DAC Comparisons using AI

@kirkwallace - Unless someone sends me one to try, I have decided to wait on the D-1. There was an interesting post over on WBF about how, regardless of how innovative the design is, it may not be fleshed out from a best home audio perspective. Even though the multipath technology is cutting edge, that doesn’t mean the parts, interfaces, and output stage are fully optimized for high end home audio. While I would like to hear one, I have been pretty happy with the sound of my Merason DAC 1 MkII and AC Helene.  I inquired about the DAC 2 upgrade but haven’t heard back yet from Merason.

It seems Merason is moving up in the home audio world by increasing the list price of the DAC 1 MkII to $11K (and rightfully so IMO, compared to other DACs I have heard), adding the DAC 2 (seemingly an upgraded DAC 1 MkII) for $14K, and releasing the new Mountain suite of products, including the Mountain DAC at about $20K.  I would like to hear more about the Mountain DAC and I would be curious about how it sounds compared to the Audio Mirror Wave DAC and a couple of others priced at around $20K +/-.

When I have discussions with AI regarding equipment, I ask that it not use information sourced from forums.  While I didn't use it to select my DAC, I'm satisfied that I could not have made a better choice for my system.  AI helps me understand ambiguous, audiophile-speak terms and concepts---it's certainly good for that. 

Well, @mitch2 , my brief trial with the D-1 would not lead me to suggest that you are wrong.  Very interesting technology they have and maybe with other implementation there will be a game changing DAC, but today, i think not. As for those others, yes; they seem very interesting. Have you heard any of the earlier, Tubadour models from Audio Mirror?  I have not.