John Kenny Ciunas DAC with Rega Brio-R question

[Mordecai]

This is my first post here. I'm very interested in the John Kenny Ciunas DAC. I currently have the Rega DAC paired with a Rega Brio-R connected via glass toslink out of my Mac Mini. All of my music is on an external harddrive connected via firewire and I use the Audirvana Plus music player. I can't easily demo the Ciunas since I live in the states. I'm wondering if anyone has compared the Rega DAC with the Ciunas and/or has anyone listened to the either of these DACs paired with the Brio-R? I'm not really sure this is an upgrade so I'm hesitant to pull the trigger. It seems the reviews I've read comparing the Ciunas and the Rega has not provided enough for me to see one as better than the other. Maybe the sound is different but not better. I would appreciate any thoughts from people who have compared both DACs.

[Tim]

Maybe the sound is different but not better. I would appreciate any thoughts from people who have compared both DACs.
I think there are some here who have compared the two, but I suspect you may have hit the nail on the head with the first part of the above. It might be an idea to ask the same question here;

http://www.tirnahifi.org/forum/

Good luck and I would be interested in the responses here, as I am a very happy Rega DAC/Brio-R owner and have often wondered about trying the Ciúnas DAC myself.

[John]

A friend had the rega dac then moved to the JK32 then the Cunas both have been a big step up in terms of SQ

[Mordecai]

I think there are some here who have compared the two, but I suspect you may have hit the nail on the head with the first part of the above. It might be an idea to ask the same question here;

http://www.tirnahifi.org/forum/

Good luck and I would be interested in the responses here, as I am a very happy Rega DAC/Brio-R owner and have often wondered about trying the Ciúnas DAC myself.

Thanks Tim. I'm not familiar with that site but I might place the post there also.

[tonerei]

I have the JKCiúnas. IMHO it is a really good dac for the money.It will win nothing in the looks stakes but working off battery and using an optimized PC it is bested by a Meitner dac and an expensive Wadia player. But not by a large margin. The rega I haven't heard so can't comment. My gut feeling based on John's view above which seems to concur with mine with regard to other hifi items is it would be well ahead of the rega. Now of course all this could just be wishful thinking on my part but if you do some looking online about John Kenny's products they get really strong reviews across the board. Johnnie Darko's site is well worth checking out but I think he just reviewed the earlier model JKDAC32.

Because of the local connection a number of us have the Ciúnas dac so you will get plenty of info on tirnahifi. There is a thread on the dac with plenty of info.

In brief the Ciúnas has really clear detail, delightful soundstage and nice rich tone but I would not regard it as warm and wooly in any respect. It has only been bested in my view when comparing it to a dac like the Meitner which costs circa £7k I believe. But I am biased so do a bit of digging to get some broader viewpoints

[John]

Just to echo Tony view the Cunas has a lot of detail and bass its neither warm or bright (very well Balanced) Using MQn the sound is very similar to a good high end TT You have to spend a lot of money to beat it. Clive did a review which I was part off with the JK32 and the Rega was not the equal but this was in USB mode not coaxial. The Cunas is a step up from the JK32

[Ali Tait]

Have heard both JK dacs and the Rega in the same system, not mine though. More a difference than improvement to my ears. That's using coax though.

[John]

Yes perhaps the Rega not so good via USB
What did you hear the JK32 or Cunas as to my ears the Cunas is another step up
How did you get around transport issues if using Rega via coaxial and JK32 via USB

[Ali Tait]

Used a V Link John. Can't remember the names of the JK dacs, one used the Sabre chip, the other something else, can't remember what. The Sabre was nice if a bit too hi fi to our ears if memory serves, the other we found more musical, and was preferred by all ISTR.

[John]

The Sabre okay good in the bass but not as Balanced as the other JK DACs
No idea why we got such different results as we used JK version on the Rega that pushed things further but with the system we were using the JK32 was still better
I guess different systems bring different results

[Clive]

I suppose it depends what folks listen for. We used revealing OB speakers. The JKs had better resolution, speed and dynamics IIRC. If a softer more laid back sound is preferred then maybe the Rega suits (I'm overstating the differences I think, but it was a while ago now). Ciunas is a decent improvement on the JKDAC32, similar but more of it if that makes sense. John, didn't we use the Rega via a JKSPDIF converter at some point?.

Edit - yes we tried straight usb and spdif fed from the converter. The usb input on the Rega was relatively poor.

[John]

Yes we got a improvement with the converter but still not as good, we were also using a laptop with Jplay as our means to Transport

[Ali Tait]

The Sabre okay good in the bass but not as Balanced as the other JK DACs
No idea why we got such different results as we used JK version on the Rega that pushed things further but with the system we were using the JK32 was still better
I guess different systems bring different results

Yes, just goes to show, you need to try something at home in your own system.

[Clive]

With the Rega it was the sort of sound that someone might think is analogue in a stereotypical but slightly negative way (a bit like valves are warm and fuzzy as a mis-conceived stereotype). The JK (and Halide) DACs were more like what I think of as a good record deck. It sounds like a different system showed similar levels of differences but the conclusions were different, I hope this makes sense!

[Mordecai]

Great feedback. Thanks. Anyone hear both DACs with the Brio-R? Since I have both the Brio-R and Rega DAC I am hearing a nice balance of detail and warmth. I'm hearing a nice improvement using a glass toslink to the DAC. I'm just wondering if the synergy of the two units makes this kit a winner and would be lost somewhat with Ciunas. Guess the only way to know is to buy one and compare.

[tonerei]

John Kenny has a trial period so you can try and return if not what you want(just postage costs I believe).
Looking at posts above the rega sounds to be a bit like a lot of arcam stuff i.e lacking in microdetail but warm sounding.
I always thought I wanted warm analogue sound and to heck with the detail but without the detail it is just mushy mess to me anyway.
That would seem to be possibly an issue for the Rega also but haven't heard it so just guessing. Curious to see how you get on if you take the plunge.

[Mordecai]

Well, I live in Texas and don't want to pay the return shipping should I decide not to keep it. Too bad he doesn't have a US retailer. I see a used one on Audiogon for $500 US. I might buy a used one that I can resell. I still want to hear the opinions of those who have the Brio-R and compared the two before ponying up the money. It has to be a big step up or it isn't worth it.