Metrum NOS Hex Flagship DAC
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CorvetteGarage
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Thank you Peter.
Well Im sorry guys. I still haven't had much time with the Pavane because of storms here the last couple of days. Ive had to disconnect my equipment every night before going home.
From what I read, the DAC should have at least 24 hours warm up for serious listening.
If that is the case, will need more time with the Pavane.
I do know Im happy with my purchase.
Listening to it same day its turned on, it offers similar sound signature as the Hex (no surprise there).
No roll off at either end I detect.
Bass lacks nothing, midrange is engaging, treble is silky smooth (non glaring) like Hex. Obviously your equipment has a lot to do with the end result!!!
Soundstage is wide and deep.
Natural sounding like the Hex, non digital.
Scary quiet, black background.
Build quality and overall appearance is better, much nicer and heavier than the Hex (it should be for price difference).
Again, Im impressed with the Hex and Pavane. These DACs help you forget you are listening to digital.
Well Im sorry guys. I still haven't had much time with the Pavane because of storms here the last couple of days. Ive had to disconnect my equipment every night before going home.
From what I read, the DAC should have at least 24 hours warm up for serious listening.
If that is the case, will need more time with the Pavane.
I do know Im happy with my purchase.
Listening to it same day its turned on, it offers similar sound signature as the Hex (no surprise there).
No roll off at either end I detect.
Bass lacks nothing, midrange is engaging, treble is silky smooth (non glaring) like Hex. Obviously your equipment has a lot to do with the end result!!!
Soundstage is wide and deep.
Natural sounding like the Hex, non digital.
Scary quiet, black background.
Build quality and overall appearance is better, much nicer and heavier than the Hex (it should be for price difference).
Again, Im impressed with the Hex and Pavane. These DACs help you forget you are listening to digital.
CorvetteGarage
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Ok, finally good weather.
The Pavane has been left on for a few days, its fully warmed up and ready to go.
In few words, wow. I really like what Im hearing, its making good sound.
Obviously its all subjective, but-
I think the Pavane offers a more organic, refined sound over the Hex if that's possible. The soundstage seems to be bigger, wider and instruments/musicians are more defined within the space. Does that make sense?
Just like the Hex, music just flows. Makes me look for more cd's I haven't listened to in a while.
Work suffers cuz I just want to listen to more music and play with my gear.
The Pavane has been left on for a few days, its fully warmed up and ready to go.
In few words, wow. I really like what Im hearing, its making good sound.
Obviously its all subjective, but-
I think the Pavane offers a more organic, refined sound over the Hex if that's possible. The soundstage seems to be bigger, wider and instruments/musicians are more defined within the space. Does that make sense?
Just like the Hex, music just flows. Makes me look for more cd's I haven't listened to in a while.
Work suffers cuz I just want to listen to more music and play with my gear.
astrostar59
BannedMember of the Trade: Aries Cerat Espana, Auriculares High-EndAKA Headstage, headphoneweekend
I can imagine. I am listening to the Metrum MK2 and it sounds really nice. IMO half of this is due to the Non Oversampling and no messing with the data. I am curious how far up the Hex/Pavane is. My main system uses an Audio Note DAC 4.1 and that is a big jump. It has no filter on the digital stage and uses valves of course for the PS and output PCB. I dig the high tech digital boards on the Hex/Pavane. I wonder if it would her possible to build a DIY with a tubed output? Anyway, fantasising, respect to Metrum, these tiny niche companies keep this hobby alive IMO.
preproman
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Ok, finally good weather.
The Pavane has been left on for a few days, its fully warmed up and ready to go.
In few words, wow. I really like what Im hearing, its making good sound.
Obviously its all subjective, but-
I think the Pavane offers a more organic, refined sound over the Hex if that's possible. The soundstage seems to be bigger, wider and instruments/musicians are more defined within the space. Does that make sense?
Just like the Hex, music just flows. Makes me look for more cd's I haven't listened to in a while.
Work suffers cuz I just want to listen to more music and play with my gear.
How's the bass response / texture and impact?
goobicii
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I would be so happy if someone could compare Pavane with Master 7 or TotalDac D1 Dual
CorvetteGarage
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goobicii
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CorvetteGarage
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Only the Hex.
Was using Esoteric K-01 before going computer audio requiring a separate dac.
PATB
1000+ Head-Fier
Metrum is replacing the Octave with the Musette, which uses the new Transient chips as in the Pavane. The Hex is probably going to be updated to use the Transient chips too. http://www.metrum-acoustics.com/MusetteEN.html
coli
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Yeah, probably 4 chips for XLR operation, I think it's going to be the best bang for your bucks.
BirdManOfCT
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Considering the Hex as an upgrade to feed into my Sennheiser HDVD800 (amp section). Just curious, would there be a noticeable difference between AES and coax (S/PDIF)? Of course, if I had it, I'd probably try both, but just curious.
BirdManOfCT
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After reading some older posts, worried about picking up stray signals now. What with thin shell and needing cones.... I had a tube DAC/amp that picked up my nearby cellphone and it was really annoying to get a half-second buzz every couple songs. Any updates on this susceptibility to signals and vibrations?
I've kept my iPhone 6 on top of, next to and in the general vicinity of my Hex...absolutely dead silent!
And vibrations / electronics? Sorry, but that's entering "crystals" territory for me.
astrostar59
BannedMember of the Trade: Aries Cerat Espana, Auriculares High-EndAKA Headstage, headphoneweekend
That is something I'll try in the future (I mean using the AES input with a USB to SPDIF converter). I don't expect any improvement, because as you said the USB module is not powered by the PC. I'm using a battery powered SOtM sms100, basically a small linux box, and a data-only usb cable, so definitely there can't be any noise getting into the dac...just 0 and 1
As for the Mac players...been there, done that Audirvana in integer mode didn't sound any better than my caps powered by a LPS with jriver and jplay. To be honest I found bigger differences between fuses than software players WITH WELL DESIGNED USB INPUT, like that one in the Hex. But that's me, I'm probably not very sensitive to these things, or I tend to get annoyed soon
Hi realmassy
When did you try Audirvana+? The latest version 2.1 as standalone is a big jump over 1.5 as iTunes combined or standalone. My system sounds totally at another level with 2.1.
The board in the Hex is quite good, but can be bettered by an Offramp 5 or M2 EVO full stack. I tried that on my little Metrum Octave II which has the amanero USB board.
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