As I first learned to know about Totaldac through this forum about two years ago, I would like to give some feedback on my on-going discovery of the Totaldac as I have decided some months ago to upgrade the monodac from Totaldac to the model Twelve.
First I must say that it took a long time for me to decide to have this upgrade being done. Reason was primarily that I was doubtful to what it would bring me. Since I already was the very happy owner of the Monodacs I couldn't imagine where improvement could be made. Yet, I finally scraped my bank account and took the plunge because I am yet to be deceived by Vincent Brient of Totaldac on any of his products.
It won't be with the Twelve that I am deceived. The differences with the Monodac is really there as the listening experience is quite different.
If the Dual and the Monodac take you higher on a mountain, giving each time additional sights, then the Twelve gives you the feel as if you are finally standing on the top with a 360° view. The amount of natural ease of reproducing music is staggering. Very difficult to describe actually.
Voices become singers standing on a stage, a choir becomes a sum of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. Not only by adding focus but equally of ambiance reproduction, reproducing each performer to its normal and natural status (in height and width, timbre, place in the orchestra etc). Done with cellos that sound larger than a room and basses that can hardly or not be heard as they are systematically taken over by sopranos.
You must have reckoned by now that I primarily listen to classical music
Is there a flip side? If you are looking to feel the cello vibrating in your chest at each note, look elsewhere, this is not the case, at least not with the non-lowest string, nor is it in real life. All in all, the Twelve shows a bit less ‘forward drive’ compared to the Monodac for example as it opens a whole new perspective and it takes a few sessions to get used to. But when you do, it is oh so rewarding.
An expensive choice such DAC, absolutely, but this upgrade is even more worth than going from the Dual to the Monodac version. This is the end of my ride!
Thanks Vincent.
Having to change my signature now ...
First I must say that it took a long time for me to decide to have this upgrade being done. Reason was primarily that I was doubtful to what it would bring me. Since I already was the very happy owner of the Monodacs I couldn't imagine where improvement could be made. Yet, I finally scraped my bank account and took the plunge because I am yet to be deceived by Vincent Brient of Totaldac on any of his products.
It won't be with the Twelve that I am deceived. The differences with the Monodac is really there as the listening experience is quite different.
If the Dual and the Monodac take you higher on a mountain, giving each time additional sights, then the Twelve gives you the feel as if you are finally standing on the top with a 360° view. The amount of natural ease of reproducing music is staggering. Very difficult to describe actually.
Voices become singers standing on a stage, a choir becomes a sum of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. Not only by adding focus but equally of ambiance reproduction, reproducing each performer to its normal and natural status (in height and width, timbre, place in the orchestra etc). Done with cellos that sound larger than a room and basses that can hardly or not be heard as they are systematically taken over by sopranos.
You must have reckoned by now that I primarily listen to classical music
Is there a flip side? If you are looking to feel the cello vibrating in your chest at each note, look elsewhere, this is not the case, at least not with the non-lowest string, nor is it in real life. All in all, the Twelve shows a bit less ‘forward drive’ compared to the Monodac for example as it opens a whole new perspective and it takes a few sessions to get used to. But when you do, it is oh so rewarding.
An expensive choice such DAC, absolutely, but this upgrade is even more worth than going from the Dual to the Monodac version. This is the end of my ride!
Thanks Vincent.
Having to change my signature now ...
