Chord M-Scaler and Should I Want One?

Okay, you have my attention lol….   I don’t think those are areas you can have too much of.  Thanks for correcting my inaccurate perception of what this unit does (understanding that it would be different and likely with lesser of a benefit in my case with the degree of upsampling capped using the SPDIF output to my Gryphon DAC).

To me, these sonic traits sound similar to my experience when adding the Innuos PhoenixNET network isolator.  Smoother, deeper, more natural.  The PhoenixUSB reclocker added clarity and precision, and the network isolator made sure that things continued to sound natural.  
 

@jjss49 , I see you also have the Weiss 501 DAC, which I hear is warmer leaning (I also hear that it is superb).  My Gryphon DAC module is also warmer leaning.  Not sure if it’s possible to set up the Weiss as a DAC only with an external USB input, but if so, have you tried it with the M-Scaler?  Have you heard the M-Scaler with DACs where it didn’t work so well?

I have the Chord Dave.  I purchased the M-scaler expecting less improvement with their top of the line dac but I still didn't care for it.  I found the best setting was on the pass thru setting so I took it out of the system.  I plan to put it back in, it is still sitting there, but haven't gotten around to it.  So I wouldn't call my testing complete.  The better your DAC, the less upscaling will help you.  my 2 cents.

@nyev

i have not tried plugging the m scaler into the weiss

reason being daniel weiss states that the 501 does internal clocking and upscaling input signals at 195 khz -- which was chosen by them as what they felt optimized the sound, so in effect, the weiss (like many better dacs) does internal upscaling to enable what they feel is the most ideal reconstruction filtering of the signal in the conversion process - as you probably know, the upsampling allows for the final filters to work ideally so one should be optimized to the other in the design process

maybe one rainy day this winter when i am very bored i may well try feeding the weiss with the scaler

Makes sense that the best DACs already do the upsampling. Would be interesting to compare a setup like a one-box Weiss DAC with Roon solution, vs my Innuos Zenith Mk3 and the Phoenix reclocker (which sounds great to me).  If it compared, a Weiss could replace three boxes (including M-Scaler), corresponding cables, and eliminate the need for the DAC module.