Price 9k in the U.K. Everyone hears differentlyI heard the Dave with the Blu and I prefer it without it. It could sound analytical or hot coupled with bright combination of speaker and amplifier. I found it big bold brash and dynamic but hard cold glary and fatiguing - all the old fashioned things I hated about early digital. Unless they have the exact same components as the end user, it's impossible to tell that customer how component X will sound in their system. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 2 are upscalers , not upsamplers. This is a review, detailed measurements and listening tests of CHORD DAVE combination DAC and headphone amplifier. 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. Great Dac but for me a NOS DAC (Metrum Adagio) won the contest over all the others Dacs I have tried so far. DAVE stands for 'Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis', a moniker that best reflects the product's . DAC Comparison Reference DAC Modules 4x Hybrid DAC Clock The Femto 33 Digital Inputs 4x User Replaceable Input Slots Optical and Coaxial input module Included Analog Outputs Preamp XLR Output Module - 150 Impedance RCA output available with external adapter Analog Inputs XLR Analog Expansion Modules RCA or XLR Input RCA or XLR Output When you get the chance to hear Chord DAVE, try playing files bit perfect instead of upsampling them to DSD256 with HQPlayer. We are However, there are also products that manage to straddle both sides of the electric fence (whilst being careful not to electrocute their nether regions) and give us a tremendously enjoyable reproduction of a recording whilst remaining true to the source material. However, there are two inputs for external PSUs and a little doodad/adapter that allows the use of one external PSU. Thats why were thrilled to offer up to 100% trade-in value for existing MSB products when upgrading to a higher performing series. Right now my favorite DACs in my system are the Pacific Microsonics Model 2 (for PCM), Phasure NOS1a (for PCM), Meridian Ultra (for MQA), and the Playback Designs MPS5 (for DSD128). I agree price is necessarily indicative of quality or performance. My wife said it Sonically, it is akin to the old straight wire with gain only in the digital realm. other dacs I have enjoyedin no particular order; I would not call this second tier; but I prefer what hear from my Select II to what Ive heard from these. 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. This ranking is just my subjective thinking. 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. Thank you for posting! Then just stay with the basic Premier unit, and the power supply that comes with it. Compared to some other similarly priced DACs ($10 - $15k MSRP) I prefer the Discrete with 2 Discrete PS. After a year of listening to various components I'm content. EAR FILLERS HiFi Pig Playlists on Qobuz, Transatlantic Dispatches: A New World Disorder, Astell&Kern Launch Three New Products At High End Munich 2022. This effect was evident on track after track but didnt feel like it was overly exaggerated. Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. Elegant design. I own the MSB Select II with the dual powerbases and 33 Femto Clock. I have listened to MSB Analog DAC and Diamond DAC IV but not in the same setup as DAVE. Equipped with high-visibility and a wide viewing angle, the display is both easy-to-read and stunning, exhibiting our love for intuitive features. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material (in part or in full) without express and written permission from this websites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. So yes it's a question of being polite, but it's also about acknowledging the limitations inherent in making absolute pronouncements about differences between high performing components. The demo model came in brushed aluminium but you can also get black. Bespoke Audio Ultimate Silver TVC passive preamp, Totaldac xlr version D1-Drivers x2, Eisteddfod 340 & 840 amps, Magico S5 speaker, MSB Select DAC, MSB Select Transport, Nakamichi 700 XLE cassette deck, Taiko Audio Extreme Server, Tripoint Troy Signature NG groundbox, PLiXiR Elite 1500 isolation transformers. 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. I would,however, like to say we are highly selective over the brands we represent and believe they are excellent value. Taiko Audio Extreme > Sablon Audio Reserva Elite USB2022/Sablon Audio Reserva Ethernet2020> Aqua Formula XHDV2 > Sablon Audio King Sablon Interconnects > LDR pre > PuLSar45 DC SE amp > Sablon Audio Reserva speaker cables (pigtailed) > Avantgarde Duo Omega( Duelund xover). MSB Technology [Select DAC II Full Option] Chord [Dave] Myek [Manhattan II] I had A-B test about 2 months. Of course your opinion on sound quality is your own, and valid, but to suggest that the reason for the difference is because the Chord is an "FPGA DAC" is technically incorrect. They are excellent pairing. See what the reviews are saying. Sign up for a new account in our community. DAVE is the most advanced DAC Chord Electronics has ever made. Check out the awards + accolades. 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. 