MSB and Taiko, let's go!

[Kingsrule]

Please don't shoot the messenger, but some listeners preferred the USBs full, rich sound, with an additional reduction in trace sibilance on some tracks. Does it lose a wee bit of transparency? Perhaps, but it's still a nice texture some will enjoy.


IMO That's an odd one for sure

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I know!

 

[oldmustang]

Please don't shoot the messenger, but some listeners preferred the USBs full, rich sound, with an additional reduction in trace sibilance on some tracks. Does it lose a wee bit of transparency? Perhaps, but it's still a nice texture some will enjoy.


IMO That's an odd one for sure

Well, as the man said, "There is no accounting for taste" and "In matters of preference there can be no argument".

(We are of course absolutely allowed to quietly pity those poor fools whose taste is different than ours. Which of course wouldn't be anyone here!)

Steve Z

 

[divertiti]

Please don't shoot the messenger, but some listeners preferred the USBs full, rich sound, with an additional reduction in trace sibilance on some tracks. Does it lose a wee bit of transparency? Perhaps, but it's still a nice texture some will enjoy.


IMO That's an odd one for sure

Does seem odd at all

...another week, another demo. It seems likely to me most MSB owners that have the Taiko XDMI/MSB daughter board installed won't be swapping around with the Taiko Analog card, but hey, ya never know.

One of the workflows we listened to last week was the Taiko Analog (SE) output, into the MSB Reference/DD stack, turning on the analog input.

As I only have a balanced input module available, Cardas Clear adapters were used for XLR in, FYI.

The Reference dac was used as a pre-amp, and the SQ was very good. I enjoyed good tonality, pace and rhythm. Reminder: this was with the MSB s202 stereo amp still in use from the week before. My normal set-up has WestminsterLab Rei bridged amps, Quest pre.

I mention this in the event some of you may be experimenting with other signal paths as you explore the new Olympus server.

We also revisited USB output from the Olympus, using the ProISL module, "old school" workflow into the Digital Director.

Please don't shoot the messenger, but some listeners preferred the USBs full, rich sound, with an additional reduction in trace sibilance on some tracks. Does it lose a wee bit of transparency? Perhaps, but it's still a nice texture some will enjoy.

Thanks for the detailed impressions. From what I could gather, seems like Taiko's analog card trades blows with the MSB Reference + DD. Could you elaborate a bit on how they compare and contrast on sound signature, and where the strength of each lies?

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...well, since you asked, sir, I will say as of a certain FedEx delivery yesterday, I no longer own an MSB Reference dac and DD.

It was a very fine set-up and I enjoyed its detailed musicality. There was nothing I didn't like about it, and I like the company too.

That said, for my ears, the Olympus analog output was very close, and very musical. In that case, the MSB dac loses the game here. Even though I owned it already, being able to remove three boxes was a net positive, with no sonic penalty (to me).

I ran the analog output exclusively for the past month, approximately, and had decided to put the MSB up for sale. It sold pretty quick.

This scenario was similar to the process of purchasing the Reference dac when I owned a Chord DAVE (still have it in a second system).

I had the Premiere dac for a three week demo, and I thought, although a different flavor, it was not "better" than the DAVE. A parallel move, of sorts.

So, I demo-ed the Reference dac, which to me was clearly "better" than the Chord dac. I purchased the Reference, and when it arrived to the marketplace, the DD.

I have read and heard that owners of the MSB Cascade love the MSB card workflow and sound, and I do not doubt that at all. The Cascade has new tech and new implementation and knowledge from the SoCal team. And costs a lot more than the Reference did. Makes sense to me that it might sound better in whatever ways folks like to evaluate hifi.

I also recently added the Taiko router, which IMO moved the Olympus analog sound a bit further ahead, although I did not make that head-to-head comparison with the MSB gear. Once I mentally committed to the analog card, I also added a SE module to my WestminsterLab Quest pre, which was fully balanced. That is really excellent, and allows me to avoid the RCA/XLR adapters.

Re: your request for sound signature info, the Olympus analog output is clear and clean, but not harsh in any way I recognize such things. Bass is fast and articulate. Overall, there is no bloat to the sound. Seems very clean and musical. I really love it.

