You are using an out of date browser. This ranking is just my subjective thinking. The other thing I've learned about the Chord Dave is it can sound very different depending on the interconnect and/or power cord used. And I make Best DAC Quality Ranking list. It is a pretty DAC but usability is left behind. As the topic suggests, looking for comparisons on the above Dacs from people who have atleast heard and compared 2 of these dacs. Thank you all for your answers. But it need good system matching. I wish you would have had the Totaldac D1 Seven to try. Pass Labs INT-60. Have you thought about hooking up a Blu2 to Dave? Would I pay extra for the second supply? The other stand out dacs that we like are the Chord Dave Replacement. It was a speaker setup (as in my signature.) And thinking more about it, the differences at the time could have been small because the noise level in my system at the time of the comparison were relatively higher than they are now. Moving away from the actual sound of the music, one of my main takeaways from listening to the Discrete was the sense of timing it brought to music. The SQ from DAC headphone output is lower than the best headphone amplifier but that kind of amplifier costs close to DAVE itself. DAVE stands for 'Digital to Analogue Veritas in Extremis', a moniker that best reflects the product's . After a year of listening to various components I'm content. Can it output a Low or High Voltage on a single pin in a bitstream? With two prime DACs, we yield an unprecedented level of detail, reproducing the musicality, soundstage, and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you. I'm looking for suggestions between $10K - $12K. The DAC has two modes; multi-bit PCM and single-bit discrete DSD mode. personal preference. Stainless steel buttons arrayed around an elegant volume wheel to optimize performance and response. But the differences between great DACs is small. this was how I originally decided to purchase the Select II as I was trying to hear another dac at shows that could do what I heard the Select II doing at a lower price. Were honored to be recognized by the industry for bringing you the most lifelike sound we can. JavaScript is disabled. Unless they have the exact same components as the end user, it's impossible to tell that customer how component X will sound in their system. Thanks for the suggestion ecwl. Theyre not limited by audio formats, sample rates, or even speed. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-dac-that-crushes-price-vs-performance-ratio. The remainder IMHO an audio recommendation in a forum is just an advice on what is worth listening and the reason why we think so. What didn't you like about the Dave? The modular nature of MSB products allows you to have the bits you want and leave out those you dont, The display is a bit basic but it does what it needs to and you can see it from the other side of the room, Detail and transparency are the main features, Allows a real insight into the makeup of a track, Brings a sense of timing being bang on the money, Detail isnt a result of the higher frequencies being artificially pushed, Both PSUs are not absolutely necessary but once you remove one you want to put the other back in. 5 other people who only have 2 things in common with our system. The headamp is powerful but not involving. Putting price aside, what are your thoughts about the Hugo TT as an integrated DAC+amp? Id imagine that upscaling refers to increasing bit-depth (like from 16 to 24 bits) which adds "vertical" resolution to the waveform in theory, improving amplitude resolution making subtle low-level detail more natural and audible (among other things) if done correctly. Others might disagree but these are my findings. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/, Check the true bit-depth of your files and audio engine, Guide to Subwoofer Calibration and Bass Preferences, Know your limits (Sound Exposure Safety Chart), Topping DX7 Pro+ vs Chord DAVE measurements (Cosmos ADC) - DAVE is better in some areas (surprise! ), Chord Hugo 2 Review (Portable DAC & HP Amp), DAC Noise Modulation: Chord DAVE vs Topping DX7 Pro+, Digital To Analog (DAC) Reviews and Discussion, Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review. Additionally, MSBs robust in-house design enables the finest quality playback of PCM and native DSD, while our low impedance circuitry drives your amplification directly without adding coloration or buffering noise. The in-house discrete design is then constructed into its own shielded CNC pocket for optimal isolation. Of those, I've only heard the DAVE. There are some tonal differences too, but what you prefer will depend on your other equipment