Metrum Octave versus Eastern Electric DAC

Morganc,

Can you compare and contrast these dacs: Metrum, Minimax+ and Tranquility? Any comments/opinions would be appreciated. thanks!

I'm waiting on an Audiphileo 2 and a Coax Cable to give a proper comparison. I'm currently using a Digital Optical Cable and I think it is
Limiting the Computer Upsampling out of the Metrum. After I receive them, we will be doing a DAC shootout including the NAD Dac. We will be sure to post our impressions.

when you compare dacs, there are really four variables, the transport, the digital cable and the analog interconnect cable to the preamp.

it is important to specify the other links when making a comparison.

just saying the metrum is better than the eastern electric without naming what cables and transport are used is insufficient.

making dac comparisons is almost impossible because of the other variables.

if you say dac a is better than dac b, you assume that the other variables don't count.

Hi Morganc, I have started my dac search with Metrum Octave, which is currently burning in at about 200 hours in my system. I'm very interested in your dac shootout with NAD M51 and EE+. I'm also waiting for Oppo105 to come out (it is attractive to me because I'm sure Modwright will offer tube upgrade for 105 later on).

All this talk about the Metrum Octave has me intrigued. I'd like to hear one without committing to buy new. I'd love to compare it to my Bel Canto DAC3. I had an original EE DAC and liked it quite a bit, but didn't feel it offered an improvement over the Bel Canto. The EE was stock, but with a Telefunken smooth plate. Briefly, I ran it direct to my amp, but heard a definite roll off in the low end. That was to be expected with its incredibly high output impedance of 22k and my amp's unusually low input impedance of 24k.

I live in the Bay area (Berkeley). I don't expect anyone local to reply, but it would be warmly welcomed.