The MSB simply sounded more real to my ears and offered a more convincing soundstage and tonality and all the tiny informations in the music where integrated in the musical flow whereas the DAVE simply sounded flat and not realistic to my ears and even lacked those tiny informations. There is the option to add a streaming module to the Discrete and if I was in the market for a digital streaming solution, then this is where I would be going. Search: Msb Discrete Dac Vs Chord Dave. Sounds shrill on my workstation and work laptop. Up to 32 bit 768kHz Theyre not limited by audio formats, sample rates, or even speed. I believe it comes down to Like others said, I'd try first an MScaler with DAVE. When I have done the comparison with other DACs I have had at the same time - Ayre QX5-Twenty, EAR Dac 4, exasound e32 - often the immediate impression is that DAVE/Blu 2 is not quite as good - a bit dryer sounding, not quite as smooth, not as airy or three dimensional And yet, over the longer term, it is deeply satisfying at a musical level in a way that the other DACs are not. Hmm.. Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by mtoc, Jun 9, 2016. The formats that is used in comparison test is all 16bit / 44.1KHz, not DSD The Result : 1st : Select DAC II Full Option - 100% 2nd : Trinity DAC - 90% Impedance 100 Low Gain setting. You could spend less and get close to the sound of this DAC, for sure. We used PCM (16/44,1 to 24/192) and DSD 64 and 128 for the comparioson. I wanted to know for anyone who has heard it have you also heard a DAC that approached it in sonic performance? Fully agree that it could come down to personal preference @RoriHope you have arranged auditions. Would I pay extra for the second supply? For sure with Hugo and Qutenot even debatable. I believe it comes down to Nice. Less experience with Dave on DSD, plus Rob claims to no longer decimate. Everyone hears differentlyI heard the Dave with the Blu and I prefer it without it. 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. This is a dealers email comment to me about comparisons he did. Thanks. We can operate our current DAC modules at up to 6 MHz for PCM and up to 50 MHz for DSD. Can it output a Low or High Voltage on a single pin in a bitstream? California crafted in-house from an aluminum billet, the enclosure feels solid yet refined. Thanks. 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. However, its also very nice to listen to in this system, though I would say it is more accurate/true to the original DAC than our LAB12 DAC or perhaps our Lampizator BIG 7. It is an unassuming but very nicely put together component that has had a great deal of thought put into the architecture of the parts that make it up. Digital inputs : RCA coax, AES/EBU XLR, 2x Toslink optical, 2x module slots, word . In my listening tests, I could detect no attribute that made it sound special. comes down to knowing what you are actually trying to achieve in a high end I havent heard the Rockna. I've tried it in my system and I don't like it. November 11, 2020 in Digital Sources, DACs, and Computer Audio. I have listened to MSB Analog DAC and Diamond DAC IV but not in the same setup as DAVE. Each clock is made up of two independent clocks but only one is used at any given time so as not to add unwanted noise to the circuit. Roon/Jriver 22 -> Ayre QX-5 Twenty -> Ayre AX-5 Twenty -> B&W N802D (Transparent Cables). - Meat Loaf. When you get the chance to hear Chord DAVE, try playing files bit perfect instead of upsampling them to DSD256 with HQPlayer. Yeah, you and me both- the look I got wasn't as funny as the one I got from the Sennheiser stand when I asked if they had any HD600 or HD650, instead of all those Momentums and so forth, but still. Toggle signature. Stainless steel buttons arrayed around an elegant volume wheel to optimize performance and response. So thats it and I think the only thing I think Ive left out of the build part of this DAC is the 3 buttons and the knob on the front panel which are used for manually changing the volume and menu diving, though all this can be done from the remote. Strangely from this company is lack of any anti-aliasing on the text causing pixels to not be seen in the fonts chosen! I thought the DAVE was just as stunning with DSD as PCM. I can leave my hand on it as long as I want to. For some folk, a highly resolving and accurate system may well be described as being over-analytical, and on the other side of the audio fence, some will suggest that some systems sound nice but flawed. To my ears it makes music sound unnatural. The Hugo TT2 is intended to bridge the gap between the range topping DAVE and budget Qutest rack mounted offerings. Now, this is an important and quite a cool lesson in what is going on with the two PSUs. The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. Cheers @Stereophilus Almost all gear I hear is pretty good and some are great but the most expensive ones are not universally the best to my ears. heard, I could easily live with the Aeris, Dave, or Wavedream. JavaScript is disabled. By Specifications: Type: Digital to analogue converter with volume control. For the most part, I used this input and for a quick comparison one of the optical inputs. The Base module has two outputs (high and low) depending on whether you are outputting to a preamplifier or directly to a power amplifier. If I want to build a complicated system, I won't consider DAVE because for the position of DAC, I can choose from other brands (Totaldac, NADAC, Rockna, Prismsound 8XR etc) at the same price. Along with an integrated clock, changing this card allows switching between single-ended and balanced outputs. Regular readers will appreciate all that is taken from the MSB website and I make no apologies for not really understanding the electronics. 