Another listener might have decided to continue to enjoy the MSB investment, and I was on the fence for a bit, but finally, the ability to shed three boxes and harvest some cash...with no sonic downside...was the tipping note. And things here have never sounded better. Wow, it's nice.

 

[oldmustang]

...well, since you asked, sir, I will say as of a certain FedEx delivery yesterday, I no longer own an MSB Reference dac and DD.

It was a very fine set-up and I enjoyed its detailed musicality. There was nothing I didn't like about it, and I like the company too.

That said, for my ears, the Olympus analog output was very close, and very musical. In that case, the MSB dac loses the game here. Even though I owned it already, being able to remove three boxes was a net positive, with no sonic penalty (to me).

I ran the analog output exclusively for the past month, approximately, and had decided to put the MSB up for sale. It sold pretty quick.

This scenario was similar to the process of purchasing the Reference dac when I owned a Chord DAVE (still have it in a second system).

I had the Premiere dac for a three week demo, and I thought, although a different flavor, it was not "better" than the DAVE. A parallel move, of sorts.

So, I demo-ed the Reference dac, which to me was clearly "better" than the Chord dac. I purchased the Reference, and when it arrived to the marketplace, the DD.

I have read and heard that owners of the MSB Cascade love the MSB card workflow and sound, and I do not doubt that at all. The Cascade has new tech and new implementation and knowledge from the SoCal team. And costs a lot more than the Reference did. Makes sense to me that it might sound better in whatever ways folks like to evaluate hifi.

I also recently added the Taiko router, which IMO moved the Olympus analog sound a bit further ahead, although I did not make that head-to-head comparison with the MSB gear. Once I mentally committed to the analog card, I also added a SE module to my WestminsterLab Quest pre, which was fully balanced. That is really excellent, and allows me to avoid the RCA/XLR adapters.

Re: your request for sound signature info, the Olympus analog output is clear and clean, but not harsh in any way I recognize such things. Bass is fast and articulate. Overall, there is no bloat to the sound. Seems very clean and musical. I really love it.

Another listener might have decided to continue to enjoy the MSB investment, and I was on the fence for a bit, but finally, the ability to shed three boxes and harvest some cash...with no sonic downside...was the tipping note. And things here have never sounded better. Wow, it's nice.

Indeed, my experience to the "T" with Olympus' XDMI analog versus dCS' Vivaldi APEX.

Well described.

Steve Z

 

[Ron Resnick]

The DAC inside the Olympus appears to be so good (from reports of experienced audiophiles whose ears I trust and whose subjective preferences I understand, not from actual comparisons by me) that the only interesting question left to me is how it compares to LampizatOr Horizon360 via XDMI.

 

[Argonaut]

The DAC inside the Olympus appears to be so good (from reports of experienced audiophiles whose ears I trust and whose subjective preferences I understand, not from actual comparisons by me) that the only interesting question left to me is how it compares to LampizatOr Horizon360 via XDMI.

As close to an utterly worthless statement as I can imagine Ron … Have these ‘“ experienced audiophiles whose ears I trust” actual ears on experience of WADAX , DCS Varese or Aries Cerat Homorus ? … to name just three .Perhaps you might enlighten us as to the identity of these “experienced audiophiles “ ?

 

[Ron Resnick]

As close to an utterly worthless statement as I can imagine Ron

Why so argumentative?

… Have these ‘“ experienced audiophiles whose ears I trust” actual ears on experience of WADAX , DCS Varese or Aries Cerat Homorus ? … to name just three .

Irrelevant to my post. I know you read it, but did you understand it?

Perhaps you might enlighten us as to the identity of these “experienced audiophiles “ ?

Not particularly relevant, and certainly not an issue I raised in my post.

Am I not allowed to have a question of interest to me? (". . . the only interesting question left to me . . .")

 

[Argonaut]

I found it curious that you chose to hypothesise referring to only one DAC manufacturer prominent on this forum ! I take it that your ‘Horizon’ extends only to the LampizatOr event ?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I found it curious that you chose to hypothesise referring to only one DAC manufacturer prominent on this forum ! I take it that your ‘Horizon’ extends only to the LampizatOr event ?

I was not aware that a member posting here about a question of interest to him is a problem.

 

[Argonaut]

I was not aware that a member posting here about a question of interest to him is a problem.

I mentioned “Curious” not a “Problem” !