and the music you like. MSB Technology's Discrete DAC was the best DAC I'd heard in my systemuntil the MSB Premier showed up. The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. I have Chord Dave and Blu2 too. This is purely speculation based on browsing the internet over the years and internalising pro/con reviews from users. Sign up for a new account in our community. Aurender N10 is still not a USB only dedicated streamer so you will not hear what USB audio is fully capable off through Ms/Dave. My friend who owns the Diamond DAC IV prefers the MSB. But the majority of the time all 6 of https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rothschild-70aab85/, Headphones and Personal Audio with Pitch Perfect Service. I believe it comes down to Anyway, I switched out the valve power amplifier and put in its place the Krell KST100 (all fully fettled and brought up to a better than new spec by Krell in the States) with my intention being to see what effect was the DAC and what was down to the amp basically isolating the effect to a component. Of course this DAC is super pricey and out of the reach of many (including me). but with digital things change quickly, and a month ago I got a new server, the SGM Extreme. The Discrete DAC, the successor and highly improved replacement to the now-famous Analog DAC is the MSB DAC that everyone has been waiting for. I understand that audio stores and distribution companies have the opportunity to A/B a significant amount of equipment. Gbel High End [Divin Noblesse], [Divin Marquis], ([Epoque Aeon Fine]). The Discrete DAC we have here is the baby of the four DACs MSB produces, with the top-of-the-range Select DAC boldly proclaiming to be the worlds finest DAC. Ill go through the modules included in the Discrete DAC and explain a little about each. Do diamonds shine on the dark side of the moon? Our publication is supported by its audience. I've had many world class DACS in my studio over the years and the Crane Song is as good as any no matter the cost. To each their own, but I think Chord sounds cold and artificial. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9eh61-lampizator-pacific-da-converters, https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/lampizator-pacific-dac/, https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/subjective-grading-of-dac-that-i-had-heard-during-last-one-year-period. It is just as important as the DAC itself. My first serious audio system was Garrard turntable, Fisher Int(SS), ADS bookspeaker bought on 1978. Your web browser does not support iFrames. Out of all of the DACs I've Like the Lab12. sounds like a more transparent Chord Dave to my ears. I've tried it in my system and I don't like it. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary tells me that the definition of high-fidelity (HiFi) is the reproduction of an effect (such as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original and it would seem to be reasonable to assume that this is the goal of audiophiles around the world. had if for 2 years now. I'd also look at the Mola-Mola Tambaqui and the new dCS Bartok. I hear the new Ayre QX-5 Twenty gives the DAVE a run for its money at $8950 but that is just hearsay. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I have great synergy in my system and see no reason to listen to every new DAC out there. You might want to consideradding oneof Chord's Upscalers, either HugoM scaler, or the Blu Mk. With the MSB there has been a great deal of attention paid to ensuring the signal stays as pure as possible and is not affected by other parts of the DAC or outside sources; modular construction, dual power supplies, isolation of USB etc. At this kind of price, it puts Chord DAVE as being direct competition and I said that DAVE was the best DAC Id heard back in 2018. It's easy! Since this forum is mainly USA based and we are in the UK, I have very little to gain business wise here. The PM2 is very special. connection because it eliminates some parts and gets you closer to a direct You could spend less and get close to the sound of this DAC, for sure. Some silly sausage plugged a white power cable into a black device. Elegant yet commanding, our finishes are available in a matte silver or matte black anodize. Its weighty, it feels perfect, its not overly ostentatious and its perfect! Focal Utopia ~ LCD i4 ~ ETHER FLOW open/C ~ LCD-2.2/XC ~ Nighthawk ~ K10 custom ~ JH Angie, Chord mscaler // Chord TT2 // Oppo PM-1 (Artisan silver headphone cable) // Beyerdynamic DT880 600 Ohm // WAVE Stream bnc cables // Kef LS50 Meta. let me know when it's on, I'll make my way down if I can. that it is difficult to say you have the best in regard to dacs but Rockna is MSB