Has anyone here heard the Formula v the TotalDAC Dual or Six? These DACs are now head on v price and more or less specification. I was thinking about the TotalDAC last year but didn't press the trigger as was not convinced by the line stage in it but I haven't heard it so please take that as 'my theory'.
I am going to get a demo on the Formula soon, but still, not hearing the TotalDAC I am still curious if it is ahead of the pack like it appeared to be in 2015/2016. The TotalDAC got lots of glowing reviews and caused quite a stir in the community. IMO it was possibly the starter of the discrete DAC wave. This year we have the Formula, the La Scala MKII and the upgraded discrete boards in the Lampizator models to name a few, and a growing number of 'bargain' discrete DACs coming in from China such as the 2K Holo Audio Spring (think it's made in HK).
I am also curious if SMD ladders are as good as the Vishay array in the TotalDAC, and it they are more or less on par, why TotalDAC went that expensive to produce route? But regardless, if the new wave of discrete DACs keep coming, it has to get the prices down and more access to better sound on Redbook, and IMO a breath of fresh air after the 'desert' years of creative DAC design.
Massive generalisation here, and not saying there hasn't been some great DACs in the last 10 years, but on the whole I think has been pretty poor TBH. The big scare I believe is the high price tag DACs back then, and how much they would fetch now? And it hasn't got any simpler right now. I have no idea where DSD will be in a few years, if Sony has moved to DxD, are we looking at another dead end? Then we now have from 2016 MQA complaint DACs. I presume they will also play other formats, but there we go, another route that may be a dead end as well, though I personally hope MQA keeps going.