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Meier Corda STAGEDAC vs Audio-gd DAC-19 vs Music Hall DAC 25.2 vs Stello DA100

post #1 of 12
3/12/10 at 5:42pm
Thread Starter 
Hey Guys,

I am in the market for a desktop DAC under $700 USD.

After reading countless reviews and comments over the past couple months I have narrowed down my search to the following DACs:

Meier Corda STAGEDAC
Music Hall DAC 25.2
Audio-gd DAC-19
Stello DA100

I cannot seem to find any direct comparisn between these products. Obviously its very difficult for anyone to purchase more than one of these units, just for the sake of A B'ing them. My guess is that members who have purchased any one of these four DACs have been so thoroughly satisfied that they havent had any desire to "side-upgrade" or try another DAC.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions if you have experience with more than one of these products.


Regards,

Shawn
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post #2 of 12
3/12/10 at 10:49pm
I think 6moons compared the StageDAC to the stello. The differences were subtle, but they concluded that since the stagDAC had so many options for headphones, for headphone users it was the preference.


The big question these days seems to be the StageDAC vs. Audio-GD 19 DSP1.

I went for the stagedac because of all the possibilities to customize the sound making it more likely to pair well with my amp and 'fones. Also I liked the variable output for my powered moniters.

That was the only way I could make a decision on two DACs I had never heard and noone seems to have heard side by side. Otherwise i most likely would still be sitting on the fence.... But I am glad I am not.
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post #3 of 12
3/13/10 at 12:14am
The combo comparison of DAC19DSP1/C2 and StageDAC/Concerto would be a fantastic comparison I think. The added customizability of the Meier combo compared with the ACSS functionality of the AGD combo would be something to consider there as well.
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post #4 of 12
3/13/10 at 4:36am
Except the Concerto is two leagues above the C2.
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post #5 of 12
3/13/10 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
Well guys I pulled the trigger on the Audio-gd DAC-19DSP.

I can see how the crossfeed and customizable features of the StageDAC can be intriguing. However after reading many reviews I believe the Audio-gd products will provide all the qualities I look for in a DAC.

There are members who have compared the DAC19MK3 to the Benchmark, DA100, DacMagic, and a host of other mid to even really high end DACs and the Audio-gd products are said to have preformed better one on one in most cases. Of course all these comments and reviews are just opinions, nothing is fact...but I have a feeling that it is just that good!!!
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post #6 of 12
3/13/10 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yossi126 View Post
Except the Concerto is two leagues above the C2.
can you elaborate pls? I know Concerto is almost twice the price of C2.
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post #7 of 12
3/13/10 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sk3383 View Post
Well guys I pulled the trigger on the Audio-gd DAC-19DSP.

I can see how the crossfeed and customizable features of the StageDAC can be intriguing. However after reading many reviews I believe the Audio-gd products will provide all the qualities I look for in a DAC.

There are members who have compared the DAC19MK3 to the Benchmark, DA100, DacMagic, and a host of other mid to even really high end DACs and the Audio-gd products are said to have preformed better one on one in most cases. Of course all these comments and reviews are just opinions, nothing is fact...but I have a feeling that it is just that good!!!
Congrats, I have had mine about 2 weeks now and I am really pleased with it. It kicks out such wonderful, clean, detailed sound.
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post #8 of 12
3/13/10 at 7:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by soberspine View Post
can you elaborate pls? I know Concerto is almost twice the price of C2.
The Concerto uses the Symphony's amp circuit with a bit of improvements, as per Jahn's words.
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post #9 of 12
3/13/10 at 8:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by soberspine View Post
can you elaborate pls? I know Concerto is almost twice the price of C2.
In Skylab's review the concerto compared quite favorably to the pheonix....

That seems to indicate a sound much better than the c2.
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post #10 of 12
3/15/10 at 12:15am
Bump (for curiosities sake)
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post #11 of 12
3/15/10 at 12:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shabta View Post
In Skylab's review the concerto compared quite favorably to the pheonix....

That seems to indicate a sound much better than the c2.
No-one, as far as I can tell, has compared the C2 to anything, so it would more depend on how much difference there was between the C2C and the C2. I'd guess though the Concerto is more comparable to the Roc, though some of that would be active ground vs. balanced.

Regardless, I'd tend to favour a separate DAC and amp than an expensive combined unit, so I think Meier has gone in the right direction with the Stagedac and Concerto. Meier's gear has the advantage of crossfeed and active ground, Audio-gd has the PCM1704UK and ACSS. It would be interesting to compare rigs from each and what difference in sound results.
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post #12 of 12
2/10/11 at 2:29pm

Reviving an old thread to see if anyone out there has made the comparison Currawong mentions.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Currawong View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by shabta View Post
In Skylab's review the concerto compared quite favorably to the pheonix....

That seems to indicate a sound much better than the c2.
No-one, as far as I can tell, has compared the C2 to anything, so it would more depend on how much difference there was between the C2C and the C2. I'd guess though the Concerto is more comparable to the Roc, though some of that would be active ground vs. balanced.

Regardless, I'd tend to favour a separate DAC and amp than an expensive combined unit, so I think Meier has gone in the right direction with the Stagedac and Concerto. Meier's gear has the advantage of crossfeed and active ground, Audio-gd has the PCM1704UK and ACSS. It would be interesting to compare rigs from each and what difference in sound results.


 

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