It is just as important as the DAC itself. Like the Lab12. That's the negative to going my route I guess. When we set out to make the MSB remote, the design was built from the ground up. This is a very odd one to describe but came to the fore on tracks like Pan Eros from World Of Drums and Percussion. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/, Check the true bit-depth of your files and audio engine, Guide to Subwoofer Calibration and Bass Preferences, Know your limits (Sound Exposure Safety Chart), Topping DX7 Pro+ vs Chord DAVE measurements (Cosmos ADC) - DAVE is better in some areas (surprise! Let us do the work of refurbishing and finding your current electronics a new hometheyll continue to be enjoyed for years to come. I've had many world class DACS in my studio over the years and the Crane Song is as good as any no matter the cost. I believe it comes down to I hope you understand. This is because one PSU is supplying juice to modules including the screen and USB input etc but not to the output module. and the MSB Select II has a huge advantage over other dacs with its modularity and in-house development which promotes, in a very timely way, keeping the product at the very tip top cutting edge of digital interface developments. Regular readers will appreciate all that is taken from the MSB website and I make no apologies for not really understanding the electronics. I havent heard the Rockna. So true jr, the discrete R2R Multibit dacs like the Terminator the Holo, MSB, Total ect ect have a life and a boogie factor to the music that DS dacs lack, and yes they do show up bad recordings. Or arm yourself with a nice bottle of red and pay a visit to@Stereophilus. Look, says I theres obviously a fault with this unit as its lighting up, I can see it on the network and I can send tunes to it via the Stack streamer and Roon! We went through everything and I was getting ready to pack it up and send it back when I reached around the back of one of the PSUs and switched it on MUSIC!!! This leaner and cleaner edge has the effect of adding a level of perceived detail to the listening experience. To cut a long story short: A burnt in MSB Analog DAC with Power Base demoed side to side to a burnt in DAVE was no challenge for the MSB. So thats it and I think the only thing I think Ive left out of the build part of this DAC is the 3 buttons and the knob on the front panel which are used for manually changing the volume and menu diving, though all this can be done from the remote. 2. And if I had to guess (given I haven't heard both), I'd guess it outperforms the Tambaqui. I had the DAVE for 3years, it is an amazing DAC. Analogue Volume Control 1dB from 0 to 106 Deactivable by menu, Dimensions ChassisWidth : 432 mmDepth: 305 mmHeight without feet: 51 mm. There seemed to be a little more separation of instruments in the mix of whatever I was listening to than with the LAB12 DAC and Pre in the signal path and a slightly leaner edge to the music more clearly etched, perhaps? The MSB simply offered more of everything and to my ears proved again that a true multi bit converter/ladder DAC is superior to delta/sigma or FPGA DACs. frequency response graphs, CSD waterfall plots, subjective gear reviews. Elevator Pitch Review: Built in America, the MSB Discrete is a modular DAC that also acts as a preamplfier, though, as supplied, it has no analogue inputs. I wanted to know for anyone who has heard it have you also heard a DAC that approached it in sonic performance? Chord DAVE - DAC/Amp/Pre-Amp - Official Thread Personally, I think that both these standpoints have their merits and its going to be a case of you paying your money and you taking your choice. Stuart Smith finds out. However, the extra PSU does add to the cost considerably! MSB DACs also use a processing chip to handle oversampling and digital filtering (not sure if this chip is an FPGA or other type processing chip, but it is a high speed digital processing chip). Others might disagree but these are my findings. There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. For some folk, a highly resolving and accurate system may well be described as being over-analytical, and on the other side of the audio fence, some will suggest that some systems sound nice but flawed. as far as direct comparison with other dacs the closest Ive done is listening to the Select II at shows and then listening to other top dacs in other systems at shows. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. How is Chord Dave? | Super Best Audio Friends The MSB DAC comes with one external PSU as standard. At this kind of price, it puts Chord DAVE as being direct competition and I said that DAVE was the best DAC Id heard back in 2018. luxury apartment hotels paris. Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rothschild-70aab85/, Headphones and Personal Audio with Pitch Perfect Service. Didn't like it at all. The SQ from DAC headphone output is lower than the best headphone amplifier but that kind of amplifier costs close to DAVE itself. But MSB Select 2 is regarded by many as the best thats why for something 1/10 of the price to compete in anyones eyes is quite an accomplishment. Its an interesting setup with everything from design through to milling the chassis to building the circuit boards being done in-house. Thanks. There is no such thing as a "FPGA DAC"! Fixed. sounds just like the Dave. This latter track is a good track for me to play when listening to new kit as it is basically a drum machine and an acid box and this latter did sound just like a 303 there in the room. Up to 4X DSD Even at very low listening levels, it was clear that the MSB was delivering a clean analogue output to the ampand Im aware that sounds a bit vague. When connecting to the MScaler, Dual-BNC was used on the chord dacs with shawline digital BNC cables. Hmm.. Of course this DAC is super pricey and out of the reach of many (including me). The Prime DAC Module. