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Model: | Vega |
Category: | DAC Processors |
Suggested Retail Price: | $3595 |
Description: | DAC |
Manufacturer URL: | Auralic |
Review by bullethead on May 30, 2016 at 09:37:37 IP Address: 108.14.40.252 | Add Your Review for the Vega |
Auralic Vega Digital Processor Review
Many months ago I had the opportunity to purchase an Auralic Vega DAC. Since that point I have added the Auralic Aries streamer on top of it. However this review will focus on the DAC, I have to say the Aries was important in my evaluation of the system as it is the best source I have. Most listening was done through the Aries as PCM as well as a laptop loaded with Daphile Linux operating system for playback of PCM files upsampled to DSD 128 via USB and the Linux system software.
The sound of the Auralic Vega is extremely liquid, especially when playing high resolution PCM files. Velvety texture to the presence, very three dimensional and a word I like to use a lot, holographic.
The surprise to me when playing back CD quality at 16bit 44.1 is the presence is not fatiguing at all, this is when hooked up to a CD player or playback from the Aries or a Modded Sonos Connect or a Laptop. I can easily listen all day and not get tired of the sound. What this DAC does is extremely good to all kinds of music. I am using the balanced outputs into a Bel Canto Pre3 preamplifier then into a Merrill Audio Taranis Hypex NCore amplifier into Anthony Gallo Nucleus Reference 3.5 loudspeakers (which are also powered by a 2nd Gallo Amplifier for the 2nd voice coil of the woofers as the system can get down to about 22hz).
As I said velvety liquid presence to the sound. I set the clock setting to exact a lot and find the best sound from that clock setting. Auto clock setting is also very nice for laptop playback. The built in sound filters make it work very well and you get to tune the settings to pleasant sounding playback using them. I stick to the basic filters as I tend to like neutral sound however you can set the filters to really sound out of this world and help enhance the sound of the digital sources.
I tend to prefer high resolution PCM sound to DSD but it is nice to know you can playback DSD files should you have any or wish to upsample PCM to DSD. DXD playback also is another way to gather extreme high resolution playback as this DAC supports DXD as well.
As there are many professional reviews of this unit I will not get into the details of the hardware other than to say this is a brilliant piece of engineering and is one of the best sounding DACs in the world today. I am fortunate to have this DAC in my system.
Product Weakness: | None for the price |
Product Strengths: | Sound quality |
Amplifier: | Merrill Audio Taranis |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Bel Canto Pre3 |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Auralic Aries |
Speakers: | Gallo Ref 3.5 |
Cables/Interconnects: | Various |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Various |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Though I've never thought the reproduction of Red Book CDs was lacking in any way from my Oppo 105d or Sony SCD-XA5400ES players, I decided to create a dedicated playback system for the CDs. I have seven shelves of Red Book CDs and two of SACDs.
After doing my research, I settled on the AURALiC Vega Processor. Among other things, it has very low levels of jitter. I fed the Vega with my trusty PS Audio Lambda CD transport which has the lowest level of jitter ever measured by Stereophile. Well, to cut to the chase, I'm enjoying the best Red Book reproduction ever, improvement on virtually all sonic dimensions. Most notable in an expanded dynamic range. Sudden passages of loud music burst out and pop with greater impact. Instruments in the rear of the soundstage are reproduced with greater detail and clarity. Virtually all my CDs sound better but the best of them, XRCDs for example, really sound good. The sonic excellence of my record collection is not predicable by SACD verses CD.
I agree, CD sounds exquisite with this DAC. I've tried with two transports, a Bel Canto CD2 and a Yamaha CD-S1000.
really damn good as they say. I'm happy to see another Vega owner on these forums.
I just tweaked my analog setup and have found new joy.
I am ready to blow some money on digital: So, I can get close to analog bliss (actually, if I just enjoy the sound, I am HAPPY)!
I would say it is all in the equipment. For me, currently LP wins the sound game.
The more I use my Audio Research Sp-15 tube phono section, with my Kuzma Stabi Stogi S dynavector 17D3.. The better I like the vinyl over playing CDs.
Cleaning the Lps really helps..
I used to not notice much difference. But I do now.. Between sort of clean and really 'CLEAN' LPs.
I would look forward to someone comparing the Auralic to the new Bryston BDA-3 DAC. It is a simple DAC with no app or anything fancy. But it can do DSD over HDMI and hence I am so interested.
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