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DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

Okay...in another thread I promised to do a side-by-side evaluation of the Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap vs the Rockna Wavelight. Due to the astonishing incompetence of DHL this has been delayed. At the moment, I have a plethora of DACs here and am going to do a broader comparison.

I am going to do a compare of the Rockna Wavelight, Rockna Wavedream Signature, Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap, Chord Hugo 2, Chord Hugo TT2, Bricasti M3, Bricasti M1 Special Edition, Weiss 501 and the internal DAC card for an AVM A 5.2 Integrated amp as a baseline.

For sake of consistency, I am going to use that same AVM integrated amp driving Vivid Kaya 45s. I may branch out and do some listening on other speakers (Verdant Nightshade of Blackthorn and/or Wilson Benesch Vertexes) but want to use the Vivids for every compare as they are the fullest range speakers I have here. For sake of consistency I will use a Chord 2Go/2Yu connected via an Audioquest Diamond USB as a renderer. The only exception is the Hugo 2 which has a 2Go directly attached to it. I will use a Roon Nucleus+ as a server in all cases.

My plan is to use the same five songs on every DAC; In a Sentimental Mood from Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Be Still My Beating Heart from Sting, Liberty from Anette Askvik, Duende from Bozzio Levin Stevens and Part 1 of Mozart String Quartet No 14 in G Major from the Alban Berg Quartet. The intent is to touch on different music types without going crazy.

I will take extensive notes on each listening session and write up a POV on the strengths of each unit. I am going to start this this Friday/Saturday and will be writing things up over the next month or so. If you have thoughts, comments or requests, I will be happy to try and accommodate. The one thing I am not going to do is make the list of songs longer as that has an exponential impact on this and make everything much harder. If and when other DACs come in on trade I may add to the list through time.
verdantaudio
yyzsantabarbara
5,557 posts
 

@verdantaudio You should try the X1 USB stream out to the MPD-6 to compare the streaming abilities of the X1 to the PLink (which I assume you use on the MPD-6). The streamer on the X1 is really good, especially using Fibre Optic as an input. I still have not heard my PLink which is sitting under my desk.

I use my X1 as a SPDIF streamer to the Peachtree GAN1 (that you tested) and also as a XLR analog output to my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp. In both cases, it is a great result with a very advanced forward-looking user interface.

My GAN1 is not the stock version you heard; it is a modded version that I think is as good as my X1 going into a my 2-channel amps.

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,563 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara - so, I can test the X1 output.  I am not using PLink.  Just USB vs Ethernet.  I did AB testing with the X1, the Soulnote and the MPD-6.  I had two of the three connected to my preamp at at time.  Both connected to my Oladra, X1 via Ethernet direct connect and the other DAC (Playback or Soulnote) via USB.  
 

the Soulnote and the X1 sounded VERY similar.  The MPD-6 is a clear step forward in virtually every way, even using an inferior connection.  It sounds bigger, more detailed and more holographic than the X1.  The soundstage had more depth and height/width.  The X1 is excellent.  The MPD-6 is just better.  
 

 

klh007
624 posts
 

@verdantaudio Which Soulnote do you have and does it have an outboard clock? The website has a model 1, 2, and 3, and some require an outboard clock to function.

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,557 posts
 

While you have the X1 in the house you should hear the Fibre Optic input instead of the Ethernet RJ45. I take a Fibre stream directly from my Ubiquiti network switch.

willgolf
964 posts
 

I had the Lumin D-2, U-1 mini, A-2 and X-1.  I thought the X-1 was the best DAC I had heard under $18k.  I purchased a Lampizator Pacific and at first there was very little difference between the two.  Tube Rolling does come into play here.  I now have the Lampizator Horizon and will be going to an Aries Cerat Kassandra 2 Reference.  

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