Heya,
So I've spent some time with my new DAC. The Maverick Audio TubeMagic D2, which is a tube dac with both solid state and tube pre-amp output which I'm using to send the signal to my Emotiva.
My impression up to this point is that I don't need or want my other DACs at this point, I didn't expect much from the TubeMagic D2, but I often surprise myself when I let the price of something fool me into thinking it can't be as good as some other options. But here we have something that truly makes me smile. The TubeMagic D2 has a warm, syrupy flavor that I'm really liking. There's no over-analytical or dry sound coming across when paired up with my Emotiva and HE-500. Other DAC's I've used are the HRT Music Streamer II, Fiio E10, Schiit Biforst, NFB12, etc. And so far, I really like the overall synergy of the TubeMagic D2. I get the tube-goodness that I miss, without having to get a tube amp that can output the levels needed for an ortho. One of the best recommendations that I've received here on Head-Fi honestly, and glad I finally got a tube-dac. The connectivity is wonderful, every digital input I could need. The unit is sleek and very simple, not flashy, but not overly dull either. It's not a big unit either, but it's bigger than a lot of headphone amps that I've had. It's actually about the size of the Schiit Asgard/Bifrost/Lyr to give you an idea of size & shape. The power button is very firm, has a great click to it. The knob to select inputs is tight, and has notches which click when you move through the inputs, nice and smooth, feels good. Same blue LED hue, matches the Emotiva, which is a neat little bonus (as I like the LED glow of both). I like that you can see the tube inside the DAC from the top through the grill (and you can of course take the top off and fool with it, etc, but I'm not doing that right now). Sound wise, everything is clear, crisp, but with a bit of warmth going on. It's not a big difference, it's quite subtle. But I find it takes a little edge off the treble and has a little more casual/warm/mellow feel to it than some of the solid state DACs I've been rotating. None of them really sound all that different to me honestly, but of them all, so far, I'm enjoying the synergy of the D2 with the Emotiva on all my headphones (I've had more cables made to have balanced terminations on more headphones so I can give more impressions soon on how some other headphones sound with this setup). Sound stage and imaging is about the same, which is already very good. Still has same great separation and dark space. I don't notice any obvious blur or too much bloom or anything like that. And no dreaded funny tube noises as it warms so far (who knows in a few years). Warmth is something that I notice a little more, and less edge in the treble (but we're talking very subtle here, it's not very edgy already). I like the tube pre-amp out sound better than solid state pre-amp out so far. It's subtle, again, but it just has a warm character to it that sounds mellow and powerful and is very nice with the HE-500 so far.
Emotiva mini-x A100 $189~250
Maverick TubeMagic D2 $250
So far, I like this source setup a lot more than previous combinations I've been trying and it's really interesting that it's only a $450~500 setup instead of a $900~1200 setup that I was previously toying with with various Schiit gear and other things. And it's a setup that can handle anything from an efficient headphone to something of the likes of the HE-6 and speakers. Very universal. Great synergy so far.
Very best,
Luke