thrives off the innovation required to meet consumer demands. I auditioned a DAVE (not deconstructed) and TT2 and found all Chord products lacked the musicality of MSB. I have heard the Dave and EMM Labs DAC2x up against aMakua that I subsequently purchased. Up to 32 bit 768kHz list the Rockna Wavedream Edition sounds this good, how good does their Theres just a sense that with the MSB in the line that everything is timed correctly and rock solid. Personally, I think that both these standpoints have their merits and its going to be a case of you paying your money and you taking your choice. It is an unassuming but very nicely put together component that has had a great deal of thought put into the architecture of the parts that make it up. After reading that review, and remembering the reverence APL had back in the day, alongside the Stahl Tek and Trinity dacs that were the heavy hitters 10-15 yrs ago, I was just curious as to whether . Complete electrical isolation All in all the Discrete DAC is beautiful looking, minimal, easy to set up (its all but plug and play if you turn both the PSUs on) and it feels like a proper bit of audio engineering. Im outputting directly to the LAB12 (and later a Krell KST100) power amp and so a digital volume algorithm is used where the digital volume control is left at a relatively high output so as not to encounter loss at lower volume levels. Then just stay with the basic Premier unit, and the power supply that comes with it. Like others said, I'd try first an MScaler with DAVE. The MSB simply sounded more real to my ears and offered a more convincing soundstage and tonality and all the tiny informations in the music where integrated in the musical flow whereas the DAVE simply sounded flat and not realistic to my ears and even lacked those tiny informations. Just go for an internal Asus card to fit in a PCI slot you should be able to get bit perfect optical output thanks for confirming suitability of current setup. Or arm yourself with a nice bottle of red and pay a visit to@Stereophilus. dCS Bartok>Chord DAVE>MSB discrete discreteR2R R2R DAVE BartokdCSBartok Actual auditioning of the unit prior to purchase is paramount. So I saw the DAC lighting up and it looked fully functional, right down displaying the bit rate etc of the file playing, but no music. To be 100% honest we have A/B tested most of the dacs mentioned Although I would like to keep this as close to $10-12K as possible. And the Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC with new PSU. ISOAcoustics Oreas footers. Firstly, that was a very impressive list of high end components you have listened to. Tailored for both the transport and the DACs daily use, our remote brings you closer to the music you love. That is not to say that a preamp doesn't produce value with respect to other sound quality characteristics that may affect the personal appeal of the musical reproduction (e.g., soundstage), or that the extra transparency won't reveal system issues, but there is no question that transparency is higher when going straight to the amps. The Discrete is a genuine high fidelity DAC and a fabulously built one to boot, add in the modular input flexibility and you have a pretty stunning product with excellent future proofing. in this forum and they are all very good dacs. You are using an out of date browser. A Chord DAC converts to analog via Chord's "Pulse Array DAC" which is a discrete circuit, similar to the discrete circuit used in the MSB DACs (but not the same). We used PCM (16/44,1 to 24/192) and DSD 64 and 128 for the comparioson. Tellurium Silver Diamond USB and Chord Blu. We have what I consider to be a pretty resolving system, but we also listen to music a fair old bit for pure pleasure and so theres a valve amp currently feeding our chosen reference loudspeakers though thats not to say this system isnt highly resolving in its own right. Paired with performance increases, our modular design ethos increases flexibility for future updates and product support, guaranteeing a long-term product investment. An FPGA does not have analog output, in the Chord DACs, VLC | M-Audio FastTrack Pro | Mac Opt | Panasonic SA-HE100 | Logitech Z623, : SET Tube Amp | Low-Noise Linear Regulated Power Supply | USB, Power, Speaker Cables | Speaker Stands | Acoustic Panels, http://igg.me/at/geekpulseaudio/x/5216671. The USB module is completely electrically isolated and is again a standalone module capable of 32 bit#768kHz, MQA decoding and 8X DSD. For such a high entry price I wouldn't take the gamble to go on some recommendation by a stranger whose tastes I don't know. Ultimately, reducing noise in a system or improving room acoustics can have a bigger effect. Many of these were