Oh no!!!
I have 5 DAC's in regular use - forgot about the Teradak 2.7.
Really do need some help now...
Upstairs: VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d NVA: Cube2 + LS6+ Sabaj A10a (2) + Little Bear MC2 Downstairs: VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC NVA: P50 (phono)Aiyima A07 MAX (2) + Arcam One HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
Modified Airlink BPS 3110S with LDA DC filter
TTs, Kenwood KD 8030 with AT OC9XSH, Opera Consonance Wax Engine mk2 with modified Apheta 2 MC cart, PT TOO awaiting restoration.
LDA MCJ3 phono,Schiit Freya plus pre amp, NAD M23, Audiolab 9000 CD transport, Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC, Mano Ultra2 streamer, Cisco switch, Audio Technica ATH 70 cans, Serhan Swift Mu2 mk2 speakers & NSNO W48.5 speaker cables
I suppose I need help, going on my experience yesterday with security at Nairobi Airport. My AQ DF Red is attached to my phone and was stored in my headphone case. The security man seemed to think it was a suspect device of some sort and spent some time scrutenising it. Everything else got through with merely a glance.
It was a long joutney back to Cardiff and the DFR had a lot of use. Modern technology is amazing. I have over 100 lossless albums stored on the phone and USB Audio Player Pro upsamples to 96kHv. A very good sound through the Oppo closed headphones I always? take away with me. Even better through the open Grados and Chord Mojo at home.
The other DACs in regular use are the Chord Qutest on the main system and an Arcam bluehtooth mini blink on the second system which sounds surprisingly good through UAPP. I have a AQ DF black as back up and another mini blink on the main system which my other half uses for You Tube. I do not consider the Mscaler to be a DAC.
Perhaps I need a lot of help.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Black
I'm too busy listening to it to tell you all how amazing it is.
Be patient.
Upstairs: VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d NVA: Cube2 + LS6+ Sabaj A10a (2) + Little Bear MC2 Downstairs: VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC NVA: P50 (phono)Aiyima A07 MAX (2) + Arcam One HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
Any thoughts on the Audiolab M-DAC or M-DAC+ compared to my upgraded Caiman SEG?
Ideally I want a DAC with two coax inputs that is better than either my Caiman SEG, or my Asus Essence STX II.
Failing that, I am looking at upgrading the SEG further still. I have no idea how that will sound though.
That is the snag. I don’t want to be changing my DAC too often by buying 2nd hand.
Being based in France, HiFi prices are a bit on the ricockulous side of things.
Have a word with MartinT over at TAS, he upgraded his SEG to the nth degree before he bought a different DAC. I believe one of the members there bought it from him, so you might get some first-hand info.
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85 Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
CaterhamKev wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2019 6:53 pm
Any thoughts on the Audiolab M-DAC or M-DAC+ compared to my upgraded Caiman SEG?
Ideally I want a DAC with two coax inputs that is better than either my Caiman SEG, or my Asus Essence STX II.
Failing that, I am looking at upgrading the SEG further still. I have no idea how that will sound though.
I've heard the Audiolab M-DAC and found it a bit veiled and restrained.
DAC's with 2 coax inputs: some Metrum models have that (my Musette certainly does) and one with an AES/EBU input can be used with an AES/RCA adaptor lead. The Doc made me one once from SSC - worked a treat. BNC/RCA is fine as well
The Cambridge DacMagic Plus can also be run with 2 coax inputs and sounds great with an SBooster LPSU, which coincidentally can also be implemented as an upgrade for the Beresford DAC.
Metrum & SBooster products (both from Holland) should be easily available in France.
Upstairs: VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d NVA: Cube2 + LS6+ Sabaj A10a (2) + Little Bear MC2 Downstairs: VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC NVA: P50 (phono)Aiyima A07 MAX (2) + Arcam One HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450