Experience with SoulNote Dac2?

@udhasfan - Which of the Cybershaft models are you using? Super curious. How does it improve the sound? What are the changes? 

I think most of their models are good. The clock accuracy is very high. The D2 uses a unique design where they use a chip that is used in Radar technology. The clock feed to that chip is known to improve performance compared to the internal clock of D2. Ultimately its all about time domain distortion management in digital music. If the whole signal is synched from streamer all the way to dac output stage, that is ideal. The change I noticed as a more natural music, more open. 

@bluethinker I have been meaning to ask your impressions of the D2 now that you have had it for a while. I am enjoying the Bricasti and plotting a move to an M1 or M11.

@zlone - Thanks for reaching out. 

As I've purchased and tinkered with all these audio components, I've really come to realize the importance of collective synergy. I'd made the mistake in the past of piling on warm components with a laid back speaker (QLN Prestige 3) and realized I wanted more drive and energy. 

I selected the Soulnote D2, based on what I'd read in reviews, for exactly that purpose. I'm super happy with it. I've only had the Merason Dac 1 MKII and the Mola Mola Dac in my system to test. I'd say the Soulnote hits the sweet spot between the two. It's lively and has rich tonality. It's never, ever bright, but has wonderful micro and macro shading. I don't really see myself looking for another DAC. If I come into some more cash, I might buy the Mola Mola as a change of pace, but I feel like I'd miss the Soulnote D2 for it's musicallity. 

I just purchased a pair of AGD Audion MKIII which I'll pair with the Linear Tube Audio Level 2 Preamp, QLN speakers, Soulnote D2, and the Innous Pulsar. I suspect this will be the main reference system in my living room for a long time. 

BTW, I moved the Merason Dac1 MKII into my office paired with a Grypon 120 integrated and it sounds fantastic. It didn't sound as great (too soft) with a EL34 tube amp. 

How is your system coming along? What's working? What are you looking to change up? 

@bluethinker Thanks for the update and I am glad it is going well. I have found similar results going from the Merason to the Bricasti M3 coupled with the QLN 3 speakers. It was too much of a good thing and the Bricasti brought a much more incisive sound, not bright, but more detailed and crystal clear. No ding against Merason by any means, a very musical DAC, but not the best fit with QLN.

I am looking up the Bricasti chain now, likely the M1. It might just be implementation of inputs on the Bricasti, but I have found the network interface as a Roon endpoint to far surpass USB and SPDIF. It sort of limits my DAC choices going forward though. There are some D2's out there at a reasonable price, and I was toying with the idea, but I would have to add a streamer to my existing server. 

As a recommended tweak, I had very good results adding a Stack Regenerator in front of my server. It really cleans things up.

Happy Listening!