Well I auditioned one day the Pavane vs some Lampizator.
The Metrum was more precise but perhaps more clinical than Lampizator.
I will not say warm or lively neither boring, just in the middle.
The Aqua La Formula was far way better (and expansive).
Few years back I had the Hex at home, and this one was a very nice piece, the best bass I've heard from a DAC.
It's been told that the former chip generation was more musical than the new ones (when the line up was limited to two DAC, the Octave and the Hex).
That said, the Musette (ex Octave) seems to be a reference in audiophile circles.
I agree with that if you're looking for a piece of high-end gear, the Musette does everything right for that money vs competitor.
The only thing to mention is that it use Amanero (like the Lampizator AFAIR) and was less musical than XMOS.
It will be interesting to hear a Metrum vs a Soekris ;-)
The Metrum was more precise but perhaps more clinical than Lampizator.
I will not say warm or lively neither boring, just in the middle.
The Aqua La Formula was far way better (and expansive).
Few years back I had the Hex at home, and this one was a very nice piece, the best bass I've heard from a DAC.
It's been told that the former chip generation was more musical than the new ones (when the line up was limited to two DAC, the Octave and the Hex).
That said, the Musette (ex Octave) seems to be a reference in audiophile circles.
I agree with that if you're looking for a piece of high-end gear, the Musette does everything right for that money vs competitor.
The only thing to mention is that it use Amanero (like the Lampizator AFAIR) and was less musical than XMOS.
It will be interesting to hear a Metrum vs a Soekris ;-)
Thanks, Naca5. Metrum also offers the Eva module for about 400 quid. Feed it i2s input and it will output 2v RMS. But the sound might be a bit clinical. I remember the sweet sounds of an Abbingdon Music Research DAC. That one's sublime.
I heard once the AMR, sounds good.
I was not convinced by their ifi range.
Again, the best heard was the Aqua...6moons audioreviews: Aqua Hifi Formula DAC
I was not convinced by their ifi range.
Again, the best heard was the Aqua...6moons audioreviews: Aqua Hifi Formula DAC
I've got a Metrum Octave (older 2 box version) and best word I can come up with Non-fatiguing.
It has plenty of detail air and separation, it's fast, not rolled off, hits plenty hard down low and all that, but compared to two decent Delta Sigma dacs I've owned (iFi iDSD and TEAC UD501) it just sound natural and easy and flows.... The iDSD and the UD501 always seemed to have slightly sharper transients... Little sharper harder SSS in the SNAP! of a snare but came across a little edge, slightly more fatiguing... The Octave just flows.
Used to own the Musette too, but the only difference between Musette and Octave was ever so slight difference in weight of center image. Octave seemed more linear across stage, Musette seemed a little more forceful in center.... But they were microscopic differences of the same overall sound.
I've got an original Philips DAC960 too and plan on keeping the two till the wheels fall off.
Love me some Dutch decoders.
It has plenty of detail air and separation, it's fast, not rolled off, hits plenty hard down low and all that, but compared to two decent Delta Sigma dacs I've owned (iFi iDSD and TEAC UD501) it just sound natural and easy and flows.... The iDSD and the UD501 always seemed to have slightly sharper transients... Little sharper harder SSS in the SNAP! of a snare but came across a little edge, slightly more fatiguing... The Octave just flows.
Used to own the Musette too, but the only difference between Musette and Octave was ever so slight difference in weight of center image. Octave seemed more linear across stage, Musette seemed a little more forceful in center.... But they were microscopic differences of the same overall sound.
I've got an original Philips DAC960 too and plan on keeping the two till the wheels fall off.
Love me some Dutch decoders.
I have a Metrum Octave Mk. 2. It has a very nice non-fatiguing sound. I can listen to it for hours on headphones. It is a nice choice if you pick one up for cheap. I specifically chose it since it lacks an output stage. You are basically listening to the DAC alone.
The output stages are there, inside the DAC chips. They're resistor string DACs which need buffering, its done internally (most likely with an opamp, but can't tell for sure) to create a low enough output impedance.
Not a problem. Hope it was helpful.
99% of the time I'm asking questions.
Every once in a blue moon I can add some value by answering a question I have some modicum of experience with.
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