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Thread: Which dac?

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: Dublin

    Posts: 232
    I'm Simon.

    Default Which dac?

    I'm thinking of adding a dac to my system. Mainly to connect to a squeeze box touch, but would make sense to get one with enough inputs for the cd and TV.

    So far the ones on my shortlist are:

    M2tech young dac
    Metrum octave mk2 ideally but would go with a mk1
    Jolida tube fx dac
    And the bm2

    I would be trying to pick one of these up second hand as new a couple of them are out of my league.

    Living in Ireland there's not much choice to home demo before you buy.

    All these dac's have had rave reviews. So who out there has listened to them?
    Source: Thorens TD124 Rega RB300, Sumiko bluepoint No2., Cambridge Audio D500 Special Edition CDP, Squeeze box Touch, PC with Trends Audio USB Audio DAC UD-10 Amplification: Croft Micro 25 basic pre, Leak Stereo 20, Trends Audio Class T TA-10, Fisher X100-A Speakers:Impulse H6 Interconnects: Handmade silver and TNT audio CAT5 speaker cables

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: A Strangely Isolated Place in Suffolk with Far Away Trains Passing By...

    Posts: 14,535
    I'm David.

    Default

    These days, I'd say to go for the BM2. The internals in ANY DAC aren't expensive these days and if you're paying many hundreds or more for one, it's usually for facilities, an expensive case and the cachet of the manufacturer, coupled with suspect intellectual property, together with dealer profit. The Rega DAC's nice too (bear in mind the modest retailer margin here though), but common as muck around here, so lacking in desirability for many where rarity can count for something
    Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
    Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Cricklewood

    Posts: 9,074
    I'm ILOB.

    Default

    I heard the Octavia awhile back really good DAC The BM2 is also really good but not compared it against the BM2 If it was my money I go for the BM2 unless you can try the Octavia on sale or return
    Loves anything from Pain of Salvation to Jeff Buckley to Django to Sarasate to Surinder Sandhu to Shawn Lane to Nick Drake to Rush to Beth Hart to Kate Bush to Rodrigo Y Gabriela to The Hellecasters to Dark Sanctury to Ben Harper to Karicus to Dream Theater to Zero Hour to Al DiMeola to Larry Carlton to Derek Trucks to Govt Mule to?

    Humour: One of the few things worth taking seriously

  4. #4
    Join Date: Mar 2012

    Location: Gloucestershire

    Posts: 3,377
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    If you don't mind a little DIY for the power supply, the Sabre DAC is well worth a listen. Similar in its almost analogue and very neutral sound to the Jolida DAC. I was very impressed when I had a recent audition of this. Details here:

    http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route...&product_id=87

  5. #5
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Cricklewood

    Posts: 9,074
    I'm ILOB.

    Default

    The above is a nice DAC for the money lacks a bit of refinement but great starter DAC
    Loves anything from Pain of Salvation to Jeff Buckley to Django to Sarasate to Surinder Sandhu to Shawn Lane to Nick Drake to Rush to Beth Hart to Kate Bush to Rodrigo Y Gabriela to The Hellecasters to Dark Sanctury to Ben Harper to Karicus to Dream Theater to Zero Hour to Al DiMeola to Larry Carlton to Derek Trucks to Govt Mule to?

    Humour: One of the few things worth taking seriously

  6. #6
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

    Posts: 9,656
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    Have the Young here, cant praise it highly enough.
    In stock form it wiped the floor with the Rega dac, adding a linear PSU takes it to another level.

    Done some mods to it since then, even better.

    I'd say if your going down usb computer audio route, take a look at the Young.
    AC POWER
    Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
    AMPS
    Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
    SPEAKERS
    Wharfedale Evo 4.4
    DAC
    PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
    TURNTABLE
    Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
    PHONOSTAGE
    Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
    DIGITAL
    OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
    MUSIC PLAYBACK
    Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
    Ipad Roon Remote.
    Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
    SPEAKER CABLES
    Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On
    "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
    INTERCONNECTS
    All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables

  7. #7
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: Dublin

    Posts: 232
    I'm Simon.