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. I was upgrading it in this order and still could not believe every time it sounded better. The Pro USB is offered as a stand alone module for users who already have an MSB DAC that is equipped with a Pro ISL input as well as a starter kit with a Pro ISL input and everything you need to get up and running. With a better matched preamp presence may be acceptable. So true jr, the discrete R2R Multibit dacs like the Terminator the Holo, MSB, Total ect ect have a life and a boogie factor to the music that DS dacs lack, and yes they do show up bad recordings. A modular I/O card keeps even the discrete DAC flexible, repairable, and upgradeable. 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. Is it too hot to touch? What ice cream do you prefer? fake by any means necessary jacket. I suppose what Im saying (badly) is that the Discrete was true to the file it was being fed and I did enjoy hearing it allowed me to pull small details out of the mix Jazz at the Pawn Shop (DSD128) felt more lifelike and in the room than I am used to and raw tracks such as Phutures Acid Trax did sound rougher and really basically recorded. Even at very low listening levels, it was clear that the MSB was delivering a clean analogue output to the ampand Im aware that sounds a bit vague. 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 . The PSUs are available to match. The Discrete is around 11,000 whilst the Select is 120,750 with its power base. Very resolving, tone is on the cold side of neutral but otherwise pretty free of digital nasties compared to the cheaper Chords, and the stage is flatter than Keira Knightley. I agree with what you are saying but "far too often" the Mike, Scott has been absolutely wonderful in his support, despite my purchasing the Found-Music 2A3s used (from Art S.) He has visited once and is planning another visit after the trip your way. Both DACs connected directly to power amp using each DACs volume controle. 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. 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. An FPGA does not have analog output, in the Chord DACs, VLC | M-Audio FastTrack Pro | Mac Opt | Panasonic SA-HE100 | Logitech Z623, : SET Tube Amp | Low-Noise Linear Regulated Power Supply | USB, Power, Speaker Cables | Speaker Stands | Acoustic Panels, http://igg.me/at/geekpulseaudio/x/5216671. I know it is a standard talking point by some to suggest that Chord DACs aren't as good with DSD as PCM. Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers, A healthy approach to understanding measurements, After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones, $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+, http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/chord-dave-29757/#post579518, (You must log in or sign up to reply here.). 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. You are using an out of date browser. However, to get this level of separation and detail within the soundscape the DAC is clearly having a very important role to play. I have heard a lot of top DACs at shows or other systems but not in my own. connection because it eliminates some parts and gets you closer to a direct as my Select II sits it would list for $116,450. I have enjoyed my time with the MSB Discrete DAC a great deal. This one has similar sound signature to MSB Premier But it is half notch below MSB Premier on dynamics, details, soundstage. The LED display, slaved to the audio clock, is refreshed between data processing to drastically reduce electrical interference. Watts is avidly not reading this in anticipation of the video version he won't watch. So this was headphones straight out of the DAVE? Thanks. Is this what passes for high end? And I make Best DAC Quality Ranking list. It's better than the MSB Analog I listened to. It has the option for two PSUs and once you hear with both it becomes a necessity to have both. Unfortunately not, I'm going the second hand route as I've done with most of my setup. 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. I havent heard the Rockna. personal preference. Will do. 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. I have heard the Dave and EMM Labs DAC2x up against aMakua that I subsequently purchased. 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. Wavedream only has a couple hours on it, but from the first note it Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. Like x 5 List . Oppo Modwright BDP-205 full mod. 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. 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. The lo-res display also makes menu ]set-up fiddly because it doesn't have enough space to display words. "Im not sure if there are algorithms that can add high-frequency information that wasnt captured in the original sampled result". The MSB DAC comes with one external PSU as standard. And if I had to guess (given I haven't heard both), I'd guess it outperforms the Tambaqui. There are so. They are all excellent DACs and at that level of performance, it's ultimately about system synergy, personal preferences and the limitations of our hearing. That is not to say that a preamp doesn't produce value with respect to other sound quality characteristics that may affect the personal appeal of the musical reproduction (e.g., soundstage), or that the extra transparency won't reveal system issues, but there is no question that transparency is higher when going straight to the amps. 