Nada Posted June 15, 2013 Posted June 15, 2013 (edited) I had a listen to the MSB Analog DAC today. If you picked up the idea MSB DAC's sound "cold" or "clinical" try and get a listen. This is one of most full bodied and richly voiced DACs Ive heard without being syrupy and loose. The Analog DAC set up today included upgraded power option and analogue volume control taking the RRP from 7k to over 10K. I appreciated the design visually. Its sleek and minimalist in its lines and for me is easily the best DAC design Ive seen. It ran just warm to the touch. Today it was running off a very humble little eeeNetbook-Foobar-generic USB cable to the Analog DAC with RCA interconnects to SGR CX4F active speakers. These speakers are an ideal "test bench" as I find them to be chameleon like in changing their sound to source. Feed them a grainy digital mess and the faults are obvious but feed them quality and they shine. This DAC had the ability to flesh out timbre to give music body in a way reminiscent of live small venue gigs and vinyl. I found it sounded almost tube like in its ability to fill out the notes and give inner body to the timbre. It had a full and easy presentation with excellent dynamics and low noise floor. Bass was grippy and well textured. Complex passages had no smear. Details were unetched. It pulled this all off without a single tube No DAC is perfect right but I heard no obvious faults of commission at first listen, No glare. No grain. No timbral distortions. Faults are what can grate with time and lead to dissatisfaction. What about omissions then? Simply a lack of depth in the soundstage, which presented just forward of the speakers. So at last here is a modern DAC that is a joy to listen to. 9/10 thumbs up Edited June 15, 2013 by Nada 6
Young Skywalker Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 It looks really cool, is this a new model? Not a new model, it has been available for a while and on demonstration at Audio Fidelity Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The newest models from MSB Technology are the DAC IV Plus range which include the Femto140 clock and latest PRO-I2S interface as standard equipment. The clock allows the DAC IV Plus range to jump ahead of the Analog DAC with greater resolving capabilities, albeit at a higher price points. 1
Nada Posted June 16, 2013 Author Posted June 16, 2013 (edited) It looks really cool Its an innovative sculptured look. It looks even better in the flesh with the black satin finish - very smooth to the touch. Reminds me of a river polished pebble. The slab is very dead when rapped. Best ever resonance deadening Ive heard. It is milled out of SOLID block of aluminium. However the bottom silver chassis in the stack below is just the upgraded power supply unit. The normal power unit looks umm... somewhat less aesthetically pleasing perhaps? The inside is even cooler: I just found a photo below. Do NOT click on it. I suspect its a revert = review advert = what looks like a review but is almost certainly paid for by the manufacturers via you the consumer (con as in conned). How to pick a revert? No measurements. No valid comparator. No valid critique. Hey - I told you NOT to click on it. Edited June 16, 2013 by Nada 1
Nada Posted June 16, 2013 Author Posted June 16, 2013 (edited) .....is this a new model? Yes its new model. The main page of the MSB website states "It's new ". It looks like the first new MSB model for ages but represents a significant departure in terms of them listening to user feedback that their line was musically unengaging. MSB have represented the SS clique up to now with clarity rather then timbre to the fore. The Analog is a late adjustment to consumer feedback. Personally on SGR CX4F's I think the Analog sounds more like live music then the former MSB DAC's Ive heard which I remember seemed more skeletal in delivery perhaps. This is of course totally brain and system dependent . Not a new model, .... The MSB site highlights that the Analog is new while older models continue with yet another upgrade. Technically the + series will measure better but for some listeners will be a jump back. Edited June 16, 2013 by Nada
Nada Posted June 16, 2013 Author Posted June 16, 2013 (edited) I wish I had heard this unit Nada. At a certain level of DAC excellence its all good but just with different nuances. After all - they are just DACs. The MSB Analog DAC I heard is in Brisbane at Ormiston with Anthony the rep for MSB and SGR. Hes a great guy to visit with a large demo listening room set up in his home. This makes weekends and evenings doable and its a perfect listening environment - far better the any shop Ive been too. I think this is the website to contact him if you get the chance http://www.audiofidelity.com.au/contact-us/ I can whole heartedly recommend Anthony. When he sold me my SGR CX4F's he even delivered them personally and spent hours setting them up perfectly. Just be careful if you visit him not to drink his coffee - its way too good and can lead to wives being stood up for dinner, allegedly (sorry - in joke). Anthony- when did you say I will get my free Analog DAC for this quality spruiking? Edited June 16, 2013 by Nada 1
