No, I haven’t heard one. Don’t they use the AD1865 DAC chips, same as the Helene? Based on my time with the Mojo DACs (most use AD1862, except the Mystique Y uses AD1865), I find the AD1862 a bit more musical and the AD1865 a bit more forward. Of course, the implementation and the output stage will also have big influences on the sound.
Six DAC Comparison
I am in the middle of comparing the sound of six different DACs in my system. I own them all (I know weird) but one of them is still within a trial/return timeframe.
Not to share specific comparisons today, but a couple of observations so far are that first, they all definitely sound different from each other. On one hand, they all sound pretty good and play what is fed to them without significant flaws but on the other hand there are definite sonic differences that make it easy to understand how a person might like the sound of some of them while not liking others.
Second, raises the observation that most of them must be doing something to shape the sound in the manner the designer intended since one of the DACs, a Benchmark DAC3 HGA, was described by John Atkinson of Stereophile as providing "state-of-the-art measured performance." In the review, JA closed the measurements section by writing, "All I can say is "Wow!" I have also owned the Tambaqui (not in my current comparison), which also measured well ("The Mola Mola Tambaqui offers state-of-the-digital-art measured performance." - JA). The Benchmark reminds me sonically of the Tambaqui, both of which are excellent sounding DACs.
My point is that if the Benchmark is providing "state-of-the-art measured performance," then one could reasonably presume that the other five DACs, which sound different from the Benchmark, do not share similar ’state-of-the-art" measurements and are doing something to subtly or not so subtly alter the sound. Whether a person likes what they hear is a different issue.
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@mitch2 It does use the AD 1865. They are kits you can have built or build yourself. They are loaded with transformers and chokes and the higher the level the more chokes and transformers they have. Many people mod and upgrade the kits by with nicer caps and resistor. Some will even upgrade the transformers and chokes. |
@brbrock - I too was curious about AN Kit DACs a few years ago but my general sense of things (without having direct knowledge) is that there are now plenty of offerings from manufacturers covering a pretty wide range of sound signatures and sound quality so it is no longer such a good deal to construct a DAC yourself. Also, resale on kit gear is pretty crappy so in the digital world that keeps evolving and moving forward toward even better sound, most of us are probably not yet purchasing end game DACs - just my random thoughts. |
@mitch2 Agree completely about the AN kits. I went down that path a while ago, learned a lot, and decided it wasn't really for me. I guess if you had some very specific signature you were chasing it might be a good option. For me, I went with Mojo and was happy with that choice. |
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