looking for just a DAC, but a reaaaally good one

[linvincible]

Hello,

 

I currently own a Mytek 192 DSD and am looking for "better".

I already have a preamp for volume control and HT bypass, so I don't need those options on the DAC.

I need USB driverless input (my renderer is a SOtM sms-100) and want up to 192 KHz PCM and DSD 128 compatibility.

What can you suggest that would make a difference from the Mytek, at around 5K?

 

So far I didn't find a lot of units that could meet the requirements, I'll update this list with suggestions:

 

- MSB Analogue (need to check if USB input is driverless and a bit pricey)

 

Thanks in advance!

[cjf]

I would say that you would probably get a little better SQ by going up to the Ayre QB9 DSD at $3500 but beyond that you would need to roughly double the price of the Ayre to get to the next level.

 

At the next level I would recommend these units:

 

Playback Designs - MPD-3 DAC ($6.5K)

Meitner - MA1 DAC ($7K)

 

OR

 

The MSB you have listed but its Ala-Cart style of purchasing choices can quickly bring the price up if your not careful. The good thing with the MSB though is that you can easily pay as you go and add the external power supply at a later time which is supposed to make a pretty big difference in its SQ but unless your willing to make that next move at some point in the future and purchase the better power supply for the MSB you may not get much better then the Ayre QB9 DSD unit.

[tranz]

For MSB Analog, a great DAC but much more expensive, I would not recommend the regular USB input. It did not sound good.

 

They did, however, very recently come out with an improved v2 version which I have not tried. Another input module that I have been reading about is the LAN input, which sounds intriguing because it allows bypassing of USB and SPDIF all together. Have not heard from anyone using it yet though, and of course everything is in the implementation.

 

The upgraded power base does lower noise floor, but again adds more money than many DACs cost.

 

Cheers

[wisnon]

Hello,

 

I currently own a Mytek 192 DSD and am looking for "better".

I already have a preamp for volume control and HT bypass, so I don't need those options on the DAC.

I need USB driverless input (my renderer is a SOtM sms-100) and want up to 192 KHz PCM and DSD 128 compatibility.

What can you suggest that would make a difference from the Mytek, at around 5K?

 

So far I didn't find a lot of units that could meet the requirements, I'll update this list with suggestions:

 

- MSB Analogue (need to check if USB input is driverless and a bit pricey)

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Try a Level 4 Lampi with DSD option, new or used…will be below $5K. Music Machine.

[Jimmypowder]

I would suggest the Radio Shack Dac-4 Deluxe .

Awesome dac

[bmoura]

I would suggest the Radio Shack Dac-4 Deluxe .

Awesome dac

 

They have DACs at The Shack these days? Apparently DACs are everywhere!

[CKKeung]

Lampizator and PS Audio DirectStream are the two best-buys at this price level.

[Mike Mcsweeney]

i dont understand why someone would be obsessed with an expensive dac, but insist on usb?

wouldn't network be better? not being critical, just trying to understand? Wouldn't everyone agree that using wireless without the extra hardware, power supply, os, etc make for a cleaner better solution? I mean if you got $5K to throw at a dac, why wouldn't you want something to do it over the network (wired or wirelessly). I don't understand the hang-up so many have with usb? I could see using usb if you just wanted cheap, but doesn't the hardware and usb throw "unnecessary" noise into the equation?

[linvincible]

Thanks for the suggestions,

here's a digested view since I can't update my post :

OK ones:

MSB Analogue - $7K and up, need to check new USB input (or network), has volume control though

Playback Designs - MPD-3 DAC ($6.5K) - didn't know about that one thanks! will dig up

Ayre QB9 DSD ($3.5K) - DSD 64 only

PS Audio DirectStream ($6K) - has volume control and lots of inputs adding complexity and cost

 

Not OK ones:

Meitner - MA1 DAC ($7K) -> no DSD

Lampizator Level 4 with DSD (€3K) -> not an option to messy to use

Radio Shack Dac-4 Deluxe -> could not find anything about it

 

oh boy I need an excel file ;o)

[linvincible]

Hi Mike,

good USB inputs are isolated so no noise will come through the USB. The big advantage is that in USB asynchronous more you are also isolated from the source's jitter.

My main reason for separating the renderer from the DAC is that I did not find an ethernet DAC with as good control as with the Logitech Media Server / squeezelite. By keeping everything separate I can keep or change each element independently when I find a better DAC or better interface without compatibility problems.

Another good input apparently is IsquaredS, since USB input goes from there and to there in the devices, so it removes a transcoding step which can't be bad. I can accept an I2S DAC but for the moment my renderer doesn't have an I2S output ;o)

[k6davis]

Why do you say that the Lampizator is messy to use? I love mine and haven't heard a better sounding DAC.

 

If you're referring to switching between PCM & DSD, their new Amber DAC does that automatically *and* costs less than the L4.