already in a shootout on Audiogon with the same requirements - has to sound stellar on 16/44.1 tracks: I agree that the DAVE plus Blu 2 is spectacular, but not in a "hi fi" sense. SoundLab A1Px's, ARC REF40, VTL Siegfired II, cj GAT2, cj ART, DCS Vivaldi 2.0 stack, Taiko Audio SGM Extreme, TechDas AF1+ , Graham Phamtom III, Sumiko Palo Santos, vdH Black Beauty, ARC Phono 3, Studer A80, Crystal Dreamline, Transparent Audio Ref XL digital and Ref Gen V power cables, CenterStage footers, Nordost Qkore6' s and QB8's! Right now my favorite music player is from the same manufacturer of the Phasure NOS1a DAC: Stealth LPS running XXHighEnd software; again with the same caveat that I haven't heard a lot of the other highly regarded music players in my system. Looks like your budget goes up to ~$20k? Thanks for the interesting reply, cmarin. There are so. With a better matched preamp presence may be acceptable. Its headphone amplifier is good but no match for higher powered units. Talking of cool lets talk about this remote. MSB Discrete Dac with one additional basic power supply. Ps Audio Directstream Dac Vs Auralic Vega Founded in 2004, Games for Change is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and social innovators to drive real-world impact through games and immersive media Here is the list : Trinity Designs [Trinity DAC] TotalDAC [d1-Six] Aqua Acoustic Quality [Formula xHD] MSB Technology [Select DAC II Full Option . I cant help with comparisons of two of these DACs, but I did hear the Tambaqui up against the dCS Bartok and it was a pretty close call, but ultimately the dCS sounded more analogue and more immersive.However, this was at a time when both units were a similar price. However, there are also products that manage to straddle both sides of the electric fence (whilst being careful not to electrocute their nether regions) and give us a tremendously enjoyable reproduction of a recording whilst remaining true to the source material. I can leave my hand on it as long as I want to. lastly; what I compare my MSB Select II to every day is my top level vinyl and top level reel to reel tape. They are all excellent DACs and at that level of performance, it's ultimately about system synergy, personal preferences and the limitations of our hearing. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The reasoning behind the two clocks dealing with different frequency families is that music is mostly recorded within multiples of the 44.1kHz family or the 48kHz family and having a clock dealing with each family minimises loss. The demo model came in brushed aluminium but you can also get black. I'm doing this off the top of my head. Well build a personalized offer for your existing MSB products that count towards a new DAC or amplifier. It is bested easily by DACs at $150. The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. As it stands, the Discrete offers a very good solution should you be a music lover that plays only digital files and you can go straight into a power amp. JavaScript is disabled. And what streamer are you using to feed the DAC? If I want to build a complicated system, I won't consider DAVE because for the position of DAC, I can choose from other brands (Totaldac, NADAC, Rockna, Prismsound 8XR etc) at the same price. Chord Dave Black New The Prime DAC With two prime DACs, MSB yields an unprecedented level of detail, reproducing the musicality, soundstage, and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you Ps Audio Directstream Dac Vs Auralic Vega Founded in 2004, Games for Change is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and . Of the ones you mentioned I'd be most tempted by the Emm Labs DAC 2x though if you can get a used higher-end Esoteric, you should jump on it. I submit dealers use the statement "component X competes against much more expensive components" far too often. A modular I/O card keeps even the discrete DAC flexible, repairable, and upgradeable. I thought the DAVE was just as stunning with DSD as PCM. Australian Business Number 38 650 151 296, Digital Sources, DACs, and Computer Audio, Chord Dave vs Mola Mola Makua/Tambaqui vs Emm Labs Dac2x vs Rockna Wavedream. Hmm.. With two prime DACs, we yield an unprecedented level of detail, reproducing the musicality, soundstage, and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you. Dealer's should be required to state they're a dealer every time they post or have a disclaimer in their username. Always use!! This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Then we have the Integrated Clock module and Im starting to get the whole modular approach to the design of the MSB DAC. To my ears it makes music sound unnatural. Does anyone have formula for