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Since the addition of the Aurender N10 in my system I have been wanting to do a subjective listening test of the DACs I have in my possession. The reason the N10 is so important is it drives all its outputs simultaneously. Of course I need to use two different output types but I interchanged them through my evaluation. The two primary outputs I used are USB and AES. The DACs evaluated are as follows. Schiit Yggdrasil, Gustard X20, Auralic Vega, Line Magnetic LM 502ca (tube section) I level matched each DAC, the Gustard X20 has higher level outputs, as I only listened to two per session. All listening was done via balanced XLR outputs using Neotech NEI-2002 interconnects with Furutech XLR plugs for each DAC. The rest of the system is as follows, ARC REF5SE, Anodyne Tube/MosFet hybrid mono amps, Von Schweikert VR5 Anniversary MKII. Preamp to amp cable is Luminous Audio silver reference, speakers bi wired with Bren1 Oasis, I used two Pangea AC14 SE MKII power cables on both DACs tested.
I think I have a reasonably resolving system and trust my ears to hear differences. Guys you could throw a blanket over all four DACs and would challenge the average person to hear the differences. It is amazing they ALL have basically the exact same presentation, very minor differences between them I will list below. Presentation I mean if the recording has ambience you hear it, if the vocals are pushed back this is what you hear.The REF5SE allows me to switch via the remote with absolutely NO lag or change in material, instant switch. I believe in this crazy business when you hype a product and read all the press you build that expectation bias, then factor in the time to remove a component from your system to add another or worse yet rely on your audio memory of days or months past and even worse in a different system. Do we hype ourselves into hearing what we want to hear? I know I am comparing a small slice of the market all competing in the same price range but my results below are what is shocking.
1. Gustard X20 Retreives the most detail and ambient clues of the bunch. This is where this DAC shines is in the minute audio details and depth resolution.
2. Line Magnetic LM502ca Tube magic is all I can say, using the tube output section on most recordings this DAC imparts a euphoric character that is very pleasant. Also a slight extended soundstage.
3. Schiit Yggdrasil Extremely close to the X20 except it rounds off the leading edges of transients slightly giving it a slight smoothed character. This one was the hardest to evaluate against the X20 because it was so close.
4. Auralic Vega The Vega just omits the micro details, they are just missing. The little nuances of a live recording go missing, the little aural clues that help you hear the sense of space.
Again these are small details I list above. I could say I would be perfectly happy with all of the top 3 if I weren't so OCD on presentation and the small details. Hopefully I am going to jump a step up with maybe a Berkeley Reference or MSB Analog DAC soon. I hope they can break above these DACs in sound quality and resolution. Right now I have two DACs in my system, the Gustard X20 because I have a large DSD collection and the Line Magnetic because tubes make everything sound better and it only does PCM.
I think I have a reasonably resolving system and trust my ears to hear differences. Guys you could throw a blanket over all four DACs and would challenge the average person to hear the differences. It is amazing they ALL have basically the exact same presentation, very minor differences between them I will list below. Presentation I mean if the recording has ambience you hear it, if the vocals are pushed back this is what you hear.The REF5SE allows me to switch via the remote with absolutely NO lag or change in material, instant switch. I believe in this crazy business when you hype a product and read all the press you build that expectation bias, then factor in the time to remove a component from your system to add another or worse yet rely on your audio memory of days or months past and even worse in a different system. Do we hype ourselves into hearing what we want to hear? I know I am comparing a small slice of the market all competing in the same price range but my results below are what is shocking.
1. Gustard X20 Retreives the most detail and ambient clues of the bunch. This is where this DAC shines is in the minute audio details and depth resolution.
2. Line Magnetic LM502ca Tube magic is all I can say, using the tube output section on most recordings this DAC imparts a euphoric character that is very pleasant. Also a slight extended soundstage.
3. Schiit Yggdrasil Extremely close to the X20 except it rounds off the leading edges of transients slightly giving it a slight smoothed character. This one was the hardest to evaluate against the X20 because it was so close.
4. Auralic Vega The Vega just omits the micro details, they are just missing. The little nuances of a live recording go missing, the little aural clues that help you hear the sense of space.
Again these are small details I list above. I could say I would be perfectly happy with all of the top 3 if I weren't so OCD on presentation and the small details. Hopefully I am going to jump a step up with maybe a Berkeley Reference or MSB Analog DAC soon. I hope they can break above these DACs in sound quality and resolution. Right now I have two DACs in my system, the Gustard X20 because I have a large DSD collection and the Line Magnetic because tubes make everything sound better and it only does PCM.
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