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. retail client forgets that most audio stores and audio distribution companies Check out the awards + accolades. We feel Btw, my MSB friend and I used the internal analog preamp for MSB and built-in digital preamp for DAVE. To build a simple and good system). SoundLab A1Px's, ARC REF40, VTL Siegfired II, cj GAT2, cj ART, DCS Vivaldi 2.0 stack, Taiko Audio SGM Extreme, TechDas AF1+ , Graham Phamtom III, Sumiko Palo Santos, vdH Black Beauty, ARC Phono 3, Studer A80, Crystal Dreamline, Transparent Audio Ref XL digital and Ref Gen V power cables, CenterStage footers, Nordost Qkore6' s and QB8's! Not a bad idea Snoop! Then we have the Integrated Clock module and Im starting to get the whole modular approach to the design of the MSB DAC. While it's an easy setup to wrangle at a show, it does seem like it wasn't doing either component any favours! By The best upgrade for Dave easy. Congratulations on the upgrade and enjoy it in good health. I did try with just the one power supply and the Discrete remained a very strong performer with the differences being a very slight loss in the sense of separation and definition when listening intently. Whether its a software update or a leading-edge modular component, were here to help the most valued aspect of MSBour customers. The other issue is preference. 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. There hasn't been any direct comparison of them with Select II, Trinity DAC, CH D1/C1, Totaldac D12 etc in Hong Kong yet. This gives us lots of headroom for future sample rates and audio formats.. Of those, I've only heard the DAVE. MQA decoding It matches Chord Dave and Mscaler on dynamics with slightly more bass slam. 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 . Chord Dave Black New The Prime DAC With two prime DACs, MSB yields an unprecedented level of detail, reproducing the musicality, soundstage, and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you Ps Audio Directstream Dac Vs Auralic Vega Founded in 2004, Games for Change is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and . I don't understand why Chord DACs have to be so damn ugly! This leaner and cleaner edge has the effect of adding a level of perceived detail to the listening experience. Fixed. Wavedream only has a couple hours on it, but from the first note it Thats why were thrilled to offer up to 100% trade-in value for existing MSB products when upgrading to a higher performing series. The MSB DAC comes with one external PSU as standard. I would have loved if you heard them in the same system for a direct comparison. Is this what passes for high end? I hope you understand. Sablon Audio King/Prince power cords throughout. This is the main advantage of DAVE (i.e. When connecting to the MScaler, Dual-BNC was used on the chord dacs with shawline digital BNC cables. 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. But in the specific case of the BADA and PM2, if you wish for me to be more precise, then taking into account that I only had the BADA ref for a very short time, the bottom line was that I didn't feel at the time that the difference between the PM2 in my system was significant enough to make it worth the energy to change components or the potential financial loss involved in a trade. Focal Utopia ~ LCD i4 ~ ETHER FLOW open/C ~ LCD-2.2/XC ~ Nighthawk ~ K10 custom ~ JH Angie, Chord mscaler // Chord TT2 // Oppo PM-1 (Artisan silver headphone cable) // Beyerdynamic DT880 600 Ohm // WAVE Stream bnc cables // Kef LS50 Meta. Still, it's the way I prefer at this stage. I'm also a very patient person and can wait for the right bit of kit at the right price to come up secondhand. 2. I like Aqua Formula xHD and Totaldac Six. Id imagine that upscaling refers to increasing bit-depth (like from 16 to 24 bits) which adds "vertical" resolution to the waveform in theory, improving amplitude resolution making subtle low-level detail more natural and audible (among other things) if done correctly. the Select II pushes the analog to be its best. As you pursue higher levels of playback, an MSB upgrade path is always available to help drive your own desire for innovation. This is disabled if you are outputting to a preamplifier. 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? 