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The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC

99.174.245.126
Posted on March 3, 2015 at 05:56:24
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 This DAC offers excellent isolation from computer, USB cables,and other second order effects.

What does this imply concerning OS tweaking and all of the rest of the things we enjoy doing and arguing about?

Jump down to the SD card section if you don't wish to read the entire review.

 

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Thanks for the very interesting review. nt, posted on March 3, 2015 at 10:55:52
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007


Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 3, 2015 at 11:09:53
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 I want to thank you for featuring two super albums..one new..Rhinannon Giddons, and the 192 Khz remaster of Neil's After The Gold Rush.

The Giddons album is simply sublime.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 3, 2015 at 13:00:31
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 Nice review Steve! :)

 

Thanks Guys (nt), posted on March 3, 2015 at 15:52:46
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 .

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 00:18:50
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 Hmmh.

Guess what. I read the review too. I still think it's a pretty cheap attitude to just link to your commercial projects in a non-commercial
forum!!
Me as admin - and such a post wouldn't survive longer than 5 minutes. Lucky you.

Back to the review.

It shows again that you better shouldn't write anything about technical implementations. They might sell you a transformer as 8th Wonder of the World. And you buy it. I'll skip to disect your review any further.
Ok. You at least limit the damage by quoting large sections that's been directly communicated by the manufacturer.
Which on the other side gives them a great marketing platform through the "independency" backdoor on your "independent" site.

Your expressed "experiences" remind me of 99,9% other reviews you'll find on the web:

"relaxed with no hardness or thinness to the sound. Music emerges from a very black quiet background with excellent definition and focus. Both micro and macro dynamic changes are reproduced well with no blurring of detail. The DAC is fast sounding with excellent control of the bass. The soundstage from this DAC is wide with good depth reproduction"

It's basically useless - at least to me.

However. Obviously there are people around here enjoying such a review. ( Oh dear! Tony. You're one of them. )


To me. Bottom line. Another wasted 5 minutes.

Hint: If you write something about these guys being first at something.
You better make sure that they are first. I don't think that paralleling Sabres and SD-card playback is their invention. It's known from the very beginning (at least to all of us running DIY Twisted Pear Sabres for quite some time) that a Sabre won't perform best without paralleling its outputs.
This and using multiple Sabres and several other tweaks cleary shows that the Sabre 9018 DAC is all but a perfect device. Because. If you translate these measures. You may quickly conclude that ESS 9018 faces crosstalk issues, impedance issues and current delivery issues - to name three that hit my mind right away - with a single device.

Anyhow. Keep trying.

PS: I'm really wondering if there are people out there, willing to spent $5k for a DAC after reading such a review.


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RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 05:57:13
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 I commented to a friend yesterday that I expected a negative response to my review from you. At least you are consistent.

If one visits the Resonessence site, they will see a huge amount of information describing the design of their DAC. I think I did a pretty good job condensing all of this. I also asked Resonessence to discuss their power supply,clock design, and SD card software; information you won't find on their site.

For years you have been stating that a well designed USB DAC would not be subject to computer software, OS system, and USB cable effects. Here is a DAC that seems to be well designed in terms of isolation. Anyone with an SD card can arrive at their own conclusions and not depend on mine. You conveniently glossed over this information in my review.

The fact that you failed to mention this illuminates your true agenda in posting this response.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 07:05:42
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 "At least you are consistent."
Yep. You're absolutely right that you can't expect a different response!
And yes. For sure - you'll get a response.
Obviously, you keep doing the same low quality (technically) - somewhat entertaining stuff over and over again.


When it comes to the source and its impact:

I almost expected to get you hooked up on that one.
I very well looked at these points, because it was mentiond.

You kept it rather vague as I recall it correctly.

The only time you were precise, as far I remember, when stating that the iFi didn't make any difference at all. Hmmh.
Fmak? mentioned ifi USB making things even worse.
Others claim iFi USB it improves things.
Others claim you need a better power supply for iFI USB to get it performing really well.

It's a pick and choose situation. That's what people do best over here.

That iFi story IMO doesn't say much about the overall quality of the USB interface. We discussed that earlier.

I thought it's not worth going into it. (I guess you read my comment about "no intention to disect your review").


One more:

You're using all kind of system tweaks, mains power filters/optimizers, you name it.
By doing so you change real world scenarios. That'll make any of your
reviews somewhat useless.
I also can't remember that you compared different OS, OS settings & optimizations and audio software. Perhaps I missed that.

You could also have taken away your linear PC supply to see what happens then.

Why don't you take that device and run all kind of source related tests against a DAC, any DAC. And don't forget to take away your power filters etc..
Challenges in that area should easily be covered by a $5K DAC.
And then you run the "same" tests against every DAC you'll get in your hands. Also against your Crimson!
And then you prepare a ranking.

