compare and contrast the NOS1 versus Tim's Mykerinos/PMII set-up?

     

    Chris, since you put the DAC2X at the top of your list and you have heard the Mkerinos/PMII, so I presume you feel the DAC2X is better? Or was your qualification only DACs you've heard in your personal system?

     

    Thanks.

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    MAN301 is an interesting product, and more interesting is a comparison to EMM and 202.

    But what I actually need is an embedded EQ and/or RC.

    When this is happening, I am taking a mortgage.

     

    But if you are running a music server, why not use one of the software RC solutions like Audiolense? A fraction of the cost of a hardware solution, more flexible, and should work just as well.

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    Nice article Chris, just found the site via looking for audiophile stuff on the Google Play app store. Well played, a great way to draw traffic to the site (I'm an SEO/SMS guy). Cheers!

     

    -Daman

    [AstuteAbode]

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    Very interesting review. You often use the word "decay", an example "... a terrific decay can be heard from the left to right channel". What do you mean by that?

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    Chris,

     

    What would you consider the break in time for the DAC2X? How much time did you give it for break in before serious listening? Thanks!

     

    Joe

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    Chris,

     

    What would you consider the break in time for the DAC2X? How much time did you give it for break in before serious listening? Thanks!

     

    Joe

     

    Hi Joe - I really don't know what the break in time is for the 2X. I usually receive components several months before I actually review them. This allows me to run them for several hundred hours before listening. The DAC2X ran for hundreds of hours in my listening room before I review it.

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    Based partly on your recommendation and that of a few friends who own the DAC2X, I bought one and I have to say this dac is spectacular. I kind of thought digital was digital. Boy was I wrong. I think your review is spot on. Thank you and please keep up the good work. I am a happy camper.

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    Based partly on your recommendation and that of a few friends who own the DAC2X, I bought one and I have to say this dac is spectacular. I kind of thought digital was digital. Boy was I wrong. I think your review is spot on. Thank you and please keep up the good work. I am a happy camper.

     

     

    Great to hear Joe.

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    Mine should be here in a couple of weeks, when I get back from vacation.

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    Priaptor,

     

    You will love it. For the money it's well worth it. I have not decided to add the transport yet.

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    Chris,

     

    This is my first time writing and I really enjoy your website.

     

    My first DAC was a Peachtree iNova. 3 months later I went to the top of the C.A.S.H List and now own a Weiss DAC202. After reading this article I'm interested in buying a DAC2X and PRE2. Since most of your auditioning was in the DSD format I'm hesitant to make this purchase. Where would you place the DAC2X in your C.A.S.H. List listening in the PCM format?

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    Chris,

     

    This is my first time writing and I really enjoy your website.

     

    My first DAC was a Peachtree iNova. 3 months later I went to the top of the C.A.S.H List and now own a Weiss DAC202. After reading this article I'm interested in buying a DAC2X and PRE2. Since most of your auditioning was in the DSD format I'm hesitant to make this purchase. Where would you place the DAC2X in your C.A.S.H. List listening in the PCM format?

     

    Hi rtoupin - I listened to much more PCM than DSD through the DAC2X as there simply isn't that much DSD material available. My opinion on the DAC2X holds with DSD and PCM. I highly encourage you to audition the PRE2 and DAC2X.

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    Chris,

     

    Would you mind sharing more of your thoughts how the DAC2X differs from the MA-1? Are there some similarities in sound, or does the DAC2X just blow the MA-1 out of the water? Could you live with the MA-1 after hearing the DAC2X? Thanks for sharing your observations.

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    Chris,

     

    Would you mind sharing more of your thoughts how the DAC2X differs from the MA-1? Are there some similarities in sound, or does the DAC2X just blow the MA-1 out of the water? Could you live with the MA-1 after hearing the DAC2X? Thanks for sharing your observations.