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. This hobby is "highly subjective", influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions; therefore you can A/B a million different components and come to a completely different conclusion on how it sounds compared to another listener. My friend who owns the Diamond DAC IV prefers the MSB. definitely up there with the best dacs in the world. To me, the instrumental timbre seems more accurate with DAVE than any other DACs I've heard. Besides that the MSB looks so much better. Chord Dave DAC "Sealed Box Brand New" Never Opened !! And this is what separates the very good from the excellent piece of audio equipment. I own the MSB Select II with the dual powerbases and 33 Femto Clock. The USB module is completely electrically isolated and is again a standalone module capable of 32 bit#768kHz, MQA decoding and 8X DSD. I'd also look at the Mola-Mola Tambaqui and the new dCS Bartok. The sonic signature is detailed and yet easy to listen to, with the Discrete bringing a sense of the recordings scale (big or small) to the listening experience. The world's largest high-end audio community. Others might disagree but these are my findings. I could not so, after 2 years of trying, I bought it. I'm looking for suggestions on DACs I should listen to as possible replacement of my Chord Dave. Hifi Pig is part of the Big Pig Media LLP group of companies. - Up to 32 bit - 768kHz. Didn't like it at all. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When a dealer post something you have to take it with a enormous grain of salt. Whats Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. Whats Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. I agree price is necessarily indicative of quality or performance. But dont take our word for it. None, despite working back as I always do if theres an issue! Regardless if the buyer has never auditioned the unit, and found it corresponding to, Simaudio Moon Neo 260 DT CD Transport / Empirical Audio reclocking system: Synchro-Mesh Reclocker driven by Dynamo Linear Power Supply, 2 x Reference BNC digital cable / Schiit Yggdrasil Less is More (LIM) DAC / Octave HP 700 preamp / Octave RE 320 stereo amp with Super Black Box / Reference 3A Reflector monitors, on Sound Anchors Signature stands / dual JL Audio Fathom 112 v2 subwoofers / Cables: ZenWave Audio D4 interconnects, ZenWave SMSG speaker cables / Diverse Herbie's Audio Lab footers / Acoustic treatment: Tri-panels, window plugs, ceiling diffusers (all ASC), diverse carpets chosen for acoustic properties (wool, polypropylene basketweave), Sure absolutely agree that paying that much money without auditioning (preferably in my house, with my own equipment, in my room) does not make much sense. Chord Dave Replacement. I wired it all up and the unit lit up but I could get no sound out of it whatsoever. I'm looking for suggestions on DACs I should listen to as possible replacement of my Chord Dave. I expected a lot better. But it need good system matching. The Prime DAC Module. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9eh61-lampizator-pacific-da-converters, https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/lampizator-pacific-dac/, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/subjective-grading-of-dac-that-i-had-heard-during-last-one-year-period. I'm looking for suggestions between $10K - $12K. in this forum and they are all very good dacs. How hot does the Chord DAC get? I think people buy what they like. MSB Technology [Select DAC II Full Option] Chord [Dave] Myek [Manhattan II] I had A-B test about 2 months. 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. We await Phase 2 where all DACs are assessed using upsampled data via your Lumin U1 to establish ranking and the preferred format through each. You go off people's opinions and hope it'll match your equipment and system when you put the hard earned down. Watts is avidly not reading this in anticipation of the video version he won't watch. Will do. One name that was thrown around by a few people I know is the Rockna Wavedream. What did you think with the Chord Dave vs Emm Labs Dac2x? Concluding that there is some kind of problem with using an FPGA vs. what MSB does is not technically supportable. Thanks. The Dave as a DAC actually sounds decent. 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. Anyway, I switched out the valve power amplifier and put in its place the Krell KST100 (all fully fettled and brought up to a better than new spec by Krell in the States) with my intention being to see what effect was the DAC and what was down to the amp basically isolating the effect to a component. In comparison to spdif which feels more 3D but relatively smaller sound stage, with better separation, vocals are more focused/accurate, everything sounds more evenly balanced. 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 is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. A fully balanced, ultra-high precision, discrete ladder DAC architecture ensures each note tells a story. Moving away from the actual sound of the music, one of my main takeaways from listening to the Discrete was the sense of timing it brought to music. The Discrete DAC Features - MSB Technology The Discrete DAC Refined sound. My wife said it I could easily live with any of these. This latter recording gets played to death at shows, but that doesnt detract from it being a very good tune and a very good recording, though I have been known to take the piss a bit when it gets played for the tenth time in a day at audio events. DAVE is perfect for headphone system because you can save space and money of headphone amplifier. Never say never, but I reckon 99.9% of folk would get to the Discretes level of performance and not be able to justify another 110K to achieve, what I am guessing would be marginal gains though I have not experienced the Select and so cannot say for sure that this would be the case and it may be a total revelation is sonic engineering.