DAC List and Reviews - Page 3

Lol I don't even think they made dacs in 1975 but I get your point. Nonetheless, many people consider the 90's to be the golden age of digital so my plan was to go from products as early as 1990 to as late as 2000 which should cover the golden age. Some of these products didn't get much press, so existing reviews should be difficult to find. From what I have seen, yes the technology certainly changes, but the sound doesn't always change for the better. The next product in line is from 1993, old as it may be, I have confidence it would slaughter many of today's offerings.

Agree, however for those in doubt, I will have each unit for a couple weeks. The Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 is on its way. Review to follow.

I do agree but since I entered grad school, I do not have the financial means to do so at the moment. Feel free to loan me one. Otherwise, I have to make do with what I have.

The SFD-1 arrived a day ahead of schedule. Out of the box, the lows are more powerful than the MF cd player but it doesn't seem to have the natural quality of the MF. Then again, the only tubes I have are the crappy sovteks that came with it. Further comment reserved until I get some tubes that can do this dac justice. Late next month the SFD-1 will be going head to head against  the audio-gd Ref 7.

Interesting question. Unless the character of the SFD-1 dramatically changes with tubes, my bets are on the Musical Fidelity on being the best of the bunch. From what I can remember about the Ref-7, the SFD-1 is pretty close so far. The MF sounds more organic, natural, real. It seems to have that decay (especially on strings) that eludes so many digital components. It sounds more like a well implemented pcm-63 design such as the Lector CDP-7TL IMO.

I ended up switching back to the MF and just let the SF cook for a few days. It must have been stored a very long time because now it sounds entirely different and the Ultra Analog chip is showing its true colors. Gone is the fatiguing mechanical sound and it no longer sounds like cd. It is smooth, detailed, organic, and non fatiguing. It has an incredible sense of air which accurately portrays the size of the recording venue. Bass is nice and tight along with its powerful impact, the leading edge to notes is there, and it has a soundstage that envelopes the listener. The soundstage is as deep as it is wide. Imaging is just a tad unfocused but this dac seems to be more of the organic variety than of the hi-fi variety that wows you with a sterile background and pinpoint imaging. I have yet to get some better tubes, so these impressions are still with the sovteks installed.