I just had a look over the What Hi-Fi review fof Audiolab's M-DAC+. I was hoping that for £300 price hike over the M-DAC, that What Hi-Fi would make comparative comments about sound quality. However they didn't.
What Hi-Fi seem to be saying that the upgrade in price for the M-DAC+, pays for higher sampling rate inputs. There are also more filters, for sound. I would prefer the sound flat myself. (I recall What Hi-Fi saying leave the M-DAC on one setting. They say choose one of two on the M-DAC+. Given there are many sound pre-sets, it's just a waste of money.
I am disappointed and I was hoping Audiolab would take the challenge to Chord. Instead they opted for fancy extras, and standard sampling frequency rates on a modern DAC.
Whereas when you read the What Hi-Fi review of the Marantz PM6006, they make direct comparative comments on sound. Saying the new amp is clearer and cleaner sounding overall, plus then more solid in the mids, over the PM6005.
I think What Hi-Fi have dropped the ball here. All they really said was that it's the same DAC chip. Then they extolled on its sound quality. I think they implied it sounds better than the old M-DAC. However "I think" is not sufficient to go laying an extra £300 out for it. The real information we want is its sound. Is it worth the extra cash just for a sound improvement if there is one. That's what we want to decide. OK, some folk will absolutely want the higher sampling rates.
What Hi-Fi seem to be saying that the upgrade in price for the M-DAC+, pays for higher sampling rate inputs. There are also more filters, for sound. I would prefer the sound flat myself. (I recall What Hi-Fi saying leave the M-DAC on one setting. They say choose one of two on the M-DAC+. Given there are many sound pre-sets, it's just a waste of money.
I am disappointed and I was hoping Audiolab would take the challenge to Chord. Instead they opted for fancy extras, and standard sampling frequency rates on a modern DAC.
Whereas when you read the What Hi-Fi review of the Marantz PM6006, they make direct comparative comments on sound. Saying the new amp is clearer and cleaner sounding overall, plus then more solid in the mids, over the PM6005.
I think What Hi-Fi have dropped the ball here. All they really said was that it's the same DAC chip. Then they extolled on its sound quality. I think they implied it sounds better than the old M-DAC. However "I think" is not sufficient to go laying an extra £300 out for it. The real information we want is its sound. Is it worth the extra cash just for a sound improvement if there is one. That's what we want to decide. OK, some folk will absolutely want the higher sampling rates.