DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

Verdant, if you look at Michael Fremer's current "Associated Equipment" list, e.g. in his review of the Gryphon Commander Preamp, you will see he is using a SW1X LPUIII in his rotation of phono pre's. That company makes a model of DAC called the DACIII Balanced Classic. Getting your hands on one would be difficult. Too bad though. 

vs FPGA where you probably have one guy designing the chip.  Just fine when that person is Andreas Koch, Nicloae Jitaru or Rob Watts, but I would not have faith that any FPGA delta sigma will perform as well as any chip based delta sigma without knowing who the designer is.  

I would add Ed Meitner to that list too :)   I just picked up a MA3 DAC that uses his MDAC2 converters.   I'm actively comparing it to my Mojo Audio DAC which couldn't be much different under the hood but so far I would say they sound more similar than different.   What I really like about the Mojo's sound is pretty much present with the MA3.   There are some differences and that is what I need to figure out to decide if the MA3 will replace my Mojo long term, but overall I have two DACs that sound really really good to my ears, and they don't share very much design or implementation details...

Next DAC on the agenda is the Playback MPD-8 Dream which should arrive next week.  I have a used unit coming in and will spend a little time with it before we find it a forever home.  PM me if you are interested in acquiring it.  

@jeffreyw the best match with AC is supposed to be Pink Faun.  That DAC likes being fed from a server with a great clock.  I might also look at Antipodes.  What software do you plan to run?  BTW...I will admit, I am not a huge fan of streamers.  I very much prefer server and player as I feel it does a better job of dealing with a volatile internet and not introducing noise at the critical rendering stage.  

@chayro I agree and have been trying to compose a post that I think is succinct, informative an uncontroversial without blathering.  

@ddafoe I hear amazing things about Meitner/EMM products.  I have not heard one in person yet.  It is a brand I am exploring adding.

@fsonicsmith I just found out that my local rep for Clarus cables is also the rep for Gryphon.  Unfortunately that is a Brick and Mortar brand only and doesn't fit with my business model.  Love the products though.

@fsonicsmith I just found out that my local rep for Clarus cables is also the rep for Gryphon. Unfortunately that is a Brick and Mortar brand only and doesn’t fit with my business model. Love the products though.

I think you mis-read my comment. Quite understandable re-reading my post :-) I was suggesting a trial of the SW1X DACIII Balanced Classic. SW1X is the brand name. Based in England but with two US distributors. The "Balanced" does not refer to circuit topology per se. As I understand it, the balanced portion of the design involves an extremely robust output section built much like a power amp. I have owned mine for about a year and half. I ought to know more about it and back when I ordered it and waited six months for it I was more familiar with the details of the design but since then I just listen to music with it. Mine gets signal from an Aurender W20 with a custom built S/PDIF from Analysis Plus built with their Silver Apex wire. Music played through it sounds very much like my vinyl playback utilizing a modded Garrard 301 with Classic HiFi brass bearing https://www.classichifi-shop.co.uk/ with the Dobbins platter and Reed 3P, and Lyra Etna Lamda.

@fsonicsmith I will check that DAC out.  I am always interested in learning about new products.