 

AMBER ALERT!!! - LampizatOr Holiday Season Group Buy (EARLY ADOPTER INCENTIVE)

[linvincible]

thanks for the clarification k6davis I checked only the Level 4/5/6 line I'll check the amber now!

[4est]

Where did you get that? I think you might be confused, wireless is not a panacea, nor is network audio.

i dont understand why someone would be obsessed with an expensive dac, but insist on usb?

wouldn't network be better? not being critical, just trying to understand? Wouldn't everyone agree that using wireless without the extra hardware, power supply, os, etc make for a cleaner better solution? I mean if you got $5K to throw at a dac, why wouldn't you want something to do it over the network (wired or wirelessly). I don't understand the hang-up so many have with usb? I could see using usb if you just wanted cheap, but doesn't the hardware and usb throw "unnecessary" noise into the equation?

[EuroDriver]

Exasound E20 or E22

 

they both do DSD 256 which is noticeably better than DSD 128

[linvincible]

exasound e22 thanks for the suggestion, I discarded it when I saw headphone amp and volume control but now that I see the offer is very scarce without those features I'm opening up again to features irrelevant to me

[tranz]

...

OK ones:

MSB Analogue - $7K and up, need to check new USB input (or network), has volume control...

 

Volume control is an option you pay extra for but they make it without too. The option is linked with the small display on top.

[EuroDriver]

iFi miniDSD is coming soon. It will do DSD512 !

 

iFi Audio "Mini" desktop line discussion thread - Page 8

 

iFi microDSD has good reviews so the mini may well be very interesting

[bmoura]

exasound e22 thanks for the suggestion, I discarded it when I saw headphone amp and volume control but now that I see the offer is very scarce without those features I'm opening up again to features irrelevant to me

 

Yes and exaSound also offers a 30-day free in-home trial of all of their DACs. May be worth considering.

 

They also have the e28 DAC in that price band that give you Multichannel and Stereo DSD and PCM in all resolution levels. With that one, you can play any music download available today.

[linvincible]

Volume control is an option you pay extra for but they make it without too. The option is linked with the small display on top.

 

thanks for clarifying that their website was confusing with the 3 control options choices...

[firedog]

Exasound needs an ASIO driver for Windows

[EuroDriver]

Exasound needs an ASIO driver for Windows

 

Exasound has Windows ASIO driver that works great. It predates the MAC ASIO driver

 

Now I'm just waiting for the Linux driver which is in testing. Then will try out the SOTM SMS-100 and it's pre-loaded HQP NAA

[bmoura]

Exasound has Windows ASIO driver that works great. It predates the MAC ASIO driver

 

Now I'm just waiting for the Linux driver which is in testing. Then will try out the SOTM SMS-100 and it's pre-loaded HQP NAA

 

Yes, I use the exaSound e28 with their Windows ASIO driver all the time. Works great as you say!

[k6davis]

Exasound E20 or E22

 

they both do DSD 256 which is noticeably better than DSD 128

The new Lampizator DACs alsodo DSD256. It's not easy to hear one without trying it, but they we very flexible and helpful in terms of giving me an evaluation period during which I could return it.

I haven't heard the ExaSound which I'm sure is excellent, but on paper, the Lampizator is unique in that it uses tubes in its power supply and in its output section. Most interestingly, it does not use a DAC chip for DSD at all. Instead, it plays the DSD datastream directly after applying a low-pass filter to it.

 

You can read more about it on the Lampizator site. It sounds amazing and even at the higher L4 price, it seems like a bargain. At this Amber price, if it sounds anything like mine, it would be a steal.

[bmoura]

The new Lampizator DACs also do DSD256. It's not easy to hear one without trying it, but they we very flexible and helpful in terms of giving me an evaluation period during which I could return it.

 

I haven't heard the ExaSound which I'm sure is excellent, but on paper, the Lampizator is unique in that it uses tubes in its power supply and in its output section. Most interestingly, it does not use a DAC chip for DSD at all. Instead, it plays the DSD datastream directly after applying a low-pass filter to it.

 

You can read more about it on the Lampizator site. It sounds amazing and even at the higher L4 price, it seems like a bargain. At this Amber price, if it sounds anything like mine, it would be a steal.

 

Adding DSD256 to the special purchase on the Amber DAC will certainly draw attention to the offer. Especially since Lampizator hasn't announced DSD256 yet on their other DAC models! Although I imagine that is coming.

 

AMBER ALERT!!! - LampizatOr Holiday Season Group Buy (EARLY ADOPTER INCENTIVE)

[k6davis]

Adding DSD256 to the special purchase on the Amber DAC will certainly draw attention to the offer. Especially since Lampizator hasn't announced DSD256 yet on their other DAC models! Although I imagine that is coming.

 

AMBER ALERT!!! - LampizatOr Holiday Season Group Buy (EARLY ADOPTER INCENTIVE)

 

Yes, I've heard DSD256 is coming for their other models very soon. I'll certainly be upgrading mine.