Has the SMART/MENSA DIO been eclipsed?

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 28 Nov 2003, 09:31 pm »

I've been noticing the current "flavor of the month" around here is the non-oversampling DAC (such as the Nixon or ACK dACK!). Has the ol' D/IO been evershadowed? Who here still uses one? And has anyone here switched from the Smart/Mensa to one of the new kid non-oversamplers?

Tyson · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 09:48 pm »

I've owned the SN TubeDAC and was considering it to use in my main system, but in direct comparison the Mensa was much better sounding in my system, so I sold the SN rather quickly. . .

Marbles · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 10:01 pm »

I liked the Mensa Plus better than the Ack!, but I suspect an incompatibility issue with my Bent pre and the Ack! to be the problem.

byteme · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 10:12 pm »

I also compared the Mensa plus directly against the Nixon Tubedac. It was through the Mensa plus in home tour deal. Had I purchased both to audition I would have sold the Mensa a quickly as Tyson sold his tubedac. To me it was not nearly as good as the tubedac in my system.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 10:17 pm »

Hmmm...interesting. I was bummed to see Chris Own raised the price on the ack dACK! to $525. I'm sure that's still a good deal if it's as nice as people say, but quite a bump from the previous price. That's getting pretty close to the price of an ART with the full monty of mods.

byteme · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 10:27 pm »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

Hmmm...interesting. I was bummed to see Chris Own raised the price on the ack dACK! to $525. I'm sure that's still a good deal if it's as nice as people say, but quite a bump from the previous price. That's getting pretty close to the price of an ART with the full monty of mods.

I think the important thing would be to get an in home trial of the units you wanted. I think they all have return policies. Maybe even demo units. It would be worth it to try and get a demo of each at the same time and decide which works best with your system and ears!

Marbles · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 10:29 pm »

Quote from: byteme

I think the important thing would be to get an in home trial of the units you wanted. I think they all have return policies. Maybe even demo units. It would be worth it to try and get a demo of each at the same time and decide which works best with your system and ears!

Amen! This is the best advice for ANY component you think of buying.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Nov 2003, 10:33 pm »

Agreed. But as a notorious cheapskate, I hate to spend more than I have to. Mostly it's just that the dACK! was on my list of things to try, anyway, and if I liked it I'd rather spend $400 than $525.

duff138 · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Nov 2003, 01:26 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

Agreed. But as a notorious cheapskate, I hate to spend more than I have to. Mostly it's just that the dACK! was on my list of things to try, anyway, and if I liked it I'd rather spend $400 than $525.

I think the increase is do to changes made to the ackdack! and the battery supply , but I believe you can get the older version still with newest battery supply for $450. I'll try to find the thread on AA with the link sometime tonight.