acg Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 At a certain level of DAC excellence its all good but just with different nuances. After all - they are just DACs. The MSB Analog DAC I heard is in Brisbane at Ormiston with Anthony the rep for MSB and SGR. Hes a great guy to visit with a large demo listening room set up in his home. This makes weekends and evenings doable and its a perfect listening environment - far better the any shop Ive been too. I think this is the website to contact him if you get the chance http://www.audiofidelity.com.au/contact-us/ I can whole heartedly recommend Anthony. When he sold me my SGR CX4F's he even delivered them personally and spent hours setting them up perfectly. Just be careful if you visit him not to drink his coffee - its way too good and can lead to wives being stood up for dinner, allegedly (sorry - in joke). Anthony- when did you say I will get my free Analog DAC for this quality spruiking? Thanks for the info Nada. I will certainly look him up at am keen to hear some SGR's as well, so can tick two of the list with one visit. Anthony
georgehifi Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 9/10 thumbs up Yum, ladder dacs, no Delta Sigma rubbish here. Can't wait to here one. Cheers George
Young Skywalker Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 It is not new on the sense that we have had them on display for months now.
DoggieHowser Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 Not only a ladder DAC, I think it's a custom designed one not off the shelf. Looks interesting. How much is the unit with the power supply? Is it standard?
Nada Posted June 16, 2013 Author Posted June 16, 2013 Thanks for the info Nada. I will certainly look him up at am keen to hear some SGR's as well, so can tick two of the list with one visit. Anthony has been very happy for guys to bring along their own source so its valuable to take along your favourite music, Netbook, current DAC, preamp and cables. Then you will know what the SGR speakers sound like with your gear and then you can try the Analog with your preamp versus its own preamp.
Nada Posted June 16, 2013 Author Posted June 16, 2013 Not only a ladder DAC, I think it's a custom designed one Yes MSB make their own ladder resistor dividers ie R2R DA units using hobbits to solder thousands of tiny resistors together just so George doesnt have to worry about future audiophile generations missing out on multi-bit converters when the PCM1704 runs out. How much is the unit with the power supply? Is it standard? The standard power is a the "desktop" unit. Opps. So you pay $7k but then need add another 3k for the power. Yes seriously $3,000 for the proper power supply. Its worse then buying a BMW. Like the satin black finish sir? Of course you do. Add on another $700. No not for the BMW paint upgrade darling. That's for the DAC satin finish. Pricing here but please sit down first. 2
bzr Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 Nada, if you think this of the Analogue you need to hear a Signature or Diamond from MSB with the Femto Galaxy clock installed,in the same system. Seriously, you will catch yourself with your mouth open...... Ha!
Dalamii Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 Yes MSB make their own ladder resistor dividers ie R2R DA units using hobbits to solder thousands of tiny resistors together just so George doesnt have to worry about future audiophile generations missing out on multi-bit converters when the PCM1704 runs out. The standard power is a the "desktop" unit. Opps. So you pay $7k but then need add another 3k for the power. Yes seriously $3,000 for the proper power supply. Its worse then buying a BMW. Like the satin black finish sir? Of course you do. Add on another $700. No not for the BMW paint upgrade darling. That's for the DAC satin finish. Pricing here but please sit down first. 12k for Satin black + USB + Coax + Power supply upgraded. ..... I just did a quick quote on the website. The Satin black look really good.
wis97non Posted June 16, 2013 Posted June 16, 2013 Audiostream does REAL reviews, but they use a subjective LISTENING style. Not a measurement style, like paid for review Stereophile. LoL The feedback on this Dac is consistent with what Nada says, but it is a bit pricey.
