New MSB Cascade DAC

[JamesonM]

After some productive discussions in Munich with Emile, we were able to lay out plans for a collaboration to provide a Pro ISL output for Taiko. As soon as we got back to California, we sent out a development kit and DAC for them to test with. It sounds like it is all hands on deck at Taiko to get this solution up and running. We will be providing the following Pro ISL output card which they will integrate directly to their XDMI interface. As soon as they have it working and we certify it meets our bit perfect performance with clock feedback functionality we will be sure to announce it here. This will bring Taiko integration to all Discrete, Premier, Reference, Select, Cascade, and Sentinel DACs with a Pro ISL input module.

Keep us posted on your progress @Taiko Audio !
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Hi everyone. I am a long time lurker. Some of you may know me from shows, PTA, Indulgr, etc. Discussion of the new Cascade finally pushed me to make an account.

MSB and Chord Electronics have always been my absolute favorites in digital for years now, and since the Chord Electronics released their M-Scaler outboard upsampler and will soon be releasing a higher level Quartet M-Scaler, I’ve always wondered what MSB’s DA section would sound like with Chord’s filters. Unfortunately, to use Chord’s filters requires an unusual dual-BNC input. I don’t believe there’s anything proprietary about it. If I recall correctly, it’s the same double-data dual-AES protocol dCS created/uses but using BNC connectors. I know this is a significantly bigger stretch than what I’m replying to, although it’s in a similar vein, but if there’s any way to fashion together an MSB input module with such an input, I’d be curious to hear the results.

I’m in the process of building a large listening room for my work at Indulgr, and the Cascade is definitely a top contender for reference gear I’d be interested in purchasing, but that’s for another thread.

 

[Daniel Gullman]

Hi everyone. I am a long time lurker. Some of you may know me from shows, PTA, Indulgr, etc. Discussion of the new Cascade finally pushed me to make an account.

I’m in the process of building a large listening room for my work at Indulgr, and the Cascade is definitely a top contender for reference gear I’d be interested in purchasing, but that’s for another thread.

Hello and welcome! I am quite new here as well.

Perhaps one day the filter software will be made into an app for file preparation or they will have a USB or network output on the M-Scaler that is compatible! Hope abounds. I don't see us developing an input module for a specific product, but perhaps they will develop it further and open up what it can work with. Probably sell a lot more units if they did.

If you are a car guy, and are in town for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, stop by the factory! Always happy to have visitors.

 

[JamesonM]

Hello and welcome! I am quite new here as well.

Perhaps one day the filter software will be made into an app for file preparation or they will have a USB or network output on the M-Scaler that is compatible! Hope abounds. I don't see us developing an input module for a specific product, but perhaps they will develop it further and open up what it can work with. Probably sell a lot more units if they did.

If you are a car guy, and are in town for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, stop by the factory! Always happy to have visitors.

Thank you for the welcome! I appreciate the response.

I do wish Chord would include a USB output on their upcoming higher-end upscaler, but that doesn’t seem to be present on the prototype they showed at Munich. I agree, they’d almost definitely sell many more units if they did make an effort to make them more compatible with other DACs. Looks like there are a few pro DACs that’ve used dual-AES in the past in addition to the Chord and dCS upscalers and DACs, but between Chord and dCS for outboard upscalers and a few pro companies for PCIe transports, there certainly aren’t enough devices out there for a dedicated input module to make business sense. I could probably fashion a solution together with one of these pro PCIe transports just to satisfy my curiosity.

I’m a huge car guy, and I’ll be at Concours d'Elegance if I can make it. I appreciate the invite, and I’d love to stop by! If not me, someone from my team will definitely be there.

 

[Brucemck2]

New Cascade burning in. Right out of the box it’s got impressive “heft” and solidity. I won’t start critical listening for a week or so.

Great service by Alma Audio’s Alex Siufy

 

[Easy Gliders]

New Cascade burning in. Right out of the box it’s got impressive “heft” and solidity. I won’t start critical listening for a week or so.

Great service by Alma Audio’s Alex Siufy

@Brucemck2, did you put/stack the DAC chassis on top of the Digital Director chassis? Is there any reason why you are doing that?
Actually i am thinking of putting the Powerbase on top of the DD because the Powerbase is quite warm, but that would cover the buttons and volume dial on top of the DD.