     

    stumil,

     

    I recently set up my EMM DAC2X on Sunday and have only listened to it sparingly at this point, as I really don't like to judge equipment until I feel there has been that change in character that almost always accompanies new products. I will also be reporting my findings in the next couple of weeks. My comparison will be to a previously owned PS Audio MKI, ARC DAC 8 which the EMM is replacing as well as a comparison to an older dCS Debussy, the latter while a wonderful piece, just wasn't my cup of tea. I am not criticizing the dCS, but it's characteristics were just my taste.

     

     

    My system is all ARC gear, including a REF5SE preamp, REF 250 monoblocks driving Nola Baby Grands II. My initial impressions of the DAC2X is very positive but not overwhelming at this time, compared to my outgoing DAC 8. This is not a slight on the EMM as I know it has not yet reached its full character at this point and is improving everyday. Last night I believe was a breakthrough in the burn in process where my expectations are starting to close in on reality, but there is still a gap. (as an economic Noble Prize winner who developed his groundbreaking psycho-econometric model concluded, Economic Happiness = Reality/Expectations; which can really be applied to just about all things). My "happiness" with increasing daily BUT, my expectations for this product are very high.

     

    So I will give a follow up when I believe the system is ready. Right now it has about 120 hours on it and is really starting to sweeten up. Since I the DAC8 is outgoing, I can say, I am amazed this incredible dac didn't get better accolades. I will miss some of its unique characteristics, but can already, at this short period of time with the EMM, see it will be surpassed in many areas by the DAC2X

     

    One nice thing is that Chris uses my favorite transistor gear, namely Spectral and I use my favorite tube gear namely ARC, so I think together our opinions will give a nice spectrum to those considering the unit.

     

    Will report back later.

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    BTW, I know that Stumil is mainly looking for differences in sound, but to comment on the differences in product, the DAC2X is digitally the same as the MA-1. It's analog section is designed on expensive ceramic boards, unlike the MA-1. Ed says the ceramic boards sound "point-to-point". I asked if Meitner would allow me to pay to have my MA-1 boards swapped but they are unlikely to cannibalize DAC2X sales. :( Regardless, I love my MA-1.

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    BTW, I know that Stumil is mainly looking for differences in sound, but to comment on the differences in product, the DAC2X is digitally the same as the MA-1. It's analog section is designed on expensive ceramic boards, unlike the MA-1. Ed says the ceramic boards sound "point-to-point". I asked if Meitner would allow me to pay to have my MA-1 boards swapped but they are unlikely to cannibalize DAC2X sales. :( Regardless, I love my MA-1.

     

    Ted,

     

    This is my first foray into the DSD dimension. What has been your experience. My has been quite positive so far. I like it, even before the unit is fully broken in.

     

    There are few products I have no problem buying blindly and Spectral, ARC and Meitner are probably my only three. I was about to pull the trigger on the MA-1 just before Chris's review which caught me by surprise so I went for the DAC2X. Just curious how long of a break in period you needed before the true character of the DAC came through.

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    Strangely, DSD doesn't sound better in my system. I know Ted's experience is that DSD is quite a bit better, and the Danish Meitner dealer tells me the same. I have arranged with him that we should get together at one point and look deeper into that ...

     

    As for break-in, I would say that most of the break-in was done by something like 100 hours. The real step forward came when I shifted from AES/EBU from a Hiface Evo to USB.

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    Ted,

     

    This is my first foray into the DSD dimension. What has been your experience. My has been quite positive so far. I like it, even before the unit is fully broken in.

     

    There are few products I have no problem buying blindly and Spectral, ARC and Meitner are probably my only three. I was about to pull the trigger on the MA-1 just before Chris's review which caught me by surprise so I went for the DAC2X. Just curious how long of a break in period you needed before the true character of the DAC came through.

     

    Priaptor, like you I use the DAC2X with ARC Reference gear and I have owned pretty much every emm player since they entered the audiophile market. In my experience, you will start being able to fully appreciate the DAC2X at around 200 hours, but full break-in will take about 400-500 hours. Also, if you are using it with ARC gear, you should IMHO at least try to hear it from its balanced outputs before committing to single-ended (I believe from your posts in another thread that you might now be using single-ended interconnects).

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