|
Post by jazzcat on Oct 31, 2021 12:32:19 GMT
are you using the RME as a pre-amp as well, or just as a DAC into a pre-amp? Both my DACs sound pretty bland used as pre-amps into all but one of my power amplifiers. I think it might be something to do with impedance mis-match although I've never really gone into the maths to see if it could be. I just don't like it and prefer the sound with a pre. I sold it after a month from purchasing it. Really tried to like it. I used it with Node2 as streamer and not as preamp. This was in the beginning of 2021, since than I haven’t bought any new DAC. Still “researching”
|
|
|
Post by jazzcat on Oct 31, 2021 12:33:02 GMT
Any suggestions that don’t cost €3k+? www.soekris.dk/dac2541.htmlI think you will struggle to find a valid criticism at the price, and it's very easy to upgrade the power supply at a later date to one that makes this a killer DAC. You know I'm hard to please, but the 1421 has been here for ages now and I still really rate it. Even after hearing the Holo Spring 3. Is yours modded or stock one?
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Oct 31, 2021 12:37:01 GMT
Oli is like myself but not to the same excess he likes a more musically engaging presentation. The 2451 does the job well but so does the Venus 2 or a Schiit Yaggy fun and really bouncy measures bad but sounds good
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Oct 31, 2021 12:40:07 GMT
www.soekris.dk/dac2541.htmlI think you will struggle to find a valid criticism at the price, and it's very easy to upgrade the power supply at a later date to one that makes this a killer DAC. You know I'm hard to please, but the 1421 has been here for ages now and I still really rate it. Even after hearing the Holo Spring 3. Is yours modded or stock one? My 1421 has an external power supply. Only cheaply made in an ugly box, but it made a big difference.
|
|
|
Post by antonio on Oct 31, 2021 12:57:34 GMT
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Oct 31, 2021 13:21:58 GMT
Oli is like myself but not to the same excess he likes a more musically engaging presentation. The 2451 does the job well but so does the Venus 2 or a Schiit Yaggy fun and really bouncy measures bad but sounds good They are all more expensive. Damir is in the EU, so he won't get battered with tax on the Soekris either, so it makes it a good choice in my opinion.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Oct 31, 2021 13:22:47 GMT
Never heard a sabre DAC that I'd buy.
|
|
|
Post by jazzcat on Oct 31, 2021 13:35:02 GMT
Oli is like myself but not to the same excess he likes a more musically engaging presentation. The 2451 does the job well but so does the Venus 2 or a Schiit Yaggy fun and really bouncy measures bad but sounds good They are all more expensive. Damir is in the EU, so he won't get battered with tax on the Soekris either, so it makes it a good choice in my opinion. Have sent a mail to Soekris to see if they have a try before buy kinda deal. Usually is 14 days but small shops don’t do try before buy. I hope they do as I’m very keen to try one. They are my neighbors after all
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Oct 31, 2021 13:57:54 GMT
They are all more expensive. Damir is in the EU, so he won't get battered with tax on the Soekris either, so it makes it a good choice in my opinion. Have sent a mail to Soekris to see if they have a try before buy kinda deal. Usually is 14 days but small shops don’t do try before buy. I hope they do as I’m very keen to try one. They are my neighbors after all I hope they do, as they really are very good.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2021 15:57:52 GMT
The 2541 is tempting...
|
|
|
Post by firebottle on Oct 31, 2021 17:20:46 GMT
If you don't need balanced how about the 1421?
|
|
|
Post by stryder5 on Oct 31, 2021 19:11:53 GMT
They are all more expensive. Damir is in the EU, so he won't get battered with tax on the Soekris either, so it makes it a good choice in my opinion. Have sent a mail to Soekris to see if they have a try before buy kinda deal. Usually is 14 days but small shops don’t do try before buy. I hope they do as I’m very keen to try one. They are my neighbors after all I hope Soekris answer you, I sent three emails, no answer, nada! Gary
|
|
|
Post by jazzcat on Oct 31, 2021 19:20:08 GMT
Have sent a mail to Soekris to see if they have a try before buy kinda deal. Usually is 14 days but small shops don’t do try before buy. I hope they do as I’m very keen to try one. They are my neighbors after all I hope Soekris answer you, I sent three emails, no answer, nada! Gary I read online his ignorance to respond to emails. I have zero tolerance with those companies. Let’s see what happens this coming week.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Oct 31, 2021 20:36:46 GMT
I hope Soekris answer you, I sent three emails, no answer, nada! Gary I read online his ignorance to respond to emails. I have zero tolerance with those companies. Let’s see what happens this coming week. Yes, his communication is abysmal. I have spoken of this in the past, but if you can get through to him, you will have a DAC that manages to deliver a performance without artifice. Very hard to find DACs that do that, in my humble opinion.
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Oct 31, 2021 21:33:24 GMT
X26 pro eh? Let me think, I know let's kill the average ess dac soundcwith 60 Watts of class A discrete stage and it measures amazing shame it doesn't sound like the hype around this product lol
Before you ask Dave I have already had two of them very Meh
|
|
|
Post by antonio on Oct 31, 2021 21:49:14 GMT
Never heard a sabre DAC that I'd buy. The person reviewing was surprised at what Gustard had done with a Sabre chip, it's not the chips, it the implementation of them that is important. Enough small talk are your going to raise my Gustard?