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. Were honored to be recognized by the industry for bringing you the most lifelike sound we can. I've also learned that a DAC's performance will depend heavily on the music player. At some point you have to be content in this hobby. Amplification: Cyrus Mono x300Signatures. ), Chord Hugo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp), DAC Noise Modulation: Chord DAVE vs Topping DX7 Pro+, Digital To Analog (DAC) Reviews and Discussion, Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review. First let me preface my comments by stating that I have not heard a lot of high end DACs in my system. Elegant yet commanding, our finishes are available in a matte silver or matte black anodize. IMHO an audio recommendation in a forum is just an advice on what is worth listening and the reason why we think so. 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. Can it output a Low or High Voltage on a single pin in a bitstream? Stuart Smith finds out. Sound Media Group Pty Ltd In that time, weve pushed the industry forward with each product weve built, redefining whats possible. 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. Up to 4X DSD You already have a very top tier DAC. This is a dealers email comment to me about comparisons he did. 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% There are a lot of people that absolutely love the M-scaler. Talking of cool lets talk about this remote. When we set out to make the MSB remote, the design was built from the ground up. There hasn't been any direct comparison of them with Select II, Trinity DAC, CH D1/C1, Totaldac D12 etc in Hong Kong yet. the Select II pushes the analog to be its best. I'm looking for suggestions on DACs I should listen to as possible replacement of my Chord Dave. 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. There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. Concluding that there is some kind of problem with using an FPGA vs. what MSB does is not technically supportable. 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. The Base module has two outputs (high and low) depending on whether you are outputting to a preamplifier or directly to a power amplifier. However, the extra PSU does add to the cost considerably! very important and our preference connection is an i2S connection. In my assessment the Makua offered a more open and spacious sound. It is a manual step which I forgot. The DAC has two modes; multi-bit PCM and single-bit discrete DSD mode. so these are less preferred. luxury apartment hotels paris. What effect does reconstruction filter have? us, over a 2 day test period come to the exact same conclusion. I dont know as that was years ago and I dont have one here to test against. Did I mention the remote is perfect? home system and listening for that end result. it just complimented my system better than those other two. but with digital things change quickly, and a month ago I got a new server, the SGM Extreme. I've had many world class DACS in my studio over the years and the Crane Song is as good as any no matter the cost. Wherever I read I see unanimous praise for the MSB Select II. Hope to try different formats on both DACs to see what works best in my system. 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. I hear the new Ayre QX-5 Twenty gives the DAVE a run for its money at $8950 but that is just hearsay. In my assessment the Makua offered a more open and spacious sound. - Up to 32 bit - 768kHz. As a contented Qutest user, I would have hoped for "improved", performance from the Dave. Like the rest of the DACs in the MSB range, the Select DAC is modular in its architecture with each of the modules being produced in house, as outlined above. I'm also a very patient person and can wait for the right bit of kit at the right price to come up secondhand. Its headphone amplifier is good but no match for higher powered units. 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. Along with an integrated clock, changing this card allows switching between single-ended and balanced outputs. Height with feet: 68 mm Weight: 8.2 kg, Accessories included: Manual Remote control Aluminum MSB USB charging cable 4 X Spikes and Cups 4 X plastic inserts Power connector splitter, MERASON FRROT DAC REVIEW The Merason Frrot DAC costing 995 isn't the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Switzerland. I do however like the i2S connection better than any other in this forum and they are all very good dacs. The dCS Bartok was also interesting but, based on my research, I kept coming back to Bricasti. Once populated, the circuit boards are made into modules and then placed inside the casework. Btw, my MSB friend and I used the internal analog preamp for MSB and built-in digital preamp for DAVE. Sent from my iPhone using Computer Audiophile. turns out that with the Extreme USB slightly pulls ahead of the Ethernet with the Renderer, then adding the Pro USB there is now a significant step up over the Renderer. frequency response graphs, CSD waterfall plots, subjective gear reviews. 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. Playing Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jacksons Your Daddy Loves You from the Winter in America album gave me the same impression of a reach-out-and-touch soundscape with incredibly well-defined positions in the mix and a whole load of detail the over-driven sound of the electric piano at around a minute forty really stood out as being faithful to the recording; a case of high-fidelity highlighting a low-fidelity artefact? dacs and server competed against much more expensive dacs and servers sound wise Have you thought about hooking up a Blu2 to Dave? https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-dac-that-crushes-price-vs-performance-ratio. 