Some thoughts on new DACs . . .

SolidSqual

So I recently sold my Prism Orpheus to go back to a more traditional system.

Why?

1. Because the Orpheus is too complicated and requires computer software to operate. I want simple plug and play that operates within your traditional amp-preamp scheme so I can swap gear easily in and out.
2. JRiver on Windows 7 is awesome and has some serious iPad and customization and interface features that Apple wishes they invented.
3. Tubes . . . the Orpheus sounds amazing as a preamp/DAC/phono stage, but winters are cold here in Ohio and tubes keep you warm.
4. Because RMAF revealed tons of new Room-Correction systems that work extremely well, without human assistance. Most importantly, they sit quietly in the system, do their job and just work.

Now, I got my Pre and Phono taken care of with my Rogue Audi Perseus Magnum (with Special Phono Upgrades not available to people who don't know. )

So, what to use as a digital front end?

First, I bought a Berkley Alpha DAC 2 thinking it would give me the same digital as the Orpheus. Guess what? Nope. It sounded awesome on Hi-Res material but left me unimpressed with regular RedBook, which most people own. Plus, the damn thing doesn't even do USB unless I spend $2k more on a USB conveter from Berkley. Eff that.

So, I go tried and true and check out W4S Dac-2. Yup, awesome. Great full-feature set. More than acceptable sound. Setup was easy. But wait, wife doesn't want long wires going about the audio room of the new house. Fight ensues. I tell her its my room and she gets the rest of the house and that I'm the only one allowed down here anyway. That goes real well. She gets clever and puts monster cable on my phono stage in retaliation so I am left pissed the next night because my system sounds like crap and I don't know why.

Now, because she's ever the better person in this marriage, she goes to Best Buy Magnolia and gets me an AudioEngine D2 DAC and says, "solved the wires problem." I love her for her thoughtfulness but say there is no way a wireless $600 DAC will sound anywhere near the W4S. To humor her, I hook it up.

The D2 connects instantly. Drivers load. System works. Tweak JRiver for optimal playback. Money. If sound was money, the D2 would print it. Wow, the D2 has great sonic character. The sound is very full and pleasing out of the box. I got back to the W4S and listen a while. Ok, W4S has a bit more bass . . . does it? Yes, it does. But, the mids seem more like butter on the D2? Am I listening to a $600 DAC?

The long and short of it is that evidently DACs have been improving and technology has been trickling down. So, now I am left wondering . . . are we experiencing a flood of excellent technology in the market? It seems what once cost $1500 from W4S can now be had for much less (or damn near close the same sound . . .). After visiting RMAF 2012, I saw tons of new digital tech. Everyone is coming up with new solutions, changing their perspectives, claiming their DAC has all the buzzwords, etc.

But, I've concluded that perhaps the buzzwords matter less than a good solid design which is what the Audio Engine D2 is. Does it sound as good as the Orpheus no, but it is zero hassle and it doesn't intrude into my life or the music at all. Which I think is the definition of Switzerland.

So, do I want a better sounding DAC that can give me the last word in bass definition and higher resolution. Yes, you bet your **** I look everyday. But, for now, I have a DAC that makes digital sound fun and most importantly musical. It does what I need and it prefers not to be bothered after installation. That's good my wife is high maintenance and my rig should not be.

Until digital gear settles down in price and tech, I'm going going to have my fun with the D2. If nothing else, I will be setting a solid benchmark for myself to measure all other gear.

EndersShadow

Very interesting review. Glad your happy with the setup.

Do you control your PC playback from the actual computer when using this, or are you using a phone app to control playback. Also where in your setup is the volume control, before or after this?

P.S. Your wife wiring your system with Monster cable about made put Diet MD all over my keyboard and screen. It sounds like something my wife would do to me as well lol....

brgman

Nice write up.
Seems to me that DAC's and Music Servers etc are like computers these days.As soon as you get a great one it is obsolete in no time.

cstmar01

Mike, does your wife happen to have a sister, say in the age range of 18-34 that is single?

I would love it if a woman bought me something for the system, or even knew what any of the stuff was. The fact she swaped out a cable on you is hilarious.

and nice read on the DAC. I do think digital is getting better and better because more and more are moving that way. We want better SQ with smaller devices and easier to use. I think we'll see more and more come along.

I wonder how the new W4S DAC stacks up against the one you got...

SolidSqual

She's got a brother, but he's not nearly as cool as her. The wife has definitely come a long way in this hobby.

I forgot about the new W4S. Could be cool to check out.

heiney9

I doubt it has a lot to do with "new" technology, but more about what flavor you like. I actually prefer the older BB ladder type chipsets and if the analog section is well designed, IMO, it beats out or atleast competes very well with today's offerings in a similar price range.

That said, there are far, far too many factors involved to compare many of them straight up when using a computer. The interphase has become one of the more important features of a USB based dac as well as different software players having different sound based on how they are configured.

Unless every step is exactly the same for each dac, there is no competent way to compare them to each other and get an accurate idea of which one is better. In your case the Audio Engine sounds better the way you have it implemented. Which is really all that matters in the end, but stating the reason is because the technology is better is sort of not looking at the entire picture, IMO.

That's not to say there isn't some truth to what you say, but it's not the singular reason you are experiencing what you are.

H9

P.s. just using different Op-amps changes the flavor of the final output. Yes, op-amp have gotten better in the past 20 years. You can take identical units one with a well regarded Op=amp and one with a lesser op-amp and they will sound completely different and it has nothing to do with better technology.

heiney9

A Sabre chip, a Burr-Brown chip a TDA chip, a Wolfson chip are all going to have their own sound signature further enhanced by op-amp selection as well as the design of the analog output stage and power supply section.

H9

dkg999

Isn't the AudioEngine DAC made by NuForce? It sounded exactly like my NuForce uDac2.

Face

heiney9 wrote: »

A Sabre chip, a Burr-Brown chip a TDA chip, a Wolfson chip are all going to have their own sound signature further enhanced by op-amp selection as well as the design of the analog output stage and power supply section.

H9

The analog section and interface are more important than the chip itself. Check out Cambridge's line, although they use a couple of various DAC chips, they all sound almost identical.

SolidSqual

Exactly, there are all sorts of companies using the Sabre DACs. Look at Wyred4Sound and Peachtree. They by no means sound the same.