Dac shootout. Hex vs Vega vs Yggdrasil

[regeHA]

Hi regeHA,

Sorry if I am going off topic. But I was wondering how you got a Toslink cable working with a Pi. The Pi doesn't have any digital outputs. I am not too satisfied with USB and agree with the impressions about USB by others. I would love to get a Toslink connection between the Pi and my DAC.

Thanks,
Sam.

2 step process.

1. Install MinimServer on the Pi. MinimServer.
2. Send output to Chromecast Audio. https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_audio.

MinimServer wirelessly (DLNA mode) sends data to Chromecast Audio, which (via Toslink) connects to the DAC. I like the sound, achieves galvanic isolation on both counts, wireless via Pi and then again via Toslink to DAC.

If you have a NAS you can install MinimServer on it, I'm using it on Synology NAS. Alternately if your DAC has wifi or you have an AVR with wifi you can output to them directly and dispense with the CCA.

PS: I've not tried any of the Pi addon boards with Toslink output.

 

[prem]

Nikhil, if I get the Auralic Aries which has a aes out, would I still need the mutec?

 

[Nikhil]

Nikhil, if I get the Auralic Aries which has a aes out, would I still need the mutec?

No not needed if you already have AES out. I mentioned it as a "USB fixer".
However it also is a phenomenal clock which might be worth considering.

 

[square_wave]

Square wave, optical has limits. So do aes and co axial. Which is why USB is popular since it does not have limits. However through USB, music loses its focus, drive and becomes duller. It was very evident in all the dacs I heard. That immediate lose of focus sounds like there is an added bloom and u get the feeling it's more relaxed. But I think it's actually electrical noise and it's at the cost of realism.

Mark Jenkins of antipodes tells it like this :

The biggest obstacle to digital audio nirvana isnt parts selection or bits resolution. And it isnt the choice between PCM, DSD, or MQA. No, the current blockade between our ears and audio ecstasy is simple. Its noise.

 

[arj]

Agreed Sidvee. I think aes connectivity is the best regardless of the dac

Square wave, both Chris Connaker and Mike prefer aes on the Yggdrasil.

Mike Moffats preference is

1. Aes
2. Bnc
3. Coaxial
4. Optical
5. USB

if you take out No 5 this is the exact same sequence that has been recommended for ages ! apparently the Older AT&T digital output which used an ST glass cable was even superior to the BNC bit not used anymore as Toslink took over

 

[Nikhil]

if you take out No 5 this is the exact same sequence that has been recommended for ages ! apparently the Older AT&T digital output which used an ST glass cable was even superior to the BNC bit not used anymore as Toslink took over

Mike Moffat is old school. One of the grand old men of digital audio.

But to put it in perspective, USB came in with computer audio. It was never designed to be a high end audio interface. However if you are looking at using hi res formats (DXD, DSD etc) you are out of luck without USB as it is the only interface that has the required bandwidth. All the others top out at 24/96 or 24/192. Despite the limitations of the interface, it does deliver some great sound, specially with help of some of the new USB fixers.

 

[arj]

Mike Moffat is old school. One of the grand old men of digital audio.

But to put it in perspective, USB came in with computer audio. It was never designed to be a high end audio interface. However if you are looking at using hi res formats (DXD, DSD etc) you are out of luck without USB as it is the only interface that has the required bandwidth. All the others top out at 24/96 or 24/192. Despite the limitations of the interface, it does deliver some great sound, specially with help of some of the new USB fixers.

Dont get me wrong..I am not qualified to talk much on USB :sad: as I have only read about it and have one setup but not experimented too much with it ! Although for computer audio there may not be a choice other than USB if you have a USB Dac and in that case USB is not even a replacement for SPDIF since there is no option but that

Most of my music content is PCM and my dac does not go over 20/48 and I am too used to it to consider changing at this point

 

[music4mhell]

Mike Moffat is old school. One of the grand old men of digital audio.

But to put it in perspective, USB came in with computer audio. It was never designed to be a high end audio interface. However if you are looking at using hi res formats (DXD, DSD etc) you are out of luck without USB as it is the only interface that has the required bandwidth. All the others top out at 24/96 or 24/192. Despite the limitations of the interface, it does deliver some great sound, specially with help of some of the new USB fixers.

What is USB fixers ?
I am curious

 

[Orko]

What is USB fixers ?

I am curious

I think Nikhil meant something like the Uptone Regen, the Intona or the Mutec mentioned earlier. They help in delivering a cleaner sound from the USB port.

 

[Nikhil]

What is USB fixers ?
I am curious

Yup as already mentioned, USB has certain issues related to the way it functions.
The various devices that have come into use as a work around are now generally being called USB fixers.

 

[prem]

RegeHA, if the Vega is anything to go by, my guess is the Mytek Manhattan will be very different sounding from the Schiit Multibit

 

[regeHA]

RegeHA, if the Vega is anything to go by, my guess is the Mytek Manhattan will be very different sounding from the Schiit Multibit

Yes, that's given. Anyways the Manhattan is out of budget at present.

I'm looking at the Brooklyn DAC (around $2000), now even more so as Schiit has said no to MQA. I'm not really looking for MQA and I don't intend to repurchase all of my music in MQA, but I do use Tidal so having MQA support for Tidal looks like a good deal and some future proofing.

 

[prem]

RegeHA, ya that makes sense if you use Tidal a lot

 

[regeHA]

RegeHA, ya that makes sense if you use Tidal a lot

Yes, I listen to Tidal a lot, nearly 2+ hours a day. It's my number 1 pick for a music discovery tool right now and without heading into the Roon ecosystem.

Tidal with Roon is actually better, but they don't offer any distro for my Synology NAS so I've not had a chance to take the trial.

 

[prem]

Here's what Rob Watts designer of Chord dac has to say regarding his favourite input mode



"Yes I have said many times that I prefer optical.

I have not done this listening test for many years - I just use optical always and that's that - I thought I would re-do the listening test. In this case, whilst listening between optical and coaxial, I disconnected the input as well as switched the source button.

Optical was indeed as I listened before - it is noticeably warmer, smoother, with better timbre variations on individual instruments and better instrument separation. Now it also sounds softer, as it is less hard and on a superficial basis is less impressive - the hardness can easily be confused with more detail resolution and impact. But it's a lot more natural."

 

[prem]

Initially at the shop I felt strange that I kept liking the optical connection. Now with Rob Watts also feeling the same way, I feel nice

 

[panditji]

In that case, you should buy the Chord 2Qute or the DAVE if you are willing to splurge...

 

[regeHA]

Initially at the shop I felt strange that I kept liking the optical connection. Now with Rob Watts also feeling the same way, I feel nice

It's been over 6 months now since I moved 100% to optical. It actually meant even changing my DACs as the norm was using USB DACs and PC sound cards prior to that.

I still have folks telling me optical is more prone to jitter, does not do high res, etc. but I've never heard sound like this in all of my setups other than with an Ayon CDP and a borrowed Cyrus.

I still lust after the Cyrus...

In that case, you should buy the Chord 2Qute

I've heard the 2Qute and Yggy in direct comparison and really no comparison. The Yggdrasil walks all over it.

 

[prem]

The Yggdrasil is much superior to the Chord 2 qute according to a few guys whose ears I trust. The Dave is not in my budget. That budget opens up guys llike MSB analog dac, Total dac, dcs Debussy, etc. At this point I don't intend playing at that level

 

[prem]

Now I need to finalise my source

Aries Mini or Sonic Orbiter SE or Raspberry Pi? Suggestions and opinions are welcome.

RegeHA, do u use a raspberry Pi?