 

[Brucemck2]

@Brucemck2, did you put/stack the DAC chassis on top of the Digital Director chassis? Is there any reason why you are doing that?
Actually i am thinking of putting the Powerbase on top of the DD because the Powerbase is quite warm, but that would cover the buttons and volume dial on top of the DD.

Power cord and analog out cable routing - I use the remote so and don’t need to access the top of the Director

 

[ationg]

How does the Cascade compare side by side to Select II in the same set up? I would appreciate feedback on how much improvement there is ..

 

[Jeffy]

I have the Select II with dual power supplies and the director. I'm sure the new one is better, but this is so good that I don't care. You have to know when to jump off the band wagon. To change would take a lot of extra money and also a loss. I don't need to change every time there is a change.

 

[ationg]

I have the Select II with dual power supplies and the director. I'm sure the new one is better, but this is so good that I don't care. You have to know when to jump off the band wagon. To change would take a lot of extra money and also a loss. I don't need to change every time there is a change.

You have a good point. I have Select II sans the director. I am guessing Cascade would sound significantly better than Select II alone but I have not heard a side by side comparison.
It is too bad that MSB didn't provide upgrade pathway using the Select II chassis, for whatever reason.

 

[Jeffy]

Of course cascade will be better than your dac as it includes a director.

 

[Daniel Gullman]

I have the Select II with dual power supplies and the director. I'm sure the new one is better, but this is so good that I don't care. You have to know when to jump off the band wagon. To change would take a lot of extra money and also a loss. I don't need to change every time there is a change.

Indeed! The Select is a damn fine DAC. The Cascade doesn't change that one bit. I hope you get to enjoy it for many more years!

 

[asiufy]

How does the Cascade compare side by side to Select II in the same set up? I would appreciate feedback on how much improvement there is ..

I did that comparison a while ago, and now wish I didn't Anybody wants a slightly used Select II with Director?

 

[asiufy]

And, if you have the rack space, I recommend separating the boxes in individual shelves, as much as possible, of course.

 

[Daniel Gullman]

And, if you have the rack space, I recommend separating the boxes in individual shelves, as much as possible, of course.

Agreed. When possible of course.

I did that comparison a while ago, and now wish I didn't Anybody wants a slightly used Select II with Director?

Always pushing what's possible! Excited to see how the Sentinel will make you feel about the Cascade

 

[gds7368]

View attachment 136524

I did that comparison a while ago, and now wish I didn't Anybody wants a slightly used Select II with Director?

Did you compare the Cascade as a preamp vs the Datzeel preamp, particularly when using the vinyl input?

 

[asiufy]

Did you compare the Cascade as a preamp vs the Datzeel preamp, particularly when using the vinyl input?

No, I haven't done any serious listening with the MSB directly on the amps, sorry!
The darTZeel preamp has a phono stage built-in, whereas I'd need an outboard one for the MSB anyway.

 

[VPN]

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I did that comparison a while ago, and now wish I didn't Anybody wants a slightly used Select II with Director?

I was very impressed and happy to hear about the US$95K pricing of the MSB Cascade. Congrats MSB!
I would personally not consider any DAC in Wadax level pricing, regardless of audio quality, based on my personal vision on what I consider reasonable (which of course is a personal decision). So I hope the price of the Sentinel is not at that level.

 

[b345t]

New Cascade burning in. Right out of the box it’s got impressive “heft” and solidity. I won’t start critical listening for a week or so.

Great service by Alma Audio’s Alex Siufy

How's the Cascade now after a few weeks of playing? What differences are you hearing after burn in vs first few days?

 

[Brucemck2]

How's the Cascade now after a few weeks of playing? What differences are you hearing after burn in vs first few days?

Sadly, I’ve been away and haven’t had a chance to seriously sit down and listen. Hopefully this weekend or next.

 

[ICUToo]

Our Pro ISL interface is available for any server company to implement. Antipodes is also working on an implementation(maybe this is supposed to be secret), we shared several rooms in Munich with them, great product!

Yes, agree the Oladra is genuinely spectacular.
I run it via the ProUSB setup into the Reference and the results is fantastic.
If Antipodes do offer the ProISL as a "native" output, that would probably be even better?
In which case I can't wait
All the best!