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In Reply to: RE: New DAC Suggestions posted by thetubeguy1954 on May 12, 2021 at 11:45:28
I recently sold my Marantz SA-11S3 CD/SACD player because there is now an inexpensive way to play SACDs thru an external DAC. Previously you could buy a Geer Fab D.BOB to do this ($800 - $1000) but now there's a Chinese made "black box" available on eBay for about $50 - $100 that will do the same and more.
The above was for background info, now to answer your question. I have been researching DACs in the $1500 - $3000 range, maybe even more. These include (listed in increasing price order) the Gustard X26 Pro ($1500), Denafrips Pontus II ($1700), Holo Audio Spring 3 ($2800) and Denafrips Venus II ($3000).
For the past week or so, I have been reading every review and discussion that I could find related to the DACs listed above. I was a little biased against the Gustard because I wanted a R2R based DAC. However, based on my listening preferences and the descriptions of the DACs, I just ordered a X26 Pro. FWIW, here's a fantastic review of it:
Gustard X26 Pro Review
When you read the reviews/discussions, along with all of the good stuff, there's always some attributes of the DAC under discussion that is not as good as DAC XYZ. IOWs, no DAC is perfect. But we don't need a perfect DAC, just one that is good enough. That thought is the overall message of a YouTube video reviewing the $4500 TOTL Holo Audio May DAC (see link below). This is a very long, over 50 minutes, video that is well worth watching. Even if you have to break it up into 10 minute segments or skip some parts. It's more hilarious by the minute (especially the last 20 minutes) and puts things into perspective.
I had already made up my mind on the X26 Pro before I watched the video. However, I felt good buying the least expensive of the DACs under consideration after viewing it. Also, with the pace of technology, do you really want to spend several to many thousands of dollars on a DAC?
Gerry
Follow Ups:
Have you received your X26 Pro yet? :)
It was delivered this morning. Even though for most of the day, Fedex tracking showed it wasn't going to be delivered until tomorrow. Hmmm, maybe I'll get two of them? Nah, the tracking number on the shipping box matched the one I was tracking on the computer. Note that they were back-ordered but once it shipped it took about 5 days to get from China to New York.
I spent at least half the day trying to get the Chinese "black box" to pass DSD to the X26 Pro. I tried everything I could including a number of different hookup options but still couldn't get it to work. Then I started with all of the many different system and audio settings on the Sony digital player being used as a transport. Still, a no go.
Then I went through dozens and dozens of posts, on different websites, discussing the hook-up and use of the black box. Out of all those posts, only one mentioned that he couldn't get it to work until he hooked up an external power supply to the black box (in most situations, just the HDMI connection will be enough to power it). So I searched my box of power supplies for a 5v one and came close enough, 4.5v. My perseverance paid off - BINGO!
By this time it was late in the day but I did listen for a little while and the DAC X26 Pro sounded very promising . There are a number of reasons why the current setup is not optimized yet (ex. using a cheap garbage interconnect cable as the coax digital cable). Once I get everything optimized, hopefully in the next few days, I will report back.
Gerry
I'm sure you'll be delighted.
I have switched preamps in my system and the new one lets me hear even more how incredible my modest Gustard A18 is. To get that kind of sound quality for 600$ is a steal, I can only imagine what they can do for three times that amount!
without question the best DAC I have ever heard, worth every penny and the interminable wait and is the end for me. I am done. Nobody will ever regret buying one. It is that good. Best used with HQPlayer, Roon or another player that supports high rate upsampling/transcoding.
Hi Paul - I'm sure the May is a really great DAC. I think it was obvious that Zeos in the video was dissing it, especially at the end, to be funny. I had been waiting for the Spring 3 to become available, with its trickle down tech from the May, but don't have the patience that you apparently had.
I see that you got the May L2. What went into the decision to buy that instead of the KTE version? Just curious. Thanks.
Gerry
No KTE because I don't believe in magic fuses and silver ac hookup wire. The DAC covers are merely aesthetic. It's a money-grab by the distribitor for neurotic people that believe fanciful marketing bullshit. The L2 has an advanced USB receiver and apparently also has premium measuring DAC boards over L1 done at the factory. It sure does sound good.
which is $1695. I love how the Qutest sounds, especially with (modified) Allo Shanti LPS, but I must say the build amount/quality is massively more impressive on the X26 Pro.
