Best DAC?

[MattStanley]

Whats everones fave DAC for mastering?

[livingstone]

is your question about monitoring or feeding the analog chain ?

[MattStanley]

no specific question really just wondering but mainly for monitoring

personaly im a fan of the crane song avocet and love the monitor controller.

just wondered what other people preffered for d/a and monitor control.

[yareck]

Originally Posted by MattStanley

Whats everones fave DAC for mastering?

In which price range?

[MattStanley]

just wondered what ppl thought, what they've used and liked etc. no intention to buy.

just curious!

[Bob Boyd]

I love Crane Song stuff but the D/A in the Avocet is not my fav. (just my opinion). I was fortunate to have an extended time with it before deciding on a Dangerous Monitor. I shot it out against the Weiss DAC1-MkII I had used for years and the Weiss definitely had the advantage.

My current setup is a Dangerous Monitor fed by a Lavry Gold DA924. Fantastic.

I am using Lavry Blue D/A/D for my analog loop.

The D/A in the Monitor is really good too.

as always YMMV...

[lucey]

agreed (sorry Dave)



I like the Pacific HDCD, Lavry Gold, Mytek 8x192, Weiss ... in no particular order. Yet at the high end it's more about the chain than the gear itself.

[jayfrigo]

Lavry Gold is my favorite. Weiss would be a great option too. Others to consider include dcs and Prism. Mytek and Lavry Blue are in there too, but not up to the gold.

[DSD_Mastering]

EMM Labs for both DSD and PCM hands down! Nothing better currently available. IMHO.....

Pacific HDCD R.I.P.

Regards,
Bruce

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

EMM Labs for both DSD and PCM hands down! Nothing better currently available. IMHO.....

Pacific HDCD R.I.P.

Regards,
Bruce

EMM makes great stuff, especially for DSD, but I've had the EMM and the Lavry Gold side by side for an SACD project, and the Gold definitely took the day.

Pacific Microsonics was definitely one of the top of the heap back in the day, but I don't know any more. That was a while ago. Havn't heard one in some time, and obviously not next to the current top of the crop. Anybody still have one of these next to the latest high-end stuff? Do they still hold up technically or subjectively?

[glassmaster]

Originally Posted by jayfrigo

Pacific Microsonics was definitely one of the top of the heap back in the day, but I don't know any more. That was a while ago. Havn't heard one in some time, and obviously not next to the current top of the crop. Anybody still have one of these next to the latest high-end stuff? Do they still hold up technically or subjectively?

PM Model 2 is definitely still at the top of the heap. At that rarified level of performance, it's down to personal preference.

[MASSIVE Master]

Avocet for monitoring usually. HEDD and Lavry Blue for everything else.

[lucey]

I use the Model One AD everyday after the analog loop. They were designed by ear against analog masters, to be identical to the source (when peaking below -6dbfs) to those ears in that room at least. There is a touch of distortion in the top end (a la tube sparkle) from the HDCD processing in the last 6db before 0fs ... and I like this artifact. It's as good or better a converter than the current makes, just a matter of taste and chain. The ear-tuned Class A topology and external PSU make it pretty timeless. And thanks to Euphonix for the ongoing tech support.

[DSD_Mastering]

Originally Posted by jayfrigo

EMM makes great stuff, especially for DSD, but I've had the EMM and the Lavry Gold side by side for an SACD project, and the Gold definitely took the day.

I felt the EMM Labs and Lavry Gold were extremely close in PCM mode. Since the Lavry is PCM and 2-channel only, the EMM units were a no-brainer. Too bad the Lavry doesn't come in 8-channel. I'd snatch those up in a heartbeat! thumbsup

Regards,
Bruce

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

I felt the EMM Labs and Lavry Gold were extremely close in PCM mode. Since the Lavry is PCM and 2-channel only, the EMM units were a no-brainer. Too bad the Lavry doesn't come in 8-channel. I'd snatch those up in a heartbeat! thumbsup

Regards,
Bruce

My heart skips a beat imagining the price tag and the heat generated...
EMM is top shelf too, and if you are aiming at DSD business, again, a no-brainer.