    Default

    The only thing that puts me off the bm2 is its lack of USB. Although I don't technically need a USB connection at the moment, I could see a music server build in the future. When a USB connection will be required. Also from what I've read the touch is at its best via the USB to a DAC with the Edo mod.

    I have spotted a young for a very good price. But don't know if it may be a bit too clinical for my tastes. Having been brought up on vinyl and glowing bottles.
    Source: Thorens TD124 Rega RB300, Sumiko bluepoint No2., Cambridge Audio D500 Special Edition CDP, Squeeze box Touch, PC with Trends Audio USB Audio DAC UD-10 Amplification: Croft Micro 25 basic pre, Leak Stereo 20, Trends Audio Class T TA-10, Fisher X100-A Speakers:Impulse H6 Interconnects: Handmade silver and TNT audio CAT5 speaker cables

  8. #8
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

    Posts: 9,656
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    Simon,
    the Young is anything but clinical imo, I use mine with a valve amp and it just makes music sound "live" in your room.
    All the hifi stuff is there (to an extent I've not heard bettered), but its secondary to opening up the music right there in front of you.

    Like any kit, system matching is important and I wouldn't put a stock Young in a very bright system.
    Not saying its a bright sounding dac, its not, its just that the upper mid and top end is SO open and detailed.
    Bass control is absolutely superb, if your speakers can resolve it the Young can play it.

    My amp has glass bottles too and with a valve amp the Young is hairs on back of the neck good.
    Even better with a linear supply.
    If your handy with a soldering iron, there's a couple of simple mods you can do to it which opens the sound up even more.

    I run a tweaked music server with usb out, my files upsampled to 32/384 in Jriver, all playing through the Young.
    Even YouTube music played this way is great, its odd to pick up a room acoustic from Youtube, a great example is the BBC "Transatlantic Sessions"? (Thanks to Wee Tee Cee for turning me on these - its what AOS get togethers are meant for )
    Variable quality but through the server/Young its WAY better than any CD player I've owned.
    Everything works together and makes some great music.

    Short of a lottery win its the last Dac I'll own, cant see anything short of ££££ beating it, and then I reckon diminishing returns will kick in bigtime.
    If USB is in your future I'd look no further tbh.
    Not heard the Metrum, thats supposed to be good, but M2Tech seem to be the USB specialists.

    Agree with the Touch Edo mod being the way to go if you are a squeezebox man.
    Ran my previous system that way into my old Caiman USB, sounded great, the best I'd heard the Touch.
    AC POWER
    Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
    AMPS
    Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
    SPEAKERS
    Wharfedale Evo 4.4
    DAC
    PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
    TURNTABLE
    Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
    PHONOSTAGE
    Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
    DIGITAL
    OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
    MUSIC PLAYBACK
    Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
    Ipad Roon Remote.
    Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
    SPEAKER CABLES
    Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On
    "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
    INTERCONNECTS
    All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables

  9. #9
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

    Default

    Spent some time with the Young at a bake off. It is a good DAC - but when fed via a Pioneer CDP via coax it sounded WAY better than the USB input of my laptop, according to Jerry and another chap.

    I thought it was good in my system, but the soundstage lacked depth and it was somewhat artificially crisp. Well I thought so anyway.

    System was refurbed Apogee Duetta Sigs fed by massive 211 monoblocks and an Air Tight passive pre.

    I prefer the little Jolida. Order one from Paul at RFC, LOL!
    Last edited by User211; 12-10-2013 at 15:55.

  10. #10
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

    Posts: 9,656
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    now there's a plug
    AC POWER
    Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
    AMPS
    Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
    SPEAKERS
    Wharfedale Evo 4.4
    DAC
    PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
    TURNTABLE
    Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
    PHONOSTAGE
    Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
    DIGITAL
    OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
    MUSIC PLAYBACK
    Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
    Ipad Roon Remote.
    Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
    SPEAKER CABLES
    Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On
    "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
    INTERCONNECTS
    All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables

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