I've been slowly researching for a DAC for a second system that can compete with Qutest on SQ, so the Gustard is on the radar, but some red flags bother me. Even the Sound News review mentions:
"X26 PRO added some class-A warmth, a heavier and more impactful bass at the cost of being less grippy sounding to the Element X."
My preference is for a very clear, neutral sound with tons of microdynamics/detail, but we will see...
I think the X26 might be a tiny bit warmer than the Element X, according to the review, but that's relative and probably doesn't put it in the warm / thick sounding category. It is still very much a delta-sigma DAC, and is bound to be more detailed / precise / "cold" than the R2R competition...
Well, we have come full circle because it was your post on 3/20 that first made me aware of the X26 Pro. You even provided the link to the review by Sandu which was posted that very same day.
As for the "added class-A warmth" that you quoted from the review, that is something I prefer, especially coming from Marantz Reference Series CD/SACD players for the last 14 years. They are known to be on the warm side and I was worried that I would swing too far the other way with a ESS9038 based DAC. According to Sandu, that's not the case.
Sandu also addressed the Qutest vs X26 Pro in the comments section when someone asked him which of those two DACs he should buy:
"I had at my place a Chord TT2 with the MScaller for around 3 weeks, my Element X was on the same level while costing considerably less. Bottom line is that X26 PRO would destroy the Qutest in every possible scenario."
Of course that's his opinion based on his tastes.
Gerry
RE: "I had at my place a Chord TT2 with the MScaller for around 3 weeks, my Element X was on the same level while costing considerably less.
"Bottom line is that X26 PRO would destroy the Qutest in every possible scenario."
"Of course that's his opinion based on his tastes."
Actually, he's ABSOLUTELY RIGHT: The X-26PRO would destroy the the Qutest (in every possible scenario) since the Gustard 'X-22' is better in every single way. The 'Qutest' doesn't even come close. Period.
pj
and hope these comments about warmth and stuff is overstated.
It so happens the Gustard is the same price as new WE300B tubes I've been thinking about, so some restraint is in order.IME, Chord TT2 with MScaler is warmer than neutral as well, but with more resolution than Qutest. Allo Shanti LPS with modified shorter and doubled DC cable adds enough resolution, density, and weight to Qutest that my upgrade from Qutest/Shanti will not be to TT2.
It also bothers me how all of Chord gear seems so high priced for the amount of "stuff" you get. I'm sure Rob Watts would disagree... :)
Edits: 05/15/21 05/15/21
"It so happens the Gustard is the same price as new WE300B tubes I've been thinking about, so some restraint is in order."Restraint? That didn't stop me, I bought both. OTOH, I sold my TA-300Bs and Marantz SACD player so my costs were covered. BTW, since you prefer a specific kind of sound and wonder if the X26 Pro can provide it - don't forget you have options with the Gustard.
There are 3 PCM filter options, 4 DSD filter options and NOS On/Off. Past experience tells me that some of these options are subtle but I can't imagine that you couldn't fine tune it to get the sound you want. Unless the DAC isn't nearly as good as Sandu says it is.
"It also bothers me how all of Chord gear seems so high priced for the amount of "stuff" you get."
Yes, I also feel like the Chord DACs are too expensive but then again I feel that 90%(?) of audio equipment is. Especially once you go past the $2 - $4k range. Diminishing returns and all that rot.
Gerry
Edits: 05/17/21
I read the review you linked. Mein Gott in Himmel! What a review! One
might get the idea this thing is perfect! But several things concern me:
(1) sending money to some offshore company (2) service (3) warranty (4)
trial period.
I will be very interested to read your comments once you have auditioned
the unit.
Whether or not you can observe a thing depends upon the theory you use. It is the theory which decides what can be observed. - Albert Einstein
"What a review! One might get the idea this thing is perfect!"
I agree, the review is almost a little too good. However, throughout the review and especially in the Conclusion section, he spells out why:
"It is not that often when you see a fully discrete output stage, a dual mono design from input to output, a custom master clock generator, some oversized toroidal transformers and best-in-class capacitors in a device that costs less than $2k."
There's a lot to like there and I'll add a pair of TOTL ESS9038 Pro DAC chips. Your concerns are legit but at the price I was willing to take the chance. They must be selling like hotcakes because they are out of stock and it won't be shipped until next week. Good or bad, I'll definitely provide an update once I get it.
Gerry
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