jlbrach
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2005
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I am also using the zenith 3 with my dave/blu2 and love it
I have never heard Dave in person (listened a lot in sound demo online), but I did listen to katalyst dac in Linn Klimax DSM. I would say its sound so agile and fast with shining and sparking linn typical highs and more surprisingly a lot of slam and bass.Has anyone been able to compare the DAVE to the Linn Klimax DSM with the new Katalyst DAC architecture?
Someone told me the Linn is the only DAC that he likes more than the DAVE and I was curious if others had heard it as well. (Only the Katalyst version.)
I also have Zenith 3 mdave Roon, operating with iPad. I have zero problems with pops and cracks. I don’t have a solution to your problems inasmuch to suggest it must be a network/cable problem. Hope you get it sorted.I bought an Innuos Zenith for my mDave a couple of weeks ago and am truly loving it.
Because of some issues with my mDave and USB in from Zenith causing pops and cracks I have been using my Node 2i as Roon Endpoint and Zenith as Core and sometimes switched to Sense only using M Scaler on blue OP SR (as that does not cause issues).
This has let me listen to both Sense and Roon and I’m definitely hearing differences in the sound tonality, Sense being a lot thicker and richer, Roon being a bit thin in comparison.
I’m still to decide which sound is most preferred.
But I have to routes to go
1. Sense and adding a PhoenixUSB
2. Roon adding a Meridian 210 as Endpoint
Do any of you use the Meridian 210 with a Zenith or similar and can tell if it’s worth it? Does it sound better than Sense?
Any advice is appreciated.
Regarding the pop-issue I am in contact with Chord about it, it’s just progressing very slow for some reason. But hopefully that gets fixed some day.
I just got the Moon mind 2 and i highly recommend it over Naim ndx2 , Aries G1 and the usual suspects. And this is coming from the a huge streamer skeptic. I haven't heard much difference with other streamers tbh.Thanks for the suggestion. I’m not looking for a replacement for Dave as it’s sound is exactly what I’ve been looking for for years.
Ideally I find a simple streamer product that is only that, as I’m tired of purchasing products that do more than I need.
The Meridian 210 was recommended to me by my dealer with the argument that Meridian consisted of prior Roon devolopers (or something like that), meaning Meridian knows how to integrate properly with Roon.
I agree with you on MQA, I recently switched from Tidal to Qobuz for that exact reason and actually felt that Qobuz sounded better, even for non-MQA songs.
But even though Meridian is pushing in that directing it’s the SQ that I’m pursuing. I can live with disagreeing with the company’s philosophy.
Thanks, I will google that device and check it out!I just got the Moon mind 2 and i highly recommend it over Naim ndx2 , Aries G1 and the usual suspects. And this is coming from the a huge streamer skeptic. I haven't heard much difference with other streamers tbh.
Which Phoenix?Phoenix and Zenith/Mscaler/DAVE is an awesome combo. Great for headphones and, in my case, powered ATC speakers. The detail level is astounding.
Innuos PhoenixWhich Phoenix?
I meant which Phoenix - NET or USB... Innuos Phoenix is not just one product.Innuos Phoenix
I meant which Phoenix - NET or USB... Innuos Phoenix is not just one product.
The USB re clocker. I have not taken the plunge for the Ethernet signal device PhoenixNET.Which Phoenix?
simple solution to your endeavor....dave +speakeramp+one of the following audeze lcd4,abyss or hifiman-6To my mind, the strength of the Bartok is that it is an AIO, again, to my mind, the best AIO. So, to be sure, you can build a system around the Bartok–but not in the same way as the Dave.
What I mean is that you can add a server to Dave; you need to add a server to Dave. You can also add a server to the Bartok, but you have the dCS Network Bridge already integrated inside. The dCS engineers designed a perfectly mated server and DAC, which I would assume is internally joined better than anything you could manage externally even with a $3k USB cable. I'm not saying you can't improve the Bartok with an external server and reclocker. In fact, I know you can. It's just the thought of it hurts me in regard to the waste.
As for the analog side, you cannot retrofit a power supply into the Bartok like you can the Dave. None is available, and I would bet you all the money in my now empty pockets that none will ever be available. I don't see Sean Jacobs or anyone else building an aftermarket power supply for the Bartok. Mostly, it doesn't need one. As I've mentioned before, the Dave uses a $44 dollar off the shelf SMPS. I'm not sure if you've seen pictures of the Bartok's internals but it's got that sweet little bank of Rubycons. On balance, one of the big downsides of an AIO is that you have the server, DAC, and amp all sharing a single power supply. Yet, dCS did a great job in isolating necessary parts and they gave the amp its own transformer so it doesn't take away from the DAC and vice versa.
As for upscaling. I did try upscaling the Bartok. it didn't go great. You gained some, you lost some, crucially you lost transparency. Also, unless they come out with a firmware revision, the Bartok tops out at 384KHz. Not to get into that here, but for me, that is a real and not theoretical limitation over the Dave. dCS has their own digital upgrade path in the Rossini clock, which is the only thing I would want to add to the Bartok. Could it then better the Dave? Maybe, but at $8,500, value propositions finally kick back in.
I really should have been more clear. I am speaking entirely from the context of the headphone output. Thank you so much for impression of The Dave v. Vivaldi in an amplified speaker setup.
The Bartok–via its headphone amp–is anything but polite. It's demanding. Where it specifically shines against the Dave-Stock headphone output is in drive and emotional involvement. Yes, upscaling Dave adds a complexity and delicacy of rendering, and that is where it excels, engaging in its own way.
I think at some point along the way, I just really wanted to see if, maybe, I couldn't have both.