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Nov 1, 2021 9:34:34 GMT
It is the chips no question, however by clever use of filtering techniques before entering the modulation stages and coupling it to a half reasonable I/V stage it sounds different from the normal ess fair. Bottom line its half wrangled and slugged ESS that sounds better than the most of the ESS dac's ths far sampled. But if you are used to previous ESS dac's then I can understand it a departure.
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Nov 1, 2021 9:40:05 GMT
Oli is like myself but not to the same excess he likes a more musically engaging presentation. The 2451 does the job well but so does the Venus 2 or a Schiit Yaggy fun and really bouncy measures bad but sounds good They are all more expensive. Damir is in the EU, so he won't get battered with tax on the Soekris either, so it makes it a good choice in my opinion. Oli
Kevin didn't say they had to be a new purchase, the second 2541 which we obtained was £768 after currecny conversion and shipping, also I managed to acccquire a balanced Wavedream (non sig lol) for £4888 in vat and shipping we obviously pay VAT but I feel you guys can negotiate with the vendor I am sure.
Just do not be in a hurry, you have put up the RME for so long anorther couple of weeks wouldn't hurt
Quite a lot of choice out there at the moment I feel
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Nov 1, 2021 9:50:32 GMT
We're talking about different people I think, Tony.
I quoted Damir lol
Not to worry, I see you point.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2021 12:23:16 GMT
The RME is pretty good, so putting up with it os easy. Thos may be because it is the best DAC I have currently heard.
I also have the option of switching back to my PC DAC, so selling the RME and waiting for a 2541 to come up at the right price does not bother me.
There us a lot of praise for the RME at the price point. They must be doing something right?
My main concern is buying blind. What if I don't like it? I'll be back to square one....
|
|
|
Post by macca on Nov 1, 2021 12:52:13 GMT
Id you don't like it send it back within 14 days. No big deal just a minor pain in the arse.
There's nothing wrong with the RME, my advice is to do something else with the money.
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Nov 1, 2021 12:56:21 GMT
There's nothing wrong with the RME, my advice is to do something else with the money.
Apart from the sound Martin lol
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2021 12:58:59 GMT
I guess it depends what you are looking for, and the type of system it is in? In comparison to the systems you are used to hearing, mine is very much MidFi.
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Nov 1, 2021 13:05:42 GMT
I guess it depends what you are looking for, and the type of system it is in? In comparison to the systems you are used to hearing, mine is very much MidFi. Kevin
No we have many cllents who's systems are under £8K max and the das that everyone has been discussing are clearly indentifiable in these price ranges no problem at all
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2021 15:55:08 GMT
I guess it depends what you are looking for, and the type of system it is in? In comparison to the systems you are used to hearing, mine is very much MidFi. Kevin
No we have many cllents who's systems are under £8K max and the das that everyone has been discussing are clearly indentifiable in these price ranges no problem at all
So the 2541 gets your approval? Apparently it fixes in issue with the 1421 and 1521 which are “thin” sounding. The cost to upgrade is acceptable, as it should be easy to sell the RME for what I paid for it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2021 16:21:17 GMT
I just have to wait for a second hand one to turn up….
|
|
|
Post by macca on Nov 1, 2021 16:27:01 GMT
I guess it depends what you are looking for, and the type of system it is in? In comparison to the systems you are used to hearing, mine is very much MidFi. It really isn't. I've heard plenty of these fancy 100 grand systems and unless they are using very good speakers they really aren't all that. And if they do use good speakers they would still sound pretty much the same even with a damn sight less spent on source and amp (not to mention all the foo they are often accompanied with). One system the cartridge alone was £15K and the rest priced accordingly and I wouldn't have had it for firewood. Gritty sounding. Although my colleague was quite enthused by it, but then he thinks Naim is 'good value'. I think the only area where you could really improve would be vinyl playback, your speakers and your room. Those things can always be improved upon no matter how good the present ones are. And the improvements will be real and obvious to anyone. Chasing better sound from the digital source or DAC end of things is a good way to spend a lot of money to get - at best - a tiny improvement.
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Nov 1, 2021 16:35:50 GMT
Here I go again on my own.....................Mr Coverdale circa 1987 (big hair era)
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Nov 1, 2021 17:21:37 GMT
Kevin
No we have many cllents who's systems are under £8K max and the das that everyone has been discussing are clearly indentifiable in these price ranges no problem at all
So the 2541 gets your approval? Apparently it fixes in issue with the 1421 and 1521 which are “thin” sounding. The cost to upgrade is acceptable, as it should be easy to sell the RME for what I paid for it. 1421 thin sounding? Not in my opinion, but I'm Intrigued. Where did you read that?
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
|
Post by Bigman80 on Nov 1, 2021 17:33:42 GMT
Ok, this may be a stupid question, but have you heard an RME macca ? Measurements do not tell the whole story, and whilst I agree that usually the better money spent on Speakers and amplification, I think there are valid and desirable reasons to rid the system of those DAC chips from a listening perspective. The Soekris is a quality DAC. I don't think any chip DAC has the ability to be entirely free of artifice, certainly none of the ones I have heard have achieved that. Truth is, for the cost of the Soekris, unless Kevin is gonna stick some HECO Clean GT702s in his room, he won't make a significant change to his system for that budget. @cageyh get a Soekris. Run it in for 100 or more hours and see how you feel. I guarantee it will sound more fluid and lucid than the RME. Anything else is up to your ears and system to define.
|
|