And then I want to hear:

Jplay - No impact
Fidelizer - No impact
KS/Wasapi - No imapct
Audirvana/Amarra - No impact
Linear ATX PS - No impact
$5 USB cable - No impact
SOTM USB - No impact
...

And then we start talking.


Good luck.



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RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 07:17:18
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 I don't remember ever stating that the iFi PowerUSB did not make a difference. That's not what I said in my review.

After looking at all of your requests-demands, I think it is best if we don't start talking.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 07:29:18
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 I still think it's a pretty cheap attitude to just link to your commercial projects in a non-commercial forum!!

It's not as cheap an attitude as yours, which is positively snide. You know damn well that Steve doesn't write his articles because he needs (or even wants) the money. If he did, he'd not be writing for Audiostream.

If you want to make technical points, that's fine by me (though your spleen seems to muddle your thinking - if e.g. you think transformer design is trivial, you seem to be less well informed technically than I thought) but your regular spiteful outburts do not convince me to pay much attention to them. I don't think anyone participating in this thread should be booted off the forum but, if I had to choose, it's you I'd go for.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 07:37:31
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 Yep. No problem.
I was just trying to support you a little.
And I wanted to clarify my position, since you were attacking me.

To present quality stuff it takes more then writing 50 lines of prose.
Yep. It's hard work to get technical stuff analyzed properly. The write-up is the easy part.
A real well (technically) done post/review gets close to a scientific work.
I guess you've done something like that - scientific work - in the past.
Obviusoly not in the audio arena.
You should know what it means and requires.

If you look at HeadFi and elsewhere you'll find reviews that are IMO ten times better then the stuff that you provide. Even the Stereophile reviews are at a different level.

Good luck.



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RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 07:42:15
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Steve, you must have the patience of a saint. Even I have grown utterly tired of soundchekk's predictable responses. Enough already.

He is an expert on everything, anything more than $250 is a rip off, everything is a scam, hi-rez is a waste of money, blah blah.

And the very BEST part, Steve? Comments about products that he has NEVER heard and will NEVER hear.

Steve, very thorough work on the review btw.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 07:44:29
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 +100.

I and would love to see MORE reviewers posting their review links here. It is a regular occurrence on other forums. "Commercial projects"? What a joke.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 07:57:00
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Thanks to Dave and Sprezza Tura. I don't expect Klaus to love my stuff, but he has had it in for me ever since I purchased Amarra back in 2009. I honestly don't think there is anything I could do to please him.

But in the interest in keeping this pleasant place, I'm done responding to him.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 08:19:33
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 Look.

If Steve wants to write independent non-commercial reviews, he can open up a Google blog in 5 minutes. Or he can write it over here at AA - as many other inmates do. He decided against it.

He probably wouldn't get the devices free of charge for testing anymore.
Yep. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

It's not my problem if he doesn't get payed by a commercial site or his employer. That site belongs to Stereophile and they are paying for it and some staff. And that makes it commercial.

Better wake up.


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RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 08:30:12
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 Nope.

You can please me very easily.

If I try to advise, just don't ignore it. I'm sure not everyting I write is completely off.

You might have noticed here and there that I am not such a bad guy. I do give advise as far as my limited knowledge allows. I also offer this or that to the community - free of charge...

And yes. Your $1500 Amarra subject I'll never forget. The greatest rip-off in computer audio history ever.






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RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 08:57:01
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 Better wake up.

One thing I have woken up to is that you have become almost obsessively spiteful. It's tiresome.

I'm sure not everyting I write is completely off.

It didn't used to be: there was a time when I had a high regard for your input. Now? I'm not so certain. What I am certain of is that I'm sick of your acting like some 17th century English witchfinder determined to root out the Devil wearing the guise of an advertising salesman and corrupting the minds of sinful audiophiles.

It's a hobby FFS. The day you see Steve writing marketing pap for Beelzebub Audio you might have a point. Meantime, why not try to be a little more tolerant of folk with different ideas to yours?

D

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 09:01:19
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Yes Klaus, AudioStream is a commercial site. But it is not owned by Stereophile. Both AudioStream and Stereophile are owned by The Enthusiast Network.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 09:52:55
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 You are a joke and you have no idea how the real world works. Stay in your bubble, please.

Write a google blog? LOL. Hilarious, so Steve should put in all the hard work and effort so 5 people can read his review. And manufacturers will be just LINING up to send a "google blogger" their gear, at their expense. Absolutely a joke.

Reviewing DACs is not a write up on a pharmaceutical drug, this is not curing cancer. It is fucking audio. Find bigger problems to complain about please.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 10:07:32
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I agree with you, well said Dave. I love the FSS ... Gotta remember that one!

