The Holo Cyan 2 DAC is right in that price range new. I’ve not heard it but the reviews seem solid. I think your concern about not doing better than the inboard Burr Brown in the price range you’ve set is valid, though. So, I would only pull the trigger on whatever DAC you think of if there is a trial period with no more than a 10% restocking fee and shipping it back can be handled at a moderate cost. Otherwise, perhaps wait a bit until you can move to the USD 4-5k range. Then a lot of options, especially used, open up for DACs that would have a high likelihood of being a marked improvement over what is already a solid performer in your M6Si. (FWIW, for example, at under USD 5k new, the LTA Aero with good NOS tubes performs well above its price range competition. And this https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650309128-merason-dac-1-mkii/ looks pretty compelling too.)
Standalone DAC upgrade from onboard integrated
It’s about time I posted, I’ve been following long enough. I want to bypass the onboard DAC (Burr Brown) in my new Musical Fidelity M6si integrated with a standalone DAC to drive my Magnepan 1.7x’s. Budget is $1-2k. First issue: can I realize an appreciable improvement over the onboard DAC in the M6 with a unit in that price range? Second issue: I love the detail, clarity and imaging I get from the Maggies, but I don’t want them to get too clinical with a new DAC. Hence, I’ve been looking mostly at R2R typology to keep the “musicality”, perhaps at the expense of some precision. My listening tastes are mostly jazz, classical, with some vocals thrown in. Sources are about 50% streaming, 30% vinyl and 20% CD. Other components include Blusound Node, Marantz TT-15/Clearaudio Virtuoso and a 5 year old Marantz CD player. All insights or suggestions welcome.
- ...
- 38 posts total
+1 a Schiit Yggdrasil should be the starting upgrade point. |
Given its price and that it also has a DAC and phono input I wouldn’t think the M6si would have a very good DAC, and reading the Soundstage review of the M6si certainly underscored that thought as it was pretty awful and only does 24/96 on top of it. It’s hard to imagine a Cyan 2, Gustard R26, or Denafrips Pontus 15th among others wouldn’t be a significant step up from the DAC in your amp, but being able to return it would be nice because you never know til you try. Or buy used so you can resell with little/no loss, but either way it shouldn’t be hard to get a meaningful improvement. Hope this helps, and best of luck. |
- 38 posts total