Bryston BDA-3 DAC Review
September 21, 2016 Comments Off on Bryston BDA-3 DAC Review
“Now for something a bit different, Metallica. I recent attended the Metallica show here in Minneapolis at US Bank stadium. It was one of the best shows I’ve seen, although it sounded less than stellar. My renewed enthusiasm for Metallica forced me to find the best sounding copy of the album … And Justice For All. It’s my favorite Metallica album, right in between the band’s early thrash metal and the heavily-produced pop metal year”
AudioQuest DragonFly Red and DragonFly Black Review
September 12, 2016 Comments Off on AudioQuest DragonFly Red and DragonFly Black Review
“Narrowing things down to Red v. Black, the most notable sonic differences I heard were when the DragonFlys were compared using my main system (Ayre AX-5 Twenty/DeVore Fidelity gibbon X). In this system context, the Black sounds fatter and more akin to a big ball of sonic happiness as compared the Red’s more refined and better defined sound image. The Red also improves on the Black in terms of the subtleties that music contains: cymbal hits, piano trails, and a more dramatic dynamic range. To my ears, I’d bet on Red when coupling a DragonFly with a highly resolving system.”
Schiit $2,299 Yggdrasil DAC; $1,699 Ragnarok Amplifier Review
September 8, 2016 Comments Off on Schiit $2,299 Yggdrasil DAC; $1,699 Ragnarok Amplifier Review
“Now for the most important part, the sound. The Yggdrasil’s tonality is quite outstanding. It takes the basic characteristics of the Gungnir Multibit (Gumby) and adds a finer layer of resolution, richer visceral bass and extends the treble. Contrary to many other DACs in this category which sound overly-analytical and shrill in nature, the Yggdrasil tastefully infuses detail with a natural organic-like quality that is evocative of vinyl. However, unlike a vinyl set-up, the Yggdrasil offers greater levels of detail and resolution that masterfully portray subtle auditory cues and nuances to give a complete and more involving experience. Next to the Yggdrasil, the Gungnir Multibit illuminates a lesser fraction of these micro-details at the expense of a warmer and more liquidesque tone. ”
totaldac d1-integral-headphone music server/DAC Review
August 31, 2016 Comments Off on totaldac d1-integral-headphone music server/DAC Review
“If I screw on my reviewer’s cap real tight, squeezing out mostly all of the fun involved in listening to music, I’d say that the d1-integral does not have as fine a grip on bass as its more expensive siblings or even the recently reviewed Moon by Simaudio Nēo 280D MiND. While I remain very impressed with the Nēo 280D, it does not reach as deeply into music’s richness and nuance as the totalac. On a personal note, my heart and mind still have me craving either the d1-tube-mk2 or the d1-dual DAC, a craving which can only be filled if/when my bank account becomes fuller.”
Merging Technologies NADAC $10,500 – Review
August 29, 2016 Comments Off on Merging Technologies NADAC $10,500 – Review
“Compared to the very impressive MOON by Simaudio Nēo 280D MiND (see review, the NADAC offered up a more refined sound image, where every last piece of the sonic puzzle simply gelled in a more convincing manner. There were times when I let Roon Radio take over track selection so I was delighted with the surprise of musical choices and their accompanying sounds. I learned a number of things from this experience including how good Marissa Nadler’s music sounds, how well the NADAC deals with acoustic music, and how the NADAC can handle the hard stuff without getting the least bit tipsy.
Simaudio Nēo 280D MiND MOON Review
August 12, 2016 Comments Off on Simaudio Nēo 280D MiND MOON Review
“A few sonic characteristics stand out; excellent clarity, superb control from bottom to top, and a very convincing portrayal of the sound image in every dimension. Music entered the barn completely separate and detached from my speakers, opening up well beyond their physical placement while the sound image remained rock solid and stable. Very nice.”
MOON by Simaudio Ltd. proudly introduces the MOON Neo 280D Digital-to-Analog Converter with optional network player, the newest addition to our MOON Neo Series. (PRNewsFoto/Simaudio Ltd.)
Bryston BDP-2 Server and BDA-3 DAC Review
August 6, 2016 Comments Off on Bryston BDP-2 Server and BDA-3 DAC Review
” The Bryston BDP-2 digital file and network player used in tandem with the BDA-3 DAC is the best digital front end I have had in my system. The versatility, build, ease of setup, and sound quality are unrivaled in my experience at least. The combination costs approximately $6500. From what I have heard at audio shows and dealers, this duo competes with far more expensive digital players and DAC models.”
Bryston BDP-2 Server and BDA-3 DAC Review
August 5, 2016 Comments Off on Bryston BDP-2 Server and BDA-3 DAC Review
“The BDA-1 DAC was superseded by the BDP-2, which added an asynchronous USB input, and other improvements. The BDA-3 arrived after a long-term development phase, adding DSD decoding and HDMI inputs, among other things. Bryston, in my opinion, has shown a history of ignoring trends and fashion, and defers instead to engineering and proper product design. The company could have easily put out a “DSD capable” DAC three years ago but chose to not capitalize or compromise. I admire this very much”
Wadia 521 DAC Review
July 30, 2016 Comments Off on Wadia 521 DAC Review
“Although several of the DACs mentioned above do one or more things better than the 521, the latter remains a very well-balanced DAC that just so happens to fit my system and taste very well. It provides almost all of the classic Wadia-typical qualities while minimising the brand’s traditional weaker areas.”
Chord DAVE DAC REVIEW
July 25, 2016 Comments Off on Chord DAVE DAC REVIEW
“Never before have I heard my CDs or my digital music files in such good quality. This is true when judged by the usual hi-fi standards but, more importantly, it is also true when judged by the music’s emotional impact. Because the DAVE merges fantastic accomplishments in the various areas into an absolutely coherent overall performance, it manages to bring out the touching emotional qualities of music. Depending on the track, music will be more relaxing, more engaging or more dramatic than before. The times that we would accuse digital music of lacking ‘soul’ are long gone by now, fortunately. And with the DAVE digital music now achieves a completely new level of intensity. And it does so without any flamboyancy, just by doing everything right.”
Audiophilepure 
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