 

That's the DAC I want, posted on March 4, 2015 at 10:45:05
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15168
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 but I'm just $4500 short of being able to purchase it right now!

The SD card interface is brilliant.

 

+1 nt, posted on March 4, 2015 at 12:05:54
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 13:10:00
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 Steve,

Just please ignore the moron. He only has negative things to say. We look forward for the heads up about you articles and reviews. They are well done and we would be going to read them anyway... He is just a unhappy individual.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 4, 2015 at 14:26:51
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 "If you look at HeadFi and elsewhere you'll find reviews that are IMO ten times better then the stuff that you provide. "

Shows how little you actually know about the subject of reviewing.

HP is probably rolling over in his grave!!!

 

Thanks for sharing Steve! I look forward to all your posts!, posted on March 4, 2015 at 15:04:34
MRMB
Audiophile

Posts: 130
Location: Midwest
Joined: August 16, 2001
 Although I don't personally know him, Steve's input via this site as well as PM's he has graciously shared with me, have been very helpful to me and my system! I consider his opinions to be as valuable, if not more so, than most any others found here or elsewhere!


-Mike

 

AD797 is one of my fave op amps, posted on March 5, 2015 at 08:23:44
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 6065
Joined: April 6, 2000
 If I had to build a DAC with op amps, I'd probably use the AD797. Still, using op amp output stage in a $5000 DAC is rather ballsy, unless you are Weiss or Meitner :)

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 5, 2015 at 16:51:52
Whell
Audiophile

Posts: 368
Joined: March 5, 2002
 Excessive, over the top, unnecessary.

Just because you post on an internet forum doesn't mean you need to check your decorum and decency at the door. Post like yours speak far more about you than they do about the person you attempt to deride, and are eventually self-defeating, as the responses to your posts should suggest.

Disagreement is welcome. Buttressing your arguments with sarcasm and insult isn't.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 5, 2015 at 21:57:43
internethandle
Audiophile

Posts: 42
Location: CA
Joined: November 30, 2011
 You can add me to the small chorus of inmates tiring of soundchekk's bombast. I don't think I've ever gleaned anything useful from his constant contrarianism. Ryelands says it well with the 'saving audiophiles from themselves' sentiment.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 6, 2015 at 04:20:12
SBGK
Audiophile

Posts: 444
Joined: March 22, 2012
 The problem with getting the dac to do all the reclocking and cleaning up for you is that you are then listening to the dac designers compromises. Sort of like the anti alias filter on a digital camera which is supposed to help, but removes the sharpness of the picture.
http://mqnplayer.blogspot.co.uk/

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 6, 2015 at 11:20:37
chopper87@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 942
Joined: September 2, 2001
 I feel that DAC reviews are SOOOO valuable. This is THE player type source that many,if not most of us well worn Audio Enthusiasts are depending on to listen through. Here in the Tampa Florida area, there used to be Seven High End Audio Salons, one of which was mine.

Only one remains and the last time that I visited, there was only one DAC on display. So, without the Steves' out there willing to invest the time and effort required to evaluate and post their opinions of DAC'S, then WE are forced to buy blindly.

However, I find little value in a DAC review that has NO direct comparisons with at least one other currently popular DAC. Saying that a particular DAC sounds great does NOT help me make a purchasing decision, as almost 100% of DAC reviews claim great sound.

I have invested in having two and a borrowed a third DAC to assure having three currently popular DAC'S on hand. These are the Metrum HEX, Auralic Vega and Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC'S.

I really need for a review to offer direct comparisons with other DAC's because this is no longer a thing that we can do ourselves without actually purchasing as I have. Rave product reviews mean little if you also praised the other recent products evaluated as well. I need to know how they compare with each other.

 

RE: The Resonessence Labs Mirus DAC, posted on March 6, 2015 at 12:06:53
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Hi Lance,

Hope all is well with you.

Your request is reasonable from a reader's perspective. But my reality presents a different set of issues. For one, I have never evaluated the DACs in your list. All I can do in my reviews are to present the features of the DAC that impressed me or failed to impress me.

A subjective comparison of multiple DACs is only possible if I have all of these units on my shelf waiting to be listened to. Also, relying on memory of a DAC evaluated one year ago is also questionable.

As more high end stores close, manufacturers will resort to internet sales. Some form of auditioning is going to be necessary for customers, especially for expensive products.

I once purchased a Krell power amp based on a famous reviewer's accolades and sonic comparisons with other amps. I hated the sound of the Krell and ended up selling it for something else.

I guess in the end, one has to accept the limitations of this hobby. I have heard one of your DACs; the Ayre QB9 DSD. I think it is an excellent sounding product, but have never had the opportunity to live with it for an extended period of time and review it.

 

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