DAC Comparisons using AI

I recently did a dac shootout with 7 high end dac.  I did not demo any tube dacs.  I found that Playback Designs MPD 8 was the best with my Ref 6SE.  A close second was the Bricasti M21. I could not find a Aries Cerat, but I am sure it would have been right there.

I recently did a dac shootout with 7 high end dac.  I did not demo any tube dacs.  I found that Playback Designs MPD 8 was the best with my Ref 6SE.  A close second was the Bricasti M21. I could not find a Aries Cerat, but I am sure it would have been right there.

@jaulbrich well tell us more! Make a new post and explain the results. I always enjoy reading shootout results, especially regarding components I am considering and quite possibly will own in the future.

These forum poster shootouts are much more valuable than most "professional" reviews, where someone simply states how a list of songs sounded glorious, and how it is the best they ever had in their system, how heartedly it is recommended, and gives it a yearly award, yet they compare it to nothing. 

samoh 6 posts 02-19-2026 at 08:38am I have used AI when it comes to my system in two mains ways and that’s evolving. 1. I used it to compare upgrade paths from my current speaker and had it lay out the differences. and 2. I correct my room with the use of REW measurements that I upload to ChatGPT and together I get my dual subs dialed in rather nicely, phase, placement, gain and crossover. In that regard it’s been really good at interpreting the graphs and letting me know that everything is in balance and at least set up correctly and then I listen to confirm.

I do precisely the same.  The results have been astounding and I'm a usually a skeptic on such stuff.  I've found that ChatGPT is great at interpreting room scans and doing arithmetic as well.  It was a huge time saver in locating reflections for absorber placement to improve clarity etc.  Considerable learning curve though.

@mitch2 did you end up moving from the Helene up to the Kassandra II?

I thought hard about the Kasandra Ref II, and wouldn’t totally rule it out if the right opportunity arises but I decided to be settled in with what I have for now.  The solid state Merason DAC1 MkII stays powered up all the time so I mostly listen through it while using the Helene occasionally when I have more time to listen and want to warm up the tubes.  The Helene is the better DAC in most ways but the Merason is very enjoyable to listen through as well.  One thing against the Kassandra is that it is just too big physically.  Although I could make it work, I would have to change my entire set-up.  Another thing is when I ask myself the question, what problem are you trying to solve?  There is really none.  The Helene sounds so musical and tonally rich that I wonder whether the little bit of this or that the Kassandra might improve on is really necessary for my enjoyment.  Besides, I could always add the Project X (Hronos) to the Helene.  Aries Cerat say their new digital interface is like a full DAC upgrade, which would probably be more than enough.  Also, the Hronos is very expensive, and about the equivalent cost of upgrading to the Kasandara Ref II. 

The other DAC on my radar is the Imersiv D-1, a multi-path DAC (link).  That would be much easier to add to my system and would likely take the place of the Merason, if I choose to add it.  However, instead of trying new DACs, I have been messing around with streamers for now (link).  Interesting, and relevant to this thread, I have been using AI to predict and verify the differences I am hearing between the Innuos Stream 3 and Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe optical and, so far, the predictions have been pretty much spot on.