APL Hifi DACs - how does this brand compare?

[KPC]

APL DACs are marketed as "designed to be analog sounding", but reviews are rare. Recently, there has been many very positive reviews (see below) but I'm not sure how APL compares to other brands. Currently, APL has 3 DAC models:
$40k DSD-MR MK2 D/A converter with balanced tube output stage
$15k DSD-SR MK2 D/A converter with solid-state transformer-coupled output stage
$7k DSD-AR D/A converter with solid-state transformer-coupled output stage
Currently, I'm relying on a WBF DAC shootout review to help me determine DAC sonic rankings which would lead to future DAC upgrade options:

Best DACs comparison test result [[My Subjective Opinion]]

Kassandra II LE Sig is not imported in Korea yet. Although I tested it, I think it is the world-best DAC. While the listening conditions have not been ideal and I have yet to complete my full review until after the room is finished, it is as close to analog as I think you can get with today's...

www.whatsbestforum.com

but I am struggling to know how APL DACs compares to other brand alternatives. Does anyone have any addition info/experience with APL DACs?



Company websites

Products - APL Hi-Fi

aplhifi.com

APL Hi-Fi | Ruse

APL Hi-Fi, Ruse, Bulgaria. 3,833 likes · 6 talking about this. Specializing in handcrafted manufacturing and engineering of boutique Super High-End Audio components

www.facebook.com

REVIEWS:
Audiophile Style

Review | APL HiFi DSD-SR MK2 DAC

The APL HiFi DSD-SR MK2, I'm told it's priced between the flagship DSD-MR MK2 ($40,000) and the new entry level DSD-AR ($7,000). That's seriously what I know right now. I'm sure if I look through some old emails there will be a price in there, but as it stands now, I have no clue. In certain circ...

audiophilestyle.com

"I guess the cat is out of the bag. My secret APL ace now has a spotlight upon it, and for good reason. The DSD-SR MK2 is a terrific DAC that sounds nothing like the competition"

Hifi+

APL DSD-SR Mk 2 digital converter

There are two opposing forces in high-end audio, especially digital high-end audio. The first is the notion that the best products can only be made by

www.hifiplus.com

"I used an APL DSD-S DAC for some years, for many of the reasons outlined in this review. It never put a foot wrong, always sounded like real music and was one of those ‘best-kept secrets’ in audio."

a retailer review

DSD-MR SE

APL Hi-Fi DSD-MR SE: APL Hi-Fi is a High(er) End boutique hand-made Hi-Fi company based in Ruse, Bulgaria who’s history goes back as far as 1998. So one thing is for sure, these guys are absolutely no newcomers in the Hi-Fi world and really know their game. Alex has 25 years of audio...

belhifi.com

An INCOMPLETE review - reviewer couldn't wait until unit broken in before evaluation

SoundStageAustralia.com - APL DSD-SR Digital-to-Analogue Converter

www.soundstageaustralia.com

 

[rubinken]

I have a DSD-MR MK2 that is stunning. It involves me emotionally, which is what's most important to me.
As I was able to get a terrific deal on a used one, I only compared it to some older, less expensive DAC's, the Luxman DA-06 and the AMR DP777SE. I preferred the APL by a significant amount. The separation is phenomenal, the timbre seems accurate, and I never type of listening. I get hooked & engaged Musically and forget about my components.
Hope this is helpful. BTW, I'm up in Olympia WA in the USA also.

 

[rubinken]

I'm surprised that no one else is responding.

 

[joaovieira]

I have the DSD MR MK2 dac and the DNP streamer.
I couldn’t be happier. The most natural and analog like sound I’ve ever heard.
Before that I had a Lampizator Big7 dac and more recently the Aqua Formula Dac.
No comparison.
I am about to ship the units to APL to be upgraded. The streamer has new improvements and the new Auralic G2 board. And the dac, according to Alex Peychev, achieved a new level with some upgrades he did. He says it is the definitive for years coming. No way it gets even better.

I highly recommend APL gear.

 

[rubinken]

I'll be curious to hear about your impressions of Alex's new Special Edition (SE) compared to the MK2 when you get it back. Thanks.

 

[joaovieira]

Sure. I will report it here.

 

[KPC]

@joaovieira - Thanks for the comparisons

 

[joaovieira]

DAC and Streamer updated. Maybe in a week I will have both.

