Looking for a more organic dac

[opm]

Hello, I am new to this forum and English is not my mother tongue, so please excuse me if I do not express myself clearly enough.

I currently have a Bartok dCS. I am very happy with this Steramer / dac because it is amazing but lately my tastes are "mutating" towards a warmer, denser and more relaxed presentation.

As I do not like to buy blinds without listening to my system, I am thinking of auditioning Lampizator, MSB or Totaldac, since the distributors of these brands offer auditions with a return option in my country.

At the moment I have contacted Lampizator and the dealer offers me the option to try a Baltic 3 but I cannot test it because I do not have a preamplifier. Since I need a dac with variable output, it offers me an Amber 3. I know this model is not top-end from Lampizator and is well below the Bartok. The question I have is whether the Amber 3 will be enough to show the Lampizator character in front of the Bartok.

I would like to read the opinions of the users of Lampizator, MSB or Totaldac about the differences between them.

 

[jep123]

If you (I am obviously) only are using the USB input I can absolutely recommend the Computer Audio Design (CAD) dac. Outstanding dac, very organic and musical sounding device.

JP

 

[FDPDK]

As you are using a DCS Bartok , which is also a streamer i think you should look into Lumin X1.
Haven't personally heard the DCS Bartok , but i suspect that Lumin has a relaxed sound with lots of detail.
I use it myself with an Accuphase E-470 as the amplifier , because the Leed processing in the Lumin X1 is really good.

 

[Gregadd]

I can recomend the Amber3
I cannot say whether the line is a linear progression or a host of characters.
Be careful with variable output it is not the same as a preamp. When I heard the Amber it was paired to an integrated amp.

 

[opm]

Como está utilizando un DCS Bartok, que también es un transmisor, creo que debería buscar en Lumin X1.
No he escuchado personalmente el DCS Bartok, pero sospecho que Lumin tiene un sonido relajado con muchos detalles.
Yo mismo lo uso con un Accuphase E-470 como amplificador, porque el procesamiento Leed en el Lumin X1 es realmente bueno.

Gracias por tu respuesta, no había contemplado el X1. Según he leído, es más relajado que el Bartok.

 

[dan31]

You could try the Schitt audio multi bit DAC’s. If you like the sound the best dac is ~$3k usd. Many here like the yggi and say it is a great mix of detail and analog like sound. The entry level is $300 ish and I was going to see if I like it.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Welcome to WBF, opm!

 

[Ron Resnick]

Digital in general, and DACs in particular, are not my field, but I, too, want a digital source to be on the "warmer, denser and more relaxed presentation" side of things. For me personally this "spells" Lampizator, and I am thinking I will order a Baltic3 at some point.

 

[thedudeabides]

Does organic mean a warmer, relaxed sound or a something that is more detailed in a non fatiguing way? Does the meaning of organic vary between different people depending on their age and hearing acuity? I believe it does.

 

[Al M.]

You could try the Schitt audio multi bit DAC’s. If you like the sound the best dac is ~$3k usd. Many here like the yggi and say it is a great mix of detail and analog like sound. The entry level is $300 ish and I was going to see if I like it.

The Yggy is fantastic and organic sounding, and I love mine. Yet it is not exactly a "relaxed" sound, rather an exciting one, with a forward driving intensity. That's not everyone's cup if tea, and according to what the original poster wants, I would emphatically *not* recommend it to him. For the same reason, I would not recommend an MSB DAC either, at least not the Premier which I have heard several times now.

 

[dan31]

Thank you for setting me straight Al. I guess I was heading in the less digital side not less detail.

If the OP has the funds Lampi and Audio Note UK all lean in the tube direction and have many supporters

 

[opm]

¿Orgánico significa un sonido más cálido y relajado o algo más detallado de una manera no fatigante? ¿El significado de orgánico varía entre diferentes personas dependiendo de su agudeza auditiva?

Buen punto. Quizás "orgánico" no sería la mejor palabra. Sería musical.

El Bartok tiene una dinámica increíble que me gusta mucho, pero tal vez sea demasiado detallado.

 

[opm]

El Yggy suena fantástico y orgánico, y me encanta el mío. Sin embargo, no es exactamente un sonido "relajado", sino más bien emocionante, con una intensidad de conducción hacia adelante. Esa no es la taza de té de todos, y de acuerdo con lo que quiere el póster original, enfáticamente * no * se lo recomendaría. Por la misma razón, tampoco recomendaría un MSB DAC, al menos no el Premier que he escuchado varias veces.

¿Puedes desarrollar más el sonido MSB? Estoy interesado.

 

[Al M.]

¿Puedes desarrollar más el sonido MSB? Estoy interesado.

From what I would guess, it falls more in the direction of the dCS Bartok, but if I understand my friend correctly, who has heard them both in his system, the MSB sounds more organic. Yet if you talk about "too much detail" (demasiado detallado) the MSB won't be what you would like. Neither would the Yggy, BTW.

 

[7ryder]

What is the rest of your system?

 

[opm]

What is the rest of your system?

Klipsch Cornwall III, Audio Research REF150SE. Right now I am in the process of changing the speakers, which I suppose will be a Harbeth 40.3. But it is yet to be confirmed.

 

[Kingsrule]

If u want your dac to be a preamp also MSB is where to look. ....

 

[dan31]

Klipsch Cornwall III, Audio Research REF150SE. Right now I am in the process of changing the speakers, which I suppose will be a Harbeth 40.3. But it is yet to be confirmed.

If your making that kind of a speaker change the DCS dac may be just fine with your new speakers. Harbeth’s are a very organic natural sound. I have been using M40.1’s for over 12 years.

 

[7ryder]

If your making that kind of a speaker change the DCS dac may be just fine with your new speakers. Harbeth’s are a very organic natural sound. I have been using M40.1’s for over 12 years.

Agreed

 

[microstrip]

Klipsch Cornwall III, Audio Research REF150SE. Right now I am in the process of changing the speakers, which I suppose will be a Harbeth 40.3. But it is yet to be confirmed.

Look for an used Audio Research REF 40 (Anniversary ) preamplifier. A great match with you DAC and amplifier and will give you all you are looking - more warmth, density, space, but keeping the detail and energy and detail of the Bartok. BTW, IMHO the REF40 sounds warrmer than the REF10.