Experience with SoulNote Dac2?

@bluethinker 

My system starts with an Aurender N200 > Denafrips Pontus ll > PS Audio BHK Signature preamp > PS Audio BHK300 mono blocks > Sonus Farber Amati G5 speakers.

What are your thoughts on the Tambaqui, DAC1 and the D2?
 

Thanks

@curiousjim - I've not heard your components, so I did some research using (yes, of course), AI. 

Based on your system and components, this was the predicted outcome: 

"Your system will sound highly dimensional, weighty, and organic. It will excel at rendering acoustic instruments, strings, and vocals with a lifelike "bloom". You will experience a massive, room-filling soundstage where performers feel tangible and properly separated. While not overtly rolled-off or artificially dark, it prioritizes musicality, texture, and fatigue-free long-term listening over sterile neutrality." 

It sounds like your current system leans towards the musical and possibly romantic side versus a more analytical or incisive sound. When I first started off, I was drawn to more warmth and weight, so I ended up buying tube amps (Conrad Johnson, Audio Hungary). I've found myself, over time, now drawn to a more energized sound with more leading edge sharpness and sense of musical propulsion. 

When I then asked what the three dacs - Merason Dac1 MKii, Mola Mola Dac, Soulnote D2 - would sound like in your system replacing your Denafrips, this was the answer:

"Replacing the Denafrips Pontus II will significantly shift your system's tonal balance. While the Pontus II provides a lush, smooth, and heavily "analog-leaning" foundation, these three options alter the presentation by introducing greater transparency, transient speed, and varying degrees of drive. 

Since your PS Audio electronics and Sonus faber Amati G5 speakers are inherently warm, spacious, and relaxed, choosing between these DACs allows you to fine-tune how much "bite" and "energy" you inject into the system." 

And the comparison of Dacs:

"

1. Mola Mola Tambaqui: The Precision Tool [1]

The Mola Mola Tambaqui completely strips away the organic "smear" of the Denafrips. It delivers a dead-flat frequency response with class-leading resolution and an intensely quiet background. [1, 2]

• The Sound: Bass transforms into a tighter, punchier, and more authoritative force. Midrange details pop forward with razor-sharp image localization. 
• System Synergy: Because the Sonus faber Amati G5s are so inherently smooth, the Tambaqui provides a welcome injection of speed and crystalline clarity. However, if you crave the romantic warmth of the Pontus II, you might find the Tambaqui a bit lean or clinical by comparison. 

2. Merason DAC1 Mk II: The Analog Alternative

The Merason DAC1 Mk II is the closest structural philosophy to your Denafrips but operates at a much higher tier of refinement. It builds upon a highly engineered, fully balanced Class-A analog output stage. 

• The Sound: Instead of prioritizing hyper-detailed leading edges, the Merason focuses on continuous musical flow, density, and emotional connection. It creates an incredibly deep, organic, and effortlessly spacious soundstage. 
• System Synergy: Paired with the Amati G5 speakers, the Merason yields a beautifully rich, non-fatiguing sound signature. It acts as a direct upgrade to the Denafrips by increasing resolution and space without forcing your system into a dry or sterile territory. 

3. Soulnote D2: The Live Experience

The Soulnote D2 acts as the bridge between the two extremes, utilizing a Non-Negative Feedback design and selectable Non-Oversampling (NOS) modes. 

• The Sound: This DAC is highly celebrated for sounding like a "live performance". It is inherently dynamic, transiently fast, and projects images as tactile, three-dimensional physical entities in the room. 
• System Synergy: If you find the current system too laid-back or sleepy on rock or orchestral crescendos, the Soulnote D2 provides the perfect remedy. In NOS mode, it wakes up the Amati G5s with exceptional rhythmic drive, while its dense tonality keeps the tube elements of your BHK preamp sounding full and soulful. 

This would have taken me awhile to write up, so forgive me for defaulting to AI for the summaries. The key takeaway? After owning or hearing these three dacs in my system, I 100% agree with the above descriptions. 

If you are looking for more excitement in your music, I'd suggest going with the Soulnote D2, especially if your current system is a little sleepy. If you want to go deeper into an analog experience with more detail than your Denafrips, you can't go wrong with the Merason Dac MKii. 

The Mola Mola Dac is the one that I have less experience with as I only heard it in my system in a demo. What I did hear when I listened to it was exceptional, but very different than the other two dacs. This might sound odd, but there was a sense of perfection and spaciousness to the Mola Mola dac that was simultaneously absolutely intriguing but also made me wonder if I might get fatigued by it over time. I was demoing the Mola Mola with a Conrad Johnson tube amp and the gentleman who was selling the Mola Mola mentioned the amp now sounded like a great class D amp. Take that for what it's worth, but the Mola Mola brings a clarity to the music which I find fascinating. Just don't expect it to sound like romantic! 

Hope all of the above helps. 

@bluethinker 

Thank you and AI for your time and research.

While I haven’t heard the Tambaqui or the SoulNote, if one fell into my lap, I’m betting I would like it, but as of now I am leaning towards the DAC1 or the Venus 15th. 

This really made me laugh out loud!

<<I was demoing the Mola Mola with a Conrad Johnson tube amp and the gentleman who was selling the Mola Mola mentioned the amp now sounded like a great class D amp. >>

@curiousjim - You can’t go wrong with the Merason Dac1. If possible, I’d try to get the MKii version if funds allow. They do come up on the used market. I had mine upgraded. Paired with the Gryphon 120 and amp and Buchardt s400 MKii speakers, it’s just fantastic. 

I personally don’t think it pairs well with a tube amp, however. It’s just too much warmth on warmth. 

Regarding the comment about my Conrad Johnson EL34 tube amp sounding like class D. At that time, I had not heard the AGD amps, so class D still had a negative connotation in my mind. The AGD Audion MKiii are now probably my favorite amps.

But he was right. The Mola Mola dac was so neutral and clean sounding, it made an EL 34 tube amp sound like class D. And it DID sound like really class D in retrospect paired with the Tambaqui! 

Let us know what you end up with, Curious Jim. 

@curiousjim Excellent write up from @bluethinker, and while I have not heard all these DAC’s, from what I have read of them it all sounds accurate. I had the Merason Reuss, and was able to compare it in my system against the DAC1 v1. They were pretty similar, with the Reuss offering a touch more refinement. My friend who had the DAC1 came to the same conclusion. I understand the DAC1 v2 is a significant step up. 

At the time I was using QLN 3 speakers which are fairly warm sounding, and I decided to move my system more towards neutral. I started with the DAC, and added a Bricasti M3, like the SoulNote, it really lit a fire under my system. Not necessarily an end game DAC or on the level of the SoulNote, but I liked the new direction. An upgrade will either be their M1, or a Meitner MA3i. Just some options to consider.

I would try to demo one DAC that is a bit livelier, you might find you like the change.