Matrix X-Sabre DAC review and impression thread - Page 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla 

Comments from him are just another data point. Would you prefer I didn't send it and get another viewpoint before release?

Naw man - good thinking.  Like I said..  I'm routing for it..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla 

Sending my X-Sabre to Purrin/Anaxilus tonight. Should have some comments from Purrin sometime next week.

Doesn't Purrin also own a PWD MkII? I would like to hear his thoughts too.

Now this thread is becoming very interesting! 

Andy.

Yes, I would love to see comparison of PWD mk2, NAD m51, Master 7 and X-Sabre .........I am looking at you Preproman.....

I don't have the X-Saber yet.   I really like it so far.  For DSD DACS I'm down to the X-Saber and the Mytek.   X-Saber has the lead so far on looks alone.

Purrin and Anax were able to compare the PWD and the M51, so they should be able to give some general comparisons to the X-Sabre.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cante Ista 

Yes, I would love to see comparison of PWD mk2, NAD m51, Master 7 and X-Sabre .........I am looking at you Preproman.....

Having heard the Quattro, THIS really has me interested now!

Quote:

Originally Posted by project86 

I agree - the more data points the better. Purrin loved the Matrix M-Stage but wasn't a huge fan of the Quattro DAC when I sent it his way. In fairness I agreed with some of his criticisms but not all of them. But the X-Sabre is superior in every way to the Quattro DAC, except for functionality where the Quattro is king. 

I don't think there was ever a full thread or anything... just some comparisons "here and there" when they had both in house.  I'll check to see if there was anything more extensive/formal.

I apologize if I missed it, but how does this compare to the Anedio D2?  

I feel like I am stalking Project86.  Concero, X-Sabre, and Anedio are the 3 DACs I am looking at, with the Anedio a possible all in one solution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla 

Yes I know. Anaxilus is giving me crap about it too.

LOL. I don't have any skin in this, but consider the differences between your setups (sometimes it's good to stop and think about these things):

Amplifier differences:

Anax's S7 is tuned for his HD800 and his tastes with a specific set of tubes. His S7 is more liquid and does tend to take a little of the treble grain and edge of the HD800. The BHA-1 has a sharper leading edge (but in a suprisingly good way) compared than the S7.

Headphone differences:

Although your HD800 is among the most relaxed sounding of all of the HD800s I've measured, it still doesn't sound that different from the other HD800s. It's still an HD800. Anax's HD800 is not only modded, it's modded with his latest Anax mod v3 (or Rabid Dawg 2), which has not been released to the public. And that mod really turns the HD800 into something else

DAC variables:

I assume the PWD is running 2.10 or 2.20 of the firmware and not 2.02 or 2.03. The latest firmware can sound awful. I never post to manufacturers' forums, but I felt it was so awful (with Anax 1 mod HD800 + ECBA) that I actually had to give Paul at PS Audio my own two cents: http://www.psaudio.com/vanilla/discussion/3031/pwd-firmware-version-2.0.2/p5 (scroll down a little bit)

I think this easily accounts for your differences of opinion. I too would throw the PWD2 under the bus under the conditions which you auditioned it. It's not a forgiving DAC I would recommend for the brighter headphones, especially with firmware 2.10+. I am actually running 2.20 right now, but that's for speakers or the HE-500 (through a power amp), which are entirely different beasts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by project86 

I agree - the more data points the better. Purrin loved the Matrix M-Stage but wasn't a huge fan of the Quattro DAC when I sent it his way. In fairness I agreed with some of his criticisms but not all of them. But the X-Sabre is superior in every way to the Quattro DAC, except for functionality where the Quattro is king. 

Allready hooked it up with your Yulong A18?

How does is compare with the D18?

I am looking for an upgrade to match with my A18 and HD800.Obviously the Yulong D18 would "fit"the best estethic wise,but his new Dac has my attention also.

But the D18 can be had for AU$650 and is quit cheaper than the XSabre which goes for $1099

Which you would recommend?

Maxvla's ears aren't busted... The PWD2s at the Austin meet did sound off. That said, most of my negative impressions (especially things that sounded harsh or abrasive) of any equipment that day, I've chalked up to having to have the volume up so loud to counter conversations.  We were not very good at all about being quiet.  Volume just makes treble issues that much worse.  That said, the PWD2 still sounded like it had a digital gradient, a stepped like sound, on occasion.  That could be the source recording though.  I never had a chance to play music I was intimately familiar with out of it.

I really wanted to get a PWD2 on my system, but we just didn't do enough swapping.