Master Fidelity NADAC DAC and Clock

[Mgrif104]

I’m very interested in this DAC and clock and am considering an upgrade here.

I’m wondering, however, if anyone has made a comparison to the T+A SD 3100 HV DAC which also includes a true 1 bit converter (along with a separate PCM path).

I have the T+A DAC 200 which also has a 1 bit converter path and sounds significantly better converting DSD files than PCM (also good, but not as).

I get the hyperbole surrounding new and innovative technologies but I have learned to take some of those with a grain of salt. That said, the T+A DAC 200 lived up to the hype for performance/value. So, there may be something here about this approach.

So - has anybody done the comparison between this and the T+A? The SD 3100 is about $36k so a price point up relative to the Master Fidelity - but doesn’t have a clock companion - though it may not need it either.
Thoughts?

 

[Davidny]

i’ve been enjoying my NADAC D & C for several months exploring new music and experimenting with different digital file formats. One surprising conclusion has been that a superior listening experience comes from using the “edit master” format. That’s the format the recording engineer used to create the final product. For example some recordings only use 96/24. Most DSD recordings are converted to DSD from the mic feed but are converted to and mixed in DXD (356/24) because the editing tools are better. And a minority of recordings are pure DSD (usually DSD256) from mic feed to editing to final product.

On previous dac’s I’ve used, the sweet spot for great listening was DSD256 irrespective of the edit master format. DSD256 added more air, dimensionality to the music. Most of the online download websites reprocess the edit master to offer a broad range of DSD and PCM resolutions to suit your playback equipment and tastes.

But the NADAC makes the edit master, whether that’s 92/24, DXD or DSD sound much better than the DSD256 version. The edit master recreates the acoustics of the recording venue and presents a more realistic balance among different instruments without any loss of dynamics

Digital file format is a small part of what makes for a great recording. But I’m certainly loving what I’m hearing.

If you’re interested in learning more this article touches on some these concepts
https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/dsd256/

 

[fast.freight]

i’ve been enjoying my NADAC D & C for several months exploring new music and experimenting with different digital file formats. One surprising conclusion has been that a superior listening experience comes from using the “edit master” format. That’s the format the recording engineer used to create the final product. For example some recordings only use 96/24. Most DSD recordings are converted to DSD from the mic feed but are converted to and mixed in DXD (356/24) because the editing tools are better. And a minority of recordings are pure DSD (usually DSD256) from mic feed to editing to final product.

On previous dac’s I’ve used, the sweet spot for great listening was DSD256 irrespective of the edit master format. DSD256 added more air, dimensionality to the music. Most of the online download websites reprocess the edit master to offer a broad range of DSD and PCM resolutions to suit your playback equipment and tastes.

But the NADAC makes the edit master, whether that’s 92/24, DXD or DSD sound much better than the DSD256 version. The edit master recreates the acoustics of the recording venue and presents a more realistic balance among different instruments without any loss of dynamics

Digital file format is a small part of what makes for a great recording. But I’m certainly loving what I’m hearing.

If you’re interested in learning more this article touches on some these concepts
https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/dsd256/

Hi Davidny, I should be getting my Nadacs about the end of January. As far as I know mine will be the first in black! I think I have much to learn from you about all this! Thanks for the continued info! I will be needing a USB streamer. MY Grimm MU1 will l run core and steam to my other system. Aries G3?