Alternatives to Audiolab M-DAC?

[aphinity]

well, after all that, since the German Chinese-made BMC PureDac got delayed, I bought an American-made Dangerous Music Source.  the Lynx Hilo was right there as well as the Grace options.
 
the DM Source is brilliant.  DM is major if you don't know.  simple as that...
 
very interested to read/hear/see any opinions of those who've heard a M-DAC vs Violelectric DAC V800 vs Grace m903 vs DM Source....
 
 

 

[amanp]

jimbob54: In the worst case, there is always the Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 which uses Wolfson WM8742's
yeah, its the implementation as opposed to the chip used but a good chip always helps - Pop into your local Richer Sounds (cant believe I said that for something high end! haha) and have a play.
 
THIS was the giveaway for the Rega DAC V2: http://www.musicmatters.co.uk/digital-analogue-converters/617-rega-dac-v2.html
side note: If you have a Music Matters store, pay them a visit as they were super helpful and I got my amp from there.
 
aphinity: I think all of those are in a different class to the M1Dac or Audiolab, in price (and a lot of prices lol), and end user. The M1Dac is clearly a musically focused (when heard), clean looking Dac. When I used my bro's studio stuff the sound was flat and lifeless; none the less detailed I can only assume they are geared towards extended listening or critical listening not for me wanting to jam out. Those are some expensive "Alternatives" to a £600 and £400ish dac.

 

[aphinity]

Quote:

jimbob54: In the worst case, there is always the Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 which uses Wolfson WM8742's
yeah, its the implementation as opposed to the chip used but a good chip always helps - Pop into your local Richer Sounds (cant believe I said that for something high end! haha) and have a play.
 
THIS was the giveaway for the Rega DAC V2: http://www.musicmatters.co.uk/digital-analogue-converters/617-rega-dac-v2.html
side note: If you have a Music Matters store, pay them a visit as they were super helpful and I got my amp from there.
 
aphinity: I think all of those are in a different class to the M1Dac or Audiolab, in price (and a lot of prices lol), and end user. The M1Dac is clearly a musically focused (when heard), clean looking Dac. When I used my bro's studio stuff the sound was flat and lifeless; none the less detailed I can only assume they are geared towards extended listening or critical listening not for me wanting to jam out. Those are some expensive "Alternatives" to a £600 and £400ish dac.

 
i got my my Dangerous Music Source for $900. right around the same cost as the MDAC.  the Grace m903 is indeed in another price point ballpark...

 

[amanp]

WOW that is one hell of a price compared to here. The DM Source is £800 here which is 2x the M1Dac. I dont know if you got one hell of a bargain or were getting out pants pulled down in the UK haha.

 

[jimbob54]

Quote:

WOW that is one hell of a price compared to here. The DM Source is £800 here which is 2x the M1Dac. I dont know if you got one hell of a bargain or were getting out pants pulled down in the UK haha.

I think he he talking about the Audiolab MDAC, not the MF M1DAC. I am sure these companies sometimes go out of the way to confuse us people on forums.

 

[aphinity]

yes, I meant the Audiolab MDAC is around $900 in the United States:
 
https://www.planetofsounddistribution.com/products/p/Audiolab-8200MDAC-DAC
 
& here's where I bought my DM Source from:
 
http://altomusic.com/shop/Dangerous-Music-SOURCE-Monitoring-System_pid115269.am