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates. Please specify coaxial S/PDiF or optical S/PDiF. Im outputting directly to the LAB12 (and later a Krell KST100) power amp and so a digital volume algorithm is used where the digital volume control is left at a relatively high output so as not to encounter loss at lower volume levels. I'm looking for suggestions between $10K - $12K. Looks like your budget goes up to ~$20k? As a contented Qutest user, I would have hoped for "improved", performance from the Dave. Audiogon Discussion Forum The Discrete DAC, the successor and highly improved replacement to the now-famous Analog DAC is the MSB DAC that everyone has been waiting for. - MQA decoding. Chord DAVE Review (DAC & HP Amp) "Im not sure if there are algorithms that can add high-frequency information that wasnt captured in the original sampled result". The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. Any specific reason you wanna replace the Dave? What did you think with the Chord Dave vs Emm Labs Dac2x? Also, it is worth noting I heard the v1 DAC 2X, not the v2. Given your appreciation of the Pacific Microsonics DAC, I hope you'll get a chance to hear the Berkeley in your system as well. My wife said it Anyway, I switched out the valve power amplifier and put in its place the Krell KST100 (all fully fettled and brought up to a better than new spec by Krell in the States) with my intention being to see what effect was the DAC and what was down to the amp basically isolating the effect to a component. When I have done the comparison with other DACs I have had at the same time - Ayre QX5-Twenty, EAR Dac 4, exasound e32 - often the immediate impression is that DAVE/Blu 2 is not quite as good - a bit dryer sounding, not quite as smooth, not as airy or three dimensional And yet, over the longer term, it is deeply satisfying at a musical level in a way that the other DACs are not. Can't beat the form factor of it though, great for off a desk top. Set up is key, cables are super important, server is also By I wish you would have had the Totaldac D1 Seven to try. and this is borne out in the sound that this DAC brings to the party. It doesnt get too hot to touch. Pass Labs INT-60. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Watts is avidly not reading this in anticipation of the video version he won't watch. I understand that audio stores and distribution companies have the opportunity to A/B a significant amount of equipment. It's too damn expensive, full stop. list the Rockna Wavedream Edition sounds this good, how good does their Each clock is made up of two independent clocks but only one is used at any given time so as not to add unwanted noise to the circuit. Mind you, I have chipless DSD with 1 bit processing, so the bar is set VERY high for me. We await Phase 2 where all DACs are assessed using upsampled data via your Lumin U1 to establish ranking and the preferred format through each. It matches Chord Dave and Mscaler on dynamics with slightly more bass slam. It is not hard to audition these DACs in Melbourneand this is your best way to work out your own preference. @astewart8944--two years ago in Feb of 17 i did audition the original Formula dac in my system directly compared to the Lampizator GG 1.5 and the Nagra HD and preferred the Formula for its greater space, lower noise, and more neutral and fast presentation. My first serious audio system was Garrard turntable, Fisher Int(SS), ADS bookspeaker bought on 1978. @yyzsantabarbara, your dealer quote is interesting, I suspected that the Mola Mola was that good. The only true way for the end user to know what they prefer is through listening in their own system.. Strangely, this new review is not displayed when you select the review folder on the homepage. Daedalus Audio Apollo 11's. REL S3/SHO. Bespoke Audio Ultimate Silver TVC passive preamp, Totaldac xlr version D1-Drivers x2, Eisteddfod 340 & 840 amps, Magico S5 speaker, MSB Select DAC, MSB Select Transport, Nakamichi 700 XLE cassette deck, Taiko Audio Extreme Server, Tripoint Troy Signature NG groundbox, PLiXiR Elite 1500 isolation transformers. I'd also look at the Mola-Mola Tambaqui and the new dCS Bartok. had if for 2 years now. RCA outputs with the optional output module Voltage: 3.57 Vrms Maximum Impedance > 600 High Gain setting. The SQ is amazingly good. It is not hard to audition these DACs in Melbourneand this is your best way to work out your own preference. And this is what separates the very good from the excellent piece of audio equipment. The MSB Discrete, as I mentioned, came with two power supplies but you can operate it with just one with the supplied doodad. Strangely from this company is lack of any anti-aliasing on the text causing pixels to not be seen in the fonts chosen! The Pro USB was developed to offer a multi part USB solution that features complete electrical isolation and all the performance of MSBs proprietary Pro ISL input. You could try some of the newer dacs that has gotten good reviews. has 20 hours on it. What else should one expect? The remainder I like all this attention to detail and the MSB website suggests a company that is massively proud of its American heritage and of the products they make. By clicking links on our site, we may earn affiliate commission, but our editorial remains entirely independent and unbiased.