Last week I ordered this dac from the French website audiophonics.fr. Normally I wouldn´t order something which sounds good on paper but they were kind enough to let me try it.
I feel it is only natural for me to write a little something about it. First of all I would like to say it´s not a keeper. It´s going back where it came from.
Most reviews and opinions I read are generally positive and I don´t mean about the X-Sabre in particular but about alle equipment in general. My experience with stuff I order on the internet which everybody raves about is mostly a disappointment. This was no exception. Perhaps combined with other gear (I don´t own) it can really shine but I can only comment on my experience.
It shares some properties with the Weiss DAC202 (perhaps this is true for all sabre based dacs) that is has a very airy and laid back presentation. It is never harsh in any way, which is nice. You can listen for hours without fatigue. No complaints in the detail department too. And that´s about it.
I always like my hifi better not doing things then doing them wrong. That´s where the problem is. I think some people forget what real instruments sound like. Cymbals and stings sound really compressed, even ´thin´. There is no attack and decay when striking a note. Cymbals sometimes sound more like a hiss than a cymbal. There is little involvement in the music. It doesn´t get my foot tapping.
So even though I could listen for hours without getting tired I don´t want to. I don´t want to kill it, as stated before perhaps for some people this can be a great piece of kit, it just isn´t for me. I don´t have an agenda. I just wanted to counter all the positive with a critical note. Maybe the lesson to be learned here is try before you buy.