 

[joaovieira]

When I heard that Alex Peychev had created the new version of the DAC DSD-MR, which he called SE, I wondered how he could still improve something that was already spectacular. In contact with him, he assured me that the SE version was the definitive version of this DAC, which would certainly not get anything better in the future.
The curiosity was great, and knowing that my Streamer DNP-SR already had an MKII version, I had no doubts about sending both from Brazil to Bulgaria to be updated.
Last Monday I received the updated equipment. Soon I started the burn in, putting it to play with the amplifiers turned off.
After approximately 6 hours I decided to turn on the amplifiers, and my surprise was brutal. Although they still have characteristics of new equipment, still contained, I was surprised right away by the absolute silence behind the music. I have never experienced anything so quiet in my system. The music flowed naturally from this environment and every detail seemed to materialize in a precise and articulate way like never before.
The voices were different, as if they were more present and had more depth.
A few more hours of playing , and after 72 hours the surprise was even better.
The naturalness was perfect, everything seemed more alive, more real, more organic. The voices are well separated and precise.
It seems the room is fuller, the bass is better, more present and more articulate. What I already considered difficult to be surpassed, the MKII version, Alex Peychev achieved the almost impossible in equipment of this level: an improvement above the marginal and subtle, something that surpasses my understanding of what is possible at this level of equipment.
I recommend to anyone who has the MKII version to upgrade.

 

[Antheus29]

When I heard that Alex Peychev had created the new version of the DAC DSD-MR, which he called SE, I wondered how he could still improve something that was already spectacular. In contact with him, he assured me that the SE version was the definitive version of this DAC, which would certainly not get anything better in the future.
The curiosity was great, and knowing that my Streamer DNP-SR already had an MKII version, I had no doubts about sending both from Brazil to Bulgaria to be updated.
Last Monday I received the updated equipment. Soon I started the burn in, putting it to play with the amplifiers turned off.
After approximately 6 hours I decided to turn on the amplifiers, and my surprise was brutal. Although they still have characteristics of new equipment, still contained, I was surprised right away by the absolute silence behind the music. I have never experienced anything so quiet in my system. The music flowed naturally from this environment and every detail seemed to materialize in a precise and articulate way like never before.
The voices were different, as if they were more present and had more depth.
A few more hours of playing , and after 72 hours the surprise was even better.
The naturalness was perfect, everything seemed more alive, more real, more organic. The voices are well separated and precise.
It seems the room is fuller, the bass is better, more present and more articulate. What I already considered difficult to be surpassed, the MKII version, Alex Peychev achieved the almost impossible in equipment of this level: an improvement above the marginal and subtle, something that surpasses my understanding of what is possible at this level of equipment.
I recommend to anyone who has the MKII version to upgrade.

Hi,
May I ask you how much it costed you for the SE upgrade?
Thanks

 

[joaovieira]

Hi Antheus29,

may I suggest that you ask Alex directly? I would be more comfortable not mentioning values here.
Cheers

João

 

[Antheus29]

Hi Antheus29,

may I suggest that you ask Alex directly? I would be more comfortable not mentioning values here.
Cheers

João

I understand.
Thanks for your reply

 

[Coimbra]

Hi,
May I ask you how much it costed you for the SE upgrade?
Thanks

Upgrade cost 6000 Euro. I am testing at the moment a APL MR SE. Great sound, wonderfull DAC. I will purchase the DAC.
Martin

 

[joaovieira]

Congratulations. I can’t imagine a dac more natural and with better DSD.
No matter what price.

 

[mageak]

anyone compared merging power + player to a APL DSD-SR mk2 APL DNP-SR mk.2

i have the merging and an apl has come up for sale

 

[Ilonatensil]

anyone compared merging power + player to a APL DSD-SR mk2 APL DNP-SR mk.2

i have the merging and an apl has come up for sale

Hi Mageak,

I am lucky enough to have heard both components for a extended period of time. For me the APL DAC/Streamer was in a different league as the Merging Technologies DAC.

The APL DAC/Streamer was the first DAC that came close to my analogue setup.

I don't know how APL does it, but their DAC's are so musical sounding without loosing any details of the music.

I am located in Europe and this DAC/Streamer combination comes hardly to the second hand market.

If you have the chance to buy this combination, I would not have to think twice.

 

[mageak]

thanks. what does the merging do well vs apl just out of interest or you think apl is better in all music formats. also if i buy the apl id need to buy a roon core as well

 

[Ilonatensil]

thanks. what does the merging do well vs apl just out of interest or you think apl is better in all music formats. also if i buy the apl id need to buy a roon core as well

Good morning,

On the first listening session the different of the both units were not so mayor. I thought the Merging was really detailed, but over time the APL was just more enjoyable to be listen to.

I just had the feeling that the APL connected me more to music and had less listening fatigue. I never had the feeling I want to stop listening to it.

 

[mageak]

thanks.

ill compare them in a bit. ive found stillpoints. fuses and cables make huge differences to the merging. plus running 2 bonn nx switches plus the bonn gx clock has made the merging calm but detailed and has become more emotional when treated with care. like most things in audio.

once i have a listen ill report back here for anyone interested.

cheers

 

[joaovieira]

If you try the APL Switch you'll be amazed.
I had the Bonn switch.