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If you're interested, and have time to read through the final two pages of chit-chat, I attended a great G2G this past Saturday. It was really to celebrate my new Daedalus Audio Apollo speakers, but it was very much a DAC-athon. There were 2 variations of the first MP-D2 present, 2 Metrum DACs, a Denafrips Venus DAC, and an upgraded Lampizator Atlantic (that blew them all out of the water in my opinion- 'course, it cost ~$6500!). It wasn't until after I made my impressions that I learned of its exact cost.Rather than my retyping my impressions here, here's the link to the other thread:http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=141682.300Michael
I purchased the MP-D2 in December 2016 and started blowing fuses and could not figure out why. Only recently did I realize why. Won’t go into all the gritty details but it was because I was trying to compare other DACs to the MP-D2 and had everything connected to the same preamp so I could switch back and forth between the MP-D2 and the other DAC. What threw me off was it wouldn’t blow the fuse right away but would blow shortly afterward when I was doing something else but it must have weakened the fuse without blowing it. I have never had a fuse problem unless I was trying to do the A/B “live” switching between DACs. If I first turn the MP-D2 off before throwing the preamp selector switch I never have a problem. So for me it was not a problem with the MP-D2 but how I had it connected while doing live switching.BTW, the other two “DACs” were the OPPO UDP-203 and a Bluesound Node 2. TMEIMS (that should be a standard acronym to qualify “to my ears in my system”) the MP-D2 DAC sounds slightly better than the OPPO which has a damn good DAC and much better than the Node 2.
One DAC I'd definitely like to hear is the Holo Spring R2R DAC. I almost bought one of these instead of the MP. If the Holo Spring is good enough to satisfy digital guru ted b, I'm interested. Priced $1500 to $2500.https://www.computeraudiophile.com/ca/reviews/holo-audio-spring-level-3-kitsune-tuned-edition-r2r-dac-review/What I'm trying to find is a DAC that can compete at a superior level without spending $6000. I was hoping that the MP-D2 could be a possible contender, with extensive mods, at this level. Unfortunately, no talented modder has chosen the MP as a candidate. It would be great if the MP-D2 would be the base for Gustard X20 like mods. On comparative reviews, I prefer that reviewers would avoid hyperbolic language such as "wiped the floor" and write in more nuanced terms describing comparitive texture, degree of transparency, placement of instruments depth/width of soundstage, etc. Wipe the floor doesn't tell me much. A DAC is not a mop.
I will try and help with the comparison of the MP vs the Holo. I am running the MP at the office currently getting some hours on it before I take it home. I have the Holo currently in my system at home and so far very impressed. Without getting my DAC mop bucket out I think it compares highly with the Schiit Yggdrasil. The Holo is a little more revealing and stage front presentation but with great layering. These comments are all based on the Holo NOS mode. Just some initial impressions.
Basic Atlantic SE Dac is only $4k...significantly below the cost of a fully loaded A-Plus. The Atlantic is R2R PCM and chipless DSD256.If you are going to mod a Dac like the MP-D2, the price may end up close to that $4k
Well they are offering it Upgrade to es9038 pro , for about $370 bucks You going for it ? u
RoyIf you like the sound of the AKM chipset you won't necessarily like the ESS chipset. Their voicing is different.
Musical paradise .. now offering the ESS 9038 chip .. add $471 bucks No news from them as to what the sonic differences are ... why i wonder ?