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. This all-American theme is continued in the companys PCB Shop where they use circuit boards produced for them in Silicon Valley, which are then made ready for the automated adding of the smaller components and hand-fitting bulkier components before washing and inspection. 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. I'm doing this off the top of my head. This is the main advantage of DAVE (i.e. Thanks. 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. There is scale on bigger productions and intimacy on smaller-scale recordings and pieces, It wont make a pigs ear into a sows purse, but its majestic on really good recordings, Its very detailed but not harshly so actually, its a very easy component to fit in a system and live with, Its not cheap and you will want both PSUs once you compare with just one, No analogue inputs to make it the heart of a full system, You know that MSB have stuff that is out of reach financially and potentially better, Price: 11,000 plus 1,650 for a second power supply. I'll take a look, however I've heard they're on the warm side? Let us do the work of refurbishing and finding your current electronics a new hometheyll continue to be enjoyed for years to come. The only thing that I'd really like to see added here is an Aries Cerat. 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. Out of all of the DACs I've The Discrete DAC Features - MSB Technology The Discrete DAC Refined sound. Stuart Smith finds out. UPnP Protocol 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. 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? Always use!! None, despite working back as I always do if theres an issue! MSB Technology Discrete Modular DAC Page 2. - Meat Loaf. As you pursue higher levels of playback, an MSB upgrade path is always available to help drive your own desire for innovation. I have great synergy in my system and see no reason to listen to every new DAC out there. 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. But of course, I love window shopping and perusing top tier systems including illustrious more familiar gear like Lampi, TD, MSB, Ares Cerat, Aqua. I can see that in an A/B comparison, many other DACs sound more impressive than DAVE/Blu2. You could spend less and get close to the sound of this DAC, for sure. How hot does the Chord DAC get? There is no dark magic involved. I could not so, after 2 years of trying, I bought it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites. But dont take our word for it. This is a company that is All American and fiercely proud of that fact. the Extreme has some special optimization for USB. I mean is it audibly noticeable? When a dealer post something you have to take it with a enormous grain of salt. MSB Technology's Discrete DAC was the best DAC I'd heard in my systemuntil the MSB Premier showed up. The modular nature of the Discrete and other MSB DACs is very clever and I assume this goes a good way towards giving it such a neutral and detailed sound, where no one part is interfering with what the other is doing. The DAVE DAC does not perform anywhere near where it should. 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. Click to expand. The Chord DAVE was also on my list, but I decided to pass (my Chord retailer was very 'pushy' and not helpful). While it's an easy setup to wrangle at a show, it does seem like it wasn't doing either component any favours! Ps Audio Directstream Dac Vs Auralic Vega Founded in 2004, Games for Change is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and social innovators to drive real-world impact through games and immersive media Here is the list : Trinity Designs [Trinity DAC] TotalDAC [d1-Six] Aqua Acoustic Quality [Formula xHD] MSB Technology [Select DAC II Full Option . Please specify coaxial S/PDiF or optical S/PDiF. Since this forum is mainly USA based and we are in the UK, I have very little to gain business wise here. There ain't no Coupe deVille hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box. You'd expect Audiosanctuary to understand what a gutless amp sounds like, and at least put a headphone amp in front of that DAVE, if they wanted to sell people either the DAVE or the headphones. What did you think with the Chord Dave vs Emm Labs Dac2x? I say take what everyone post when a grain of salt, because an individual's preference may be different than yours. 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. MSB DACs also use a processing chip to handle oversampling and digital filtering (not sure if this chip is an FPGA or other type processing chip, but it is a high speed digital processing chip). Of course this DAC is super pricey and out of the reach of many (including me). Conversely, you could spend a lot more and not gain a great deal in real terms. I could easily live with any of these. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary tells me that the definition of high-fidelity (HiFi) is the reproduction of an effect (such as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original and it would seem to be reasonable to assume that this is the goal of audiophiles around the world. In my listening tests, I could detect no attribute that made it sound special. dac at a reasonable price. Sources: Hiby R6, Fiio x3II, Fiio x5II DACs: Dave, Yggdrasil, Hugo, Hugo TT, U12. 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. Although I would like to keep this as close to $10-12K as possible. It seems to me that manufacturers are jacking up the price for the perception of quality.