Massdrop x Grace Design Standard DAC SDAC

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Sep 1, 2017.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I would not flat out say that the SDAC or Modi 2 is inferior to Modi Multibit. in fact, I feel the SDAC and Modi 2 out-resolve the Modi Multibit and have marginally better clarity. The Modi Multibit's strengths are staging, layering, and separation, and a darker tonality with less itchy high end. Some people don't like the darker tilt - they prefer more air and and less warmth.

    Great implied question. I've wished that more people would have ask questions like this in the past six months.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL. Ooops. Massdrop might not be too pleased with my SDAC review... Telling people not to buy nwavguy's products.
     
  3. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    ... GDI that means I should just save up for the Modi Multibit anyway. I'm not too picky about tonality but I like being able to pick tracks apart. Ah well, I can stop buying books for a while XD

    And thanks, I've been making an effort to try and not be an ass, much as I'd love to contribute to the O/T entertainment on here and maybe even get my own How to Influence People post, haha.
     
  4. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    SDAC/CTH should be a competitive alternative to Momby/Vali 2 or Jotunheim w/ DAC in the sub-$500 range for a compact DAC/amp desktop system, particularly for HD650/6XX. I don't know why I haven't noticed this before, but the Jot/HD650 sometimes crackles as high volume whereas it does not happen with less efficient planars.
     
  5. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    At least the ODAC is / was relatively cheap, unlike the £2k Benchmark DAC2 (also Sabre chipset) which was truly awful. Stubborn objectivists should be forced to listen to the DAC2 until their ears fall off.
     
  6. TomHP

    TomHP Facebook Friend

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  7. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    Posting links to HF is fine here, it's not like whispering the name of an eldritch being that induces the mod team to descend upon you.

    "I hope you understand, even if you don't agree."
     
  8. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I'm so tempted to make that my signature on HF.

    The post from Grace was an interesting read, but I'd still love to see reviews from trusted ears before I put one into a system like the little rig I have at work.

    @CEE TEE hint hint SBAF loaner?
     
  9. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Seems like they updated the SDAC

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    It now has an SPDIF input and XLR output. It looks like it's one DAC chip and uses opamps for SE -> BAL conversion. Which is what most pro gear does anyway unless it's really high end.
     
  10. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    What am I not understanding here?

    sketch-1534479143288.png


    :p
     
  11. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I think the USB switch is like "expert" mode on the Schiit Modi 2. Which switches between USB Audio Class 1 & 2.
     
  12. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    And I believe it has to be powered via the usb port if one is to use the coax input.
     
  13. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    It is USB bus powered. So I am going to guess "USB 1" is USB input / USB power and "USB 2" is Coax input / USB power.
     
  14. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    The source switch is in front though. No need for two source switches when there is only two sources.
     
  15. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    Front is a source select, rear is a power select. (This is just my guess - because I was trying to figure it out too)
     
  16. Linkgoron

    Linkgoron New

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    The balanced version's drop is active. Shipping date: May 24, 2019 PT. Insane, IMO.

    Also, have they given out any demo units? I haven't seen any reviews for the new balanced version.
     
  17. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    The device is usb powered regardless, the front switch determines which data stream is utilized (usb or s/pdif), wrt the rear switch:
     
  18. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    What?? They didn't fit in a fully end-to-end hardware (aka "hardway") balanced architecture and 5 toslink inputs for my TV/PS4/Xbox/Apple TV/NV Shield???

    MD sucks.

    ***waiting for this response over on HF or in the MD comments***
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2018
  19. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I actually think fully balanced is possible. I took a peak at the inside of the SDAC and the components take a really small amount of real estate. Like only a quarter of total surface area and only on one side.
     
  20. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    Can this be powered with the wyrd? Would be a good use of the wyrd.
     

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