[patrox247]

I have been extremely happy with the Lavry gold.thumbsup

[Thomas W. Bethe]

I still like the Benchmark DAC-1 and after trying a Mark Levinson and a couple of other high end converters I have to say that the Benchmark, for the money, is probably the best bang for the buck going. I have not tried Lavry converters but am told that they sound GREAT! and maybe sometime in the future I will try one. Converters should be neutral to the sound going though them but if you listen to any three converters from different manufactures all processing the same information they all sound different. I guess as with most things in Audio you have to decide what is right for you and your environment. Best of Luck on your quest!

[phild]

Originally Posted by MattStanley

Whats everones fave DAC for mastering?

I don't know why converters fascinate me so much? I think I have owned more converters than compressors!

I don't think there is any one best DAC.

Why not buy a couple and use the one best suited for the program? (They don't have to be the most expensive to get the desired effect. Used converters must be out there?).
Choice is good if you have the desire, $$$ (gearslutz, right?) and ability to make decisions.
I use a Prism DA2 and Lavry DA924 and generally use them at about 50/50 split. I just push a switch for preview and the choice is made. Same approach for the AD.

I am very motivated by how the source can best get into my board - once in a while I'll swap out line and AC wires, as well. Changes the tone.

The Lavry is super clean and tall. The Prism sounds wider and accentuates the bass and seems to make vocals jump out more. I tend the use the Lavry for rock stuff and the Prism for just about everything else.

Using Prism for monitoring

[DAZZER]

I've changed Universal Audio 2192 to Prism DA-1 and currently looking for some DAC to upgrade 10 years old DA-1. I'm looking for better DAC, then Prism DA-1 for mastering and monitoring (about 3000$).
Lavry Gold DA-924 has an unreal price and Prism DA-2 is too expensive and I think it sounds similar to DA-1...
So, many people recommended Forsell MADA-2, but I still collecting info

[TechSpec]

To tag on to this, it seems like a few of you are mixing and matching AD and DA's. Why would or wouldn't you want to monitor and process audio through the same line/brand of converters? Example: Monitor Lavry, DA Lavry, Out Board Gear, AD Lavry processing signal flow one. Signal flow two, Monitor Prism, DA Prism, Outboard, AD Prism, ect. Would that ensure more continuity, or is the fact that 1. the Monitor Control (AD or Analog) is what you are familiar with and helps you judge the sound of inserted converters in your signal chain better. 2. Some companies just make a better AD than DA. 3. One AD is for a true source sound, while your DA may purposely color the source for sound enhancement (as judged by the mastering engineer)? Hope that makes sense and I write this as an add on to this thread, not a hostile takeover of it.

In any case I truly enjoy seeing what everyone is using. Nice thread.

[Table Of Tone]

Lavry DA 924 or Forssell MADA 2 for driving the analogue chain. (Both super great but very different from each other)
Lavry DA11 for monitoring.

My current favorites!

[Piranha]

I will never, pay your attention please, never, never spend more than $2000 into a stereo converter whatever it is !!!
I would like people use their ears !
Nothing is justifying a converter of a $10000 price.......absolutly nothing !
If you knew what's into the gear.........
Ok let's talk about that :
Critical parts are : a good jitter rejection and a very good audio driver that include current to voltage conversion and buffer.
So if i have to choose i'll take the Forssell MADA-2. Reasonable price for good machine.

[AMIEL]

Do not forget the Dangerous DAC ST....perfect integration also with the Monitor ST remote controller

[DAZZER]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

Lavry DA 924 or Forssell MADA 2 for driving the analogue chain. (Both super great but very different from each other)

What is difference?

[misjah]

Monitoring: Crookwood
Chain: Weiss

[Adebar]

For AD-DA chains and also monitoring either EMM Labs or Forssell MADA-2, depending what I want to achieve.

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by DAZZER

What is difference?

924 has a certain detail N punch in the low mids.
Forssell MADA 2 (D to A part of it) has a very detailed top end.

Conclusion, it really depends what you're working on?

[Richard Black]

Cambridge Audio DACmagic. Budget consumer DAC. I'm a monkey's uncle if I can hear a difference between it and any of the fancy boutique DACs I've tried it against - some comparisons done blind.

[sat159p1]

Cambridge Audio looks good, I always like their "sound". But how you connect it to your outboard hear if it olny has digital in?

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by Richard Black

Cambridge Audio DACmagic. Budget consumer DAC. I'm a monkey's uncle if I can hear a difference between it and any of the fancy boutique DACs I've tried it against - some comparisons done blind.

Yeah, but there will be some material that you will hear a BIG difference on!