that? - Roon Endpoint. The video cannot be shown. Cs | Critical Mass CS2s -> components, Isoacoustics -> speakers + subs | Adona Eris II rack on Herbie's titanium footers | Fully treated and dedicated 2 channel room. There is a real sense of spectacle and scale when the MSB is in the system. It's pretty funny how everyone gives their personal pet recommendation with the utmost confidence that the buyer will like it. That's the negative to going my route I guess. I believe it comes down to The Discrete DAC uses two of these modules per unit. What I do know is that the MSB brings an excellent level of performance by way of neutrality to a system that allows other parts of the system to do their thing its sort of the digital equivalent of a very (very) good cartridge. I'm also a very patient person and can wait for the right bit of kit at the right price to come up secondhand. Once you start playing a tune the DAC works out the sample rate and chooses the correct playback clock. An FPGA does not have analog output, in the Chord DACs, the FPGA handles digital processing only, not conversion from digital to analog. I've also learned that a DAC's performance will depend heavily on the music player. Thats why were thrilled to offer up to 100% trade-in value for existing MSB products when upgrading to a higher performing series. The BADA Ref is a great DAC and I understand the new version takes it to even another level. There is no such thing as a "FPGA DAC"! Too many DACs> Too many amps> Too many headphones. Can't beat the form factor of it though, great for off a desk top. HiFiMan Ananda, SR Orange fuses, Taiko Audio Daiza platforms, Startech FMC optical network link, Oyaide EE f/s2.0 V2 mains spurs, Akiko Audio tuning sticks, GIK Acoustic TriTraps/panels. The more observant of you will have read this and noticed that there is no mains inlet. The output modules are where the converted digital signals are output to analogue signals that our amplifiers can make use of and MSB make two flavours of the output module. This hobby is "highly subjective", influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions; therefore you can A/B a million different components and come to a completely different conclusion on how it sounds compared to another listener. Perhaps thats a bit of an odd example for me to use as its a bit World Music but you are also made aware of the rightness of timing on percussive techno tracks. 2 DAC | Audionet Pre G2 preamp | Audionet Max mono blocks | Vivid Audio Giya G2 Series 2 | 4 JL Audio Fathoms | Echole ICs /SCs / Siltech Classic 550L jumpers, Shunyata PCs / Eth. It is not hard to audition these DACs in Melbourneand this is your best way to work out your own preference. Sounds shrill on my workstation and work laptop. When I have done the comparison with other DACs I have had at the same time - Ayre QX5-Twenty, EAR Dac 4, exasound e32 - often the immediate impression is that DAVE/Blu 2 is not quite as good - a bit dryer sounding, not quite as smooth, not as airy or three dimensional And yet, over the longer term, it is deeply satisfying at a musical level in a way that the other DACs are not. Whats Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. However, the extra PSU does add to the cost considerably! - Up to 32 bit - 768kHz. I think people buy what they like. Any specific reason you wanna replace the Dave? This unit came with two power supplies and Ill be playing with the DAC with one and with two to compare and contrast. The Discrete is around 11,000 whilst the Select is 120,750 with its power base. But MSB Select 2 is regarded by many as the best thats why for something 1/10 of the price to compete in anyones eyes is quite an accomplishment. DAVE is the most advanced DAC Chord Electronics has ever made. But DAVE also seems to me to highlight the original recording so if the recording is flat, the playback sounds flat (still with great accurate timbre) but if the recording really showcase the soundstage and the 3-dimensionality of the instruments and vocals, DAVE really portrays that well. Thanks. This kind of sound really appeals to me and was really excellent to experience on lots of tunes, but was especially evident on tracks from Rumours with every part of the mix being identifiable as unique. The only thing that I'd really like to see added here is an Aries Cerat. I don't have that kind of money. I did try with just the one power supply and the Discrete remained a very strong performer with the differences being a very slight loss in the sense of separation and definition when listening intently. Would love to hear your opinions of which was better and why? Thank me laterLoL. Personally we have A/B 76 different digital front ends. I