FWIW, I haven’t heard the DAVE in a few years, but did audition it on some familiar systems back in the day and to my ears it’s not the same caliber as the Tambaqui. Perhaps with the latest oversamplers and such it’s closer, but the Tambaqui sounds much more natural to me, particularly in combination with the Grimm MU1.
DAC recommendations under $7K
OK, my R11’s were destroyed by FedEx on the way to their new owners, and the check is OTW from FedEx in payment, so I am ready to buy a new DAC.
My digital equipment:
Simaudio Moon 330A
PSaudio BHK pre with Tele Medical tubes (also have Brimar & Sieman’s NOS tubes)
KEF Reference 3’s
Aurender N150
Chord Qutest with Sbooster + Ultra LPS
Transparent + Gen 5 speaker cables
Cardas Clear USB
Mogami 2549 interconnects
I am looking to spend less than $7K new or used. Size of the DAC is important, as I don’t have room for a standard width (17’) DAC and height is also a potential issue, so the PSaudio, Holo May, etc are out. I ’thought’ I wanted warmer, but after reading the excellent "If warmth is distortion... " post, I think I want a W2W DAC, front row or conductor seat sound.
Perhaps best described as my Qutest, only better. Better imaging, soundstage, no digital haze, no digital etching... clearer, cleaner. BTW, I never experience fatigue with my Qutest, filter set on incisive with HF rolloff. I wear very good hearing aids, but as a result, my HF hearing above 9khz is non existent.
My N150 is USB output only & I listen exclusively to Qobuz PCM, so I need a DAC with excellent USB capability & DSD, Roon etc is not important. I want it to be only a DAC as I plan to keep my N150 & BHK. I don’t want a tube DAC.
My next upgrade is probably my interconnects with OCC copper.
My current #1 contender is the Bricasti M3, perfect size, nice industrial design, great USB implementation, W2W sound, great reviews, everything I think I need, very little I don’t.
ChatGPT describes the M3 as follows...
What the M3 sounds like vs your Qutest:
Imagine your Qutest but—
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cleaner
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smoother
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more open
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less grain
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more precise
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more neutral
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more “grown-up” sounding
Not warmer. Not colder. Not more aggressive. Just… higher-end execution of the same overall philosophy.
I know several of you don’t like chatGPT, but keep your replies to disputing it’s findings, not it’s use. For me, it is a part of a 3 leg stool, together with other research & input from this forum.
Other DAC’s that were/are in contention are the Holo Spring 3 KTE, Mystique X, Weiss 501, Chord Dave & Chord TT2. As I said, the PSaudio, Holo May etc are too large. I am sure there are more DAC’s to consider.
Before I pull the trigger on the M3, please provide your thoughts & recommendations. I want to make a very well informed purchase. Thank you!
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@zlone made comments about "leaving the USB space" and using Ethernet over USB that I agree with. I am prefer Ethernet from an Innuos Statement with a DDC for S/PDIF to a Lampizator Goldengate3 over a direct USB input. I haven't hear the Tambaqui but would choose it based on the numerous recommendations, reviews and importantly it has Ethernet input. It seems to me after a DAC upgrade of this level you will be wanting to upgrade your Aurender sooner than later and the Tambaqui will give you options to leave the USB space without needing a DDC. |
As stated earlier, I love my Bricasti M3, which can be used via USB or Ethernet. I find Ethernet sounds better to my ears, plus I can control everything from either my phone or iPad, including volume. So simple. USB Input
Ethernet (Network/DLNA/UPnP)
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I would like to invite just the last half dozen posters in this thread along with myself to go on 10 or so forums each, and post "Chord Dave vs. Bricasti M3 shootout- Dave was warm and mushy and the M3 was clinical and analytical" And @signaforce can run his ChatGPT results again next week and let's see how different the results are. |
- 203 posts total