dudlew
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2002
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After months of waiting for some cash, it fianlly came my way and afforded me the ability to buy a DAC.
The DAC I bought is the M-Audio SuperDAC 2496.
First impressions are based on my system obviously, which has sources with only optical outs and crappy interconnects to boot.
I unpacked it and hooked it up and tried it on my changer. Listening through my headphones I immediately observed a more spacious sound with some nasality. the 'soundstage' seemed bigger and more real. Listening a bit more revealed smoother highs but not less extended, the highs lost some of the harshness my changer put out.
Dynamically, the changer sounded a bit more dynamic and there seemed to be a little bit more in the lower midrange upper bass region. It was a little out of control and the SuperDAC definitely had better control of the music. I think the lack of dynamics so to speak was really the music coming under control. This control also lead to the unravelling of the music. music that once sounded a bit ravelled when the complex parts came around is now clear and open sounding,not muddled and over compressed as it used to with my changer.
I now think that this thing is showing up the weakness in my interconnects which are the generic crap that comes with the just as cheap generic electronic stuff that they sell it with.
The sound wants to spread. I can hear it but something is restricting it. My prognosis? Amp and interconnects.
So needless to say that my next purchase would be interconnects.
I havent done extensive listening but there is improvement to my ears. I bought it used but I will still give it a chance to settle in and heat up.
I do think this is a good product and has a write up (note one write up) on Audio Asylum whichrates it as a really good DAC. his is my first so I cant compare, but I think that this is my launch into enjoying my system.
D
The DAC I bought is the M-Audio SuperDAC 2496.
First impressions are based on my system obviously, which has sources with only optical outs and crappy interconnects to boot.
I unpacked it and hooked it up and tried it on my changer. Listening through my headphones I immediately observed a more spacious sound with some nasality. the 'soundstage' seemed bigger and more real. Listening a bit more revealed smoother highs but not less extended, the highs lost some of the harshness my changer put out.
Dynamically, the changer sounded a bit more dynamic and there seemed to be a little bit more in the lower midrange upper bass region. It was a little out of control and the SuperDAC definitely had better control of the music. I think the lack of dynamics so to speak was really the music coming under control. This control also lead to the unravelling of the music. music that once sounded a bit ravelled when the complex parts came around is now clear and open sounding,not muddled and over compressed as it used to with my changer.
I now think that this thing is showing up the weakness in my interconnects which are the generic crap that comes with the just as cheap generic electronic stuff that they sell it with.
The sound wants to spread. I can hear it but something is restricting it. My prognosis? Amp and interconnects.
So needless to say that my next purchase would be interconnects.
I havent done extensive listening but there is improvement to my ears. I bought it used but I will still give it a chance to settle in and heat up.
I do think this is a good product and has a write up (note one write up) on Audio Asylum whichrates it as a really good DAC. his is my first so I cant compare, but I think that this is my launch into enjoying my system.
D
