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Bricasti Happiness

Much has been said here about Bricasti products so I’m not adding much new. But wanted to say I purchased an M1 Series II DAC with a network card (no plans for immediate networking) and it’s one of my best moves ever. I’ve never experienced this level of digital goodness. I’ve probably owned 5 DACs over 12 years, each a step up, but I’ll be happy stopping here. Playback Designs might be the ultimate goal but I’m in no hurry. Still experimenting with connections, for now using a Tubulus Concentus BNC from the SACD transport. I have an Aurender streamer and am thinking Shunyata Alpha USB out to my Gaia with external clock, then AES into the Bricasti, but willing to try the Alpha straight in as well.

It doesn’t feel like a downgrade now when switching from the analog front-end to the digital one.

I’ve called Bricasti and spoken to Joe several times, always great service, he even called on his own just to give me a little more info on the unit. 

Glad to hear any other listening impressions or what connections have worked for others.

jaybe
jonwolfpell
543 posts
 

I too own & thoroughly enjoy my Bricasti m1 Series II DAC. It is a top quality piece that sounds excellent w/ a great combo of natural clarity & tremendous dynamics without sounding overly etched & fatiguing like some DACS do. I got a full, detailed tour of their facility in MA where w/ a few CNC machines, manufacture the majority of parts used to construct their products. They wind by hand, their own transformers & have the high quality printed circuit boards made w/ top quality components made right next door in a specialized electronic fabrication game Rory that supplies the medical goes as well. 
 

It feels great to deal with a quality American company that makes state of the art audio equipment built to last a long time..This is becoming more rare all of the time. 
 

 

jaybe OP
866 posts
 

@fastfreight The Aurender streams Qobuz without a network card

fastfreight
1,314 posts
 

Yes @jaybe .  I just was not sure if it streamed with Qobuz Connect, in case you don't like the Aurender App.  And sure, it does not need a 'network card' as it is a network streamer.  My main point was the world of streaming is worth exploring, as that is the easiest and quickest way to discover new music that you may enjoy.

finleyville
19 posts
 

Brian Zolner explained to me that the network input of the M3 (probably the M1 as well) was the best input and I agree.  The network card actually has the shortest signal path compared to the other inputs and I can hear the difference.  I definitely hear a wider and deeper soundstage using the internal network card over the other inputs.

Luckily, a good friend brought over his M1 mkII one day to see how close they were to each other.  The result?  85%!  Musically and tonally I would say they were identical.  The differences were a deeper and wider soundstage with more space between the instruments on the M1 compared to my M3.  

I will always own my M3.  However, one day, I will own their M21... heehee.

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