Help me with a DAC

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

I need some help choosing my new DAC for my headphones rig

I'm currently using a Sonos Zone Player (wired to the router), feeding a Valab NOS dac and my Woo 3 tube amp. My headphones are the HD650.

I listen only to classical music, and while I really really love the signature of the Valab with small ensemble (string quartets, piano trio and chamber music in general) I can't stand it for complex symphonic music. Listening to Mahler's symphony or Rachmaninoff concertos is quite a pain: distortion and congested soundstage are pretty evident.

I've tried several dacs, but I've never been completely happy: the Dacmagic was way too bright, the Benchmark sterile...I've been using for 5 months a Audio-GD Ref.5 and that was quite good, though dynamics weren't top notch.

Any recommendation? Budget is below £1000

Thanks!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

realmassy:

Hi all,

I need some help choosing my new DAC for my headphones rig

I'm currently using a Sonos Zone Player (wired to the router), feeding a Valab NOS dac and my Woo 3 tube amp. My headphones are the HD650.

I listen only to classical music, and while I really really love the signature of the Valab with small ensemble (string quartets, piano trio and chamber music in general) I can't stand it for complex symphonic music. Listening to Mahler's symphony or Rachmaninoff concertos is quite a pain: distortion and congested soundstage are pretty evident.

I've tried several dacs, but I've never been completely happy: the Dacmagic was way too bright, the Benchmark sterile...I've been using for 5 months a Audio-GD Ref.5 and that was quite good, though dynamics weren't top notch.

Any recommendation? Budget is below £1000

Thanks!

Dacmagic bright? Benchmark, sterile? You are hard to please!

 

[JohnnyV111]

The Lavry DA10 is a well thought of alternative to the Benchmark, if you can get hold of one to try.

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:Dacmagic bright? Benchmark, sterile? You are hard to please!

I had to return the Dacmagic to Richersounds after two days, I really didn't like it.

Lavry is an alternative: it would be nice to get a 30-day s trial. I may have a look.

What about the new M1? I used to own a V-DAC, I thought was good, but the rest of the rig was different.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

How about the recent offerings from Chord?

http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/products_cat.asp?cat=16

Grace Design m902?

Also, if you are tired of distorsion and orchestral instruments lumping together you may want to try active speakers.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

realmassy:

Hi all,

I need some help choosing my new DAC for my headphones rig

I'm currently using a Sonos Zone Player (wired to the router), feeding a Valab NOS dac and my Woo 3 tube amp. My headphones are the HD650.

I listen only to classical music, and while I really really love the signature of the Valab with small ensemble (string quartets, piano trio and chamber music in general) I can't stand it for complex symphonic music. Listening to Mahler's symphony or Rachmaninoff concertos is quite a pain: distortion and congested soundstage are pretty evident.

I've tried several dacs, but I've never been completely happy: the Dacmagic was way too bright, the Benchmark sterile...I've been using for 5 months a Audio-GD Ref.5 and that was quite good, though dynamics weren't top notch.

Any recommendation? Budget is below £1000

Thanks!

Hi realmassy

Have a look at the new Chord Electronics Chordette Peach DAC.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

AlmaataKZ:
Also, if you are tired of distorsion and orchestral instruments lumping together you may want to try active speakers.

I only listen through headphones so speakers are not an option :-(

By the way, that rack is very nice!

 

[Singslinger]

I've found Musical Fidelity's M1 is a decent upgrade from the DacMagic. The sound is warmer, sweeter, a bit more detailed and for me this is important - the background silence is...well, quieter, if you know what I mean.

I haven't had any experience with other DACs though so I guess the advice as always is to audition yourself. Good luck!

 

[ID.]

refined? good soundstage, detail and separation? Sounds like you could the reviews of the rDac. I'm pretty keen to give it a go myself, but I think I'll wait until he wireless version is available.

I suppose pursuing the Chord line, there is the Toucan, but you're probably not interested in that as you already have a headphone amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

To be honest, my first reaction is with distortion: are you sure that the problem is with the DAC? Is the amp + tubes still 100% ok? I also listen to big orchestra / opera. No longer with cans as one channel of my Sennh 540 reference sadly died recently (anyone with a half one to spare?). Indeed not all experiences are pleasurable, but the first thing to blame is often the recording. But some sound very good even though I never had the quality of your gear.

 

[MARKHOLDEN]

.......this is the new dac/ headphone amp form firestone.

 

[Anonymous]

Pete10:
Hi,

To be honest, my first reaction is with distortion: are you sure that the problem is with the DAC? Is the amp + tubes still 100% ok? I also listen to big orchestra / opera. No longer with cans as one channel of my Sennh 540 reference sadly died recently (anyone with a half one to spare?). Indeed not all experiences are pleasurable, but the first thing to blame is often the recording. But some sound very good even though I never had the quality of your gear.

That's a good pint. Obviously distortion is there in some old recordings: I have many EMI classic recordings from 50 and 60, and some of them are poorly recorded but truly exceptional from the artistic point of view.

The Woo amp is fine, I'm rolling different tubes and distortion is more evident with some of them.

Also I never experienced this kind of problem with the Audio-GD Reference 5.

 

[Anonymous]

ID.:
refined? good soundstage, detail and separation? Sounds like you could the reviews of the rDac. I'm pretty keen to give it a go myself, but I think I'll wait until he wireless version is available.

I suppose pursuing the Chord line, there is the Toucan, but you're probably not interested in that as you already have a headphone amp.

The rDac is on my short list, as well as the M1.

I think I can get a demo from Superfi, but I definitely need to listen to them with my tube amp. Any 30 days trial on the M1? it's £359 from Lintone Audio, at that price should be a no-brainer...

 

[Anonymous]

Hi realmassy,

I work for Bigger Boat Distribution which represents Lavry Engineering in the UK & Ireland and I'd be happy to arrange a trial of a DA10 or a DA11 for you.

Let me know if I can give you more information or be of any help,

Oliver

Bigger Boat Distribution

01992 878678