listen mostly to classical music, particularly with symphonic work, I prefer DAVE to MSB. the North American distributors for Rockna so I thought I would jump in on this Sent from my SM-G928V using Computer Audiophile mobile app. I have listened to MSB Analog DAC and Diamond DAC IV but not in the same setup as DAVE. We can operate our current DAC modules at up to 6 MHz for PCM and up to 50 MHz for DSD. Was it a speaker setup or headphone setup? Impedance 100 Low Gain setting. Given your appreciation of the Pacific Microsonics DAC, I hope you'll get a chance to hear the Berkeley in your system as well. The Pro USB is offered as a stand alone module for users who already have an MSB DAC that is equipped with a Pro ISL input as well as a starter kit with a Pro ISL input and everything you need to get up and running. Yes, you read that right, the Select DAC is the best part of 121,000! Anyone make that comparison? I haven't heard MSB or theDenafrips DAC. It will kick your ass. When we set out to make the MSB remote, the design was built from the ground up. Sablon Audio King/Prince power cords throughout. Jon Hopkins Music For Psychedelic Therapy was a beautifully enveloping experience, made all the more so as sounds come and go in the soundstage in a somewhat more solid way than without the usual DAC. As a contented Qutest user, I would have hoped for "improved", performance from the Dave. Thank you, Mike. Thank you for posting! Sources: Hiby R6, Fiio x3II, Fiio x5II DACs: Dave, Yggdrasil, Hugo, Hugo TT, U12. Never use!! the Extreme has some special optimization for USB. Still would like to listen to the Soulution 760 DAC, Mola Mola DAC, Trinity DAC, MSB Select DAC, and maybe the Light Harmonic Da Vinci DAC, Gryphon Kalliope DAC, TotalDAC of some kind, Phasure NOS1A DAC, Esoteric Grandioso DAC, TAD DA1000 DAC, Audionet DAC, Chord Dave DAC . I've had some excellent preamps in my system (Dartzeel, Absolare, Robert Koda, Kondo). @yyzsantabarbara, your dealer quote is interesting, I suspected that the Mola Mola was that good. Digital Audio Forum: DAC, Transports, Digital Processing Forum, 4x20A circuits | Audioquest Niagara 3000 | Paul Hynes SR4T + HDPlex HD500 PSUs -> Music PC w/JCAT XE nic, HQPlayer, Roon, Tidal / Qobuz | HDPlex HD100 PSU -> OCX clock + EtherRegen | Aqua Acoustic Quality LinQ streamer | Aqua Acoustic Quality Formula xHD Rev. Thanks. personal preference." There is no such thing as a "FPGA DAC"! Mind you, I have chipless DSD with 1 bit processing, so the bar is set VERY high for me. home system and listening for that end result. In comparison to spdif which feels more 3D but relatively smaller sound stage, with better separation, vocals are more focused/accurate, everything sounds more evenly balanced. The sonic signature is detailed and yet easy to listen to, with the Discrete bringing a sense of the recordings scale (big or small) to the listening experience. Mike, Scott has been absolutely wonderful in his support, despite my purchasing the Found-Music 2A3s used (from Art S.) He has visited once and is planning another visit after the trip your way. Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator. This is a company that is All American and fiercely proud of that fact. DAVE is perfect for headphone system because you can save space and money of headphone amplifier. Sound Media Group Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. At $20,000 I recommend the MSB Premier DAC with two power supplies (KeithRs system). state his/her experience and preferences. I wanted to know for anyone who has heard it have you also heard a DAC that approached it in sonic performance? Directstream, Bricasti M1, Jeff Rowland Aeris, Chord Dave, and today I I'll take a look, however I've heard they're on the warm side? Others might disagree but these are my findings. The It may not display this or other websites correctly. Dedicated Line DSD/DXD | Audirvana+ | iFi iDSD Nano | SET Tube Amp | Totem Mites, Surround: VLC | M-Audio FastTrack Pro | Mac Opt | Panasonic SA-HE100 | Logitech Z623, DIY: SET Tube Amp | Low-Noise Linear Regulated Power Supply | USB, Power, Speaker Cables | Speaker Stands | Acoustic Panels, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. And I've learned to be careful and not generalize how a component will sound based on show conditions or other systems. It is a manual step which I forgot. So yes it's a question of being polite, but it's also about acknowledging the limitations inherent in making absolute pronouncements about differences between high performing components. In my assessment the Makua offered a more open and spacious sound. Not sure why you would spend so much on a DAC when the Crane Song Solaris is available at $1,949.