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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.

mitch2
mitch2 OP
4,752 posts
 

@brbrock - The AC Helene uses eight R2R converters per channel (16 total), running in parallel.  There are only 8 actual chips since the Analog Devices AD1865N-K is a stereo chip (i.e., two converters/chip).  Benjamin acknowledges there are benefits to paralleling DAC chips but also believes simply using a better chip is the best route to take.   

I have been happily listening to the Mojo Audio Mystique Z DAC this weekend.  It is sounding really good.  Once I am satisfied that I am hearing it as intended, I will post my impressions and a more purposeful comparison between the Z DAC and my Mojo Audio Mystique X SE NCZ DAC. Given the almost identical output voltage of those two DACs, I have set things up to compare them by simply pushing one button to change my input selection.  I can do this "on the fly," so almost instantaneously.  I am even using the same coax/RCA digital input cable into each and similar RCA output cables into my preamp.

My new SMc Auido VRE-1c preamplifier is "in the mail" and scheduled to arrive on Thursday.  After I receive the preamp and run it in for a few days, I will be more easily able to compare the Mojo Audio Z DAC with the Aeries Cerat Helene.  The challenge is that the Helene inverts polarity so either the pos/neg speaker cable leads must be switched at one end, or one of the comparitive DACs or the preamp must have a polarity invert switch.  Since the VRE-1C preamp does indeed have a polarity switch, once that arrives, I will be able to leave the speaker cables in place and switch polarity at the preamp using the remote to facilitate my comparisons between the Z and the Helene.  Unfortunately, comparing between the Z and Helene DACs will require three steps each time I switch between them:

  • switch input selector on preamp
  • switch polarity on preamp
  • turn the volume down on the Helene or up on Z to match SPLs due to the higher (5V vs. 2.4V) output voltage of the Helene over the Z.  I plan to match them by checking/comparing SPLs using the decibel app on my phone.  

I will keep you all posted on how things are going.

mfisher702
49 posts
 

I have my Mojo Audio Mystique Z NC in house. Will deliver energy to it asap and report after it settles in for a while.

brbrock's avatar
brbrock
168 posts
 

@mitch2 So just checkin in.  Im looking forward to hearing about  the differences between the  Mojo DAC's.  The price of the X SE has dropped becoming pretty affordable.    

tksteingraber's avatar
tksteingraber
787 posts
 

A few weeks in with my trade in upgrade from a Mojo Mystique Evo B4B21 to one of Ben’s Demo X’25 NC’s.  The minute I first played a track it was yep this is a keeper and a very good choice.   More of everything…quite a noticeable improvement.

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