Nada Posted June 16, 2013 Author Posted June 16, 2013 Nada, if you think this of the Analogue you need to hear a Signature or Diamond from MSB with the Femto Galaxy clock installed,in the same system. Seriously, you will catch yourself with your mouth open...... Ha! You mean my mouth open as I yawn? Not my poison old chap. Cheers.
Nada Posted June 22, 2013 Author Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) Just a warning to anyone listening to an Analog DAC. Ive got a demo unit at home for a year or so thanks to Anthony of Audiofidelity. It sounds pretty ordinary when its not warmed up. Warm up takes hours in winter. When it comes on song it sounds like a different machine. So dont demo it from cold. It would be very misleading in my little experience. It would be best I dare say, to keep this DAC powered up 24/24 and ideally demo it over a few days or more. The fancy Analog power supply has a groovy on/off switch that glows green on and red off. I guess red is a warning to turn it back on asap? Certainly other great R2R DAC's eg Wadia and ML only power down if you pull the mains plug on them. The designers new they needed to be powered on 24/24. Cheers Edited June 22, 2013 by Nada 1
bzr Posted June 22, 2013 Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) You mean my mouth open as I yawn? Not my poison old chap. Cheers. Have you heard one of the described? Genuine question, trying to gauge the relevance of your opinion. Edited June 22, 2013 by groot
Nada Posted June 23, 2013 Author Posted June 23, 2013 Genuine question, trying to gauge the relevance of your opinion. My opinion is not worth trying to gauge in my opinion. The only way your going to get a valid opinion is to audition the Analog your own home. Audio memory lasts about 5 seconds on a good day. As I haven't directly switched from Analog to another MSB DAC I wont try and mislead you, other then to say the Anlong is the only MSB Ive wanted to audition at home. You might well have the opposite taste. Hope that helps. Bye. 1
bzr Posted June 23, 2013 Posted June 23, 2013 Thank-you, & yes that answered my question very well, bye to you too!
wis97non Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 So nada is shilling for MSB now? ROTFLMAO. I think the Ayre QB-9 is a more interesting Dac based on Charles Hansen's description of his PCM filter design methodology (Derived from SACD filter principles). http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/ayre-wants-%241-5k-dsded-qb-9-a-15650/
Nada Posted June 27, 2013 Author Posted June 27, 2013 So nada is shilling for MSB now? Thanks for asking about my affiliations. I have nothing to hide. I dont own any MSB gear. Im not buying any. I havent sold any. Im not in the business. I dont speak to the MSB makers. I do recommend great gear I hear from many brands. The Analog is one of the very best DACs I have heard. Its on the level of some classic DAC's. However you can see from my comments above I am also highly critical of MSB. Nothing is perfect As your posting history demonstrates you are a tireless and moronic Lampi shill you might me interested that on the day we tested the MSB versus a Lampi4 no one preferred the Lampi4. Furthermore the AMR whcih was less expensive made it look like a DIY bit of kit and roundly out performed it. I generally dont criticise gear but I must speak to Mr Lampi about your negative effect on his sales.
wis97non Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Please go ahead. I have even less involvement in the audio business than you do. You keep trying to make up stuff, somehow thinking I work for Lampizator. Hahahahaha. I have never even MET Lukasz, though i do chat with him often as he is a fun guy. I have never been to Poland and I am not even European. ROTFLMAO. i am from the caribbean, so yeah, i know about Cricket and Usain bolt. I even KNOW Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. there are even people here on this very forum i have spoken with and even one knows me from Facebook. I know that you are totally unethical and the people that count know it too. I even have proof. i also know you are a goon.
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