The ***Unofficial*** Multichannel DAC Thread

[bmoura]

Hi Nyal! Hope alll is well with you.

I started this thread to have an ***unofficial*** single source thread to cover all multichannel DACs, be it consumer or pro. With any luck, in the future there will be more products on the consumer side, since it appears there is only the exaSound, and perhaps this thread will become a *sticky*.

Bruce posted that the exaSound sounds great. (Thanks, Bruce.) Nyal, is that your take as well? Now if you're feeding the exaSound with an USB cable originating from a computer, what are the options for volume control?

Yes, the exaSound e28 is the only game in town at the moment for Multichannel DACs. You can also use the Oppo 103/105 disc players for Multichannel file playback as well, and the stacked Mytek Stereo DAC as Nyal noted.

 

[bmoura]

Consumer or Pro? Pro units have their own ergonomic issues. For example I have used a Metric Halo LIO8...nice sounding unit but requires set up using a Mac and grappling with the complex (and I'm sure very powerful) mixing console software. Also does not have any muting during switch on / off so expect some nasty transients. After living with a pro interface it's not something I'd recommend to most people. Consumer wise I can only think of three units: ExaSound E28 (8 channel), a cobbled together system using three Myteks and one 6 channel unit made by Meitner/EMM Labs (which I think is discontinued).

Right, the Meitner/EMM Labs DAC6 is no longer in production. It doesn't have a USB input necessary for use as a consumer Multichannel DAC.

 

[john925]

Right, the Meitner/EMM Labs DAC6 is no longer in production. It doesn't have a USB input necessary for use as a consumer Multichannel DAC.

Anybody knows the difference on SQ of EMM Labs DAC6e SE and EMM Labs DAC8 MKIV. I believe the former has EMM's proprietary DAC technology, while the latter uses Sony Chips to decode 1 bit DSD.

 

[bmoura]

Anybody knows the difference on SQ of EMM Labs DAC6e SE and EMM Labs DAC8 MKIV. I believe the former has EMM's proprietary DAC technology, while the latter uses Sony Chips to decode 1 bit DSD.

I doubt the DAC8 Mk IV uses Sony Chips to decode 1 bit DSD. The write-up on the EMM Labs web site on that unit says:

The DAC8 MKIV accomplishes this goal by employing EMM Labs proprietary True Internal DSD Processing technology for analog-to-digital, and digital-to-digital conversion. Enabling it to deliver the most accurate, highest resolution recordings possible in both DSD and PCM formats.

http://emmlabs.com/html/products/dac8/dac8.html

 

[john925]

I doubt the DAC8 Mk IV uses Sony Chips to decode 1 bit DSD. The write-up on the EMM Labs web site on that unit says:



http://emmlabs.com/html/products/dac8/dac8.html

I opened the chassis and saw sony chips inside DAC8. Actually, DCC2 non-se shall also has sony chips inside, while sony stop providing 1 bit chip, EMM Labs decided to make their own, so that's why those models were upgraded to SE version.

The difference of structure between DAC8 MKIV and DAC6e SE is not a secret, and I will appreciate any input about the difference of their sound quality.

 

[Nyal Mellor]

Right, the Meitner/EMM Labs DAC6 is no longer in production. It doesn't have a USB input necessary for use as a consumer Multichannel DAC.

You don't need USB, you can use a multichannel digital output card in your music server such as the Lynx AES16 or a USB to digital converter, like the Weiss AF1

 

[bmoura]

You don't need USB, you can use a multichannel digital output card in your music server such as the Lynx AES16 or a USB to digital converter, like the Weiss AF1

I'm not familiar with those products. They pass Multichannel DSD to the DSD inputs on the DAC6e ?

 

[Bruce B]

I'm not familiar with those products. They pass Multichannel DSD to the DSD inputs on the DAC6e ?

No... PCM only

 

[bmoura]

I did read over on AudioGoN Forums the other day that EMM Labs is offering a $2,500 USB retrofit for their CDP player, according to a member named "French Fries".
I'll have to check into that. Would love to find a way to play Multichannel Downloads via the EMM Labs DAC6/se Multichannel DSD DAC I have here!

 

[prerich]

@Mojave, Has Audiolense addressed the issue of using the UMM-6 usb microphone and HDMI in the new versions?

 

[mojave]

@Mojave, Has Audiolense addressed the issue of using the UMM-6 usb microphone and HDMI in the new versions?

Audiolense 10 has introduced a clock drift correction option into the measurement. This should allow for better timing when using different inputs/outputs. I use the same in/out audio device so I don't know how it works.

 

[john925]

What MCH Pre would you like to use?

Orpheus Labs Two would be the best MCH pre to get?
What about Conrad Johnson MET-1?

Any input is welcomed.

 

[edorr]

What MCH Pre would you like to use?

Orpheus Labs Two would be the best MCH pre to get?
What about Conrad Johnson MET-1?

Any input is welcomed.

I tried three. The best I got was a MCH pre that is 100% transparent, i.e. does not add or subtracts anything from sound. The only pre amps that actually improve sound in my experience are top notch 2 channel pre amps. The implication is if you can get away with no pre, this would always be preferable. There are many ways to achieve this. But back to your question. My favourite was the Theta six shooter, which was a notch above the EMM Labs Switchman, which in turn beat out the McCormack.

 

[bmoura]

What MCH Pre would you like to use?

Orpheus Labs Two would be the best MCH pre to get?
What about Conrad Johnson MET-1?

Any input is welcomed.

I'm using the EMM Labs Switchman II here. Excellent !

 

[john925]

edorr,
is the volume control on Theta six shooter only controlled by the Casablanca 2/3/3HD/4?

bmoura,
I've heard that Switchman III is a little bit too warm sounding. Do you think so?

 

[Bruce B]

edorr,
is the volume control on Theta six shooter only controlled by the Casablanca 2/3/3HD/4?

bmoura,
I've heard that Switchman III is a little bit too warm sounding. Do you think so?

I have the Switchman III and it sounds fine to me. Not up to my XP-30, but what is?

 

[bmoura]

bmoura,
I've heard that Switchman III is a little bit too warm sounding. Do you think so?

Actually I'm using the Pro Model - the Switchman II. Sounds great. Not too warm to my ears.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

What MCH Pre would you like to use?

Orpheus Labs Two would be the best MCH pre to get?
What about Conrad Johnson MET-1?

Any input is welcomed.

I have not heard those but of the handful that I have tried, I have been most happy with the Audio Research MP1 which offers 3 6-channel inputs (one of them balanced) as well as 4 stereo inputs (bal+unbal) and 2 6-channel outputs (bal+unbal).

 

[edorr]

edorr,
is the volume control on Theta six shooter only controlled by the Casablanca 2/3/3HD/4?

Yes, you need a casablanca to control it, so not a very practical alternative, but to my ears it beat the switchman. If you have 50K to spend, you can daisy chain 3 x EMM Labs or Ayre's top of the line preamp. The daisy chaining can also be done with the passive placette preamps for a lot less. This should be pretty much transparent, so if you don't need the gain this could be in interesting alternative. http://www.placetteaudio.com/passive_line.htm

 

[john925]

Thanks for all the suggestions you provide.

I have narrowed my choice to Orpheus Two and EMM Switchman 3. The DAC would be EMM DAC8 MKIV, which only has XLR outputs. So maybe SWM3 would be a better choice. But I am also interested in Orpheus, which had rave review in MCH pre. BTW, Is there a SE version of SWM3? http://www.inventive-av.com/emmlabs/pre_switchman3.shtml