Bricasti M1 SE & other DACs under 10k worth auditioning

[hifial]

If you can find a deal on them check out the EMM Labs DA2 DAC and the Nagra Classic. Different take from each but both excellent.

 

For a under your budget check out the new Playback Designs Merlot. He builds great sounding DAC's.

 

But if you could swing it the BEST would be a combo. The T+A DAC 8 DSD and the Sound Galleries SGM 2015 up-sampling all rates to DSD512 using HQPlayer.

Just saying.

[hifial]

The OP set a budget of $10K. SGM server is $20K by itself.

 

Ah, no, the SGM is $16,000. But I also said IF he could SWING it.

[hifial]

A quick update. I am currently auditioning the Bricasti m1 SE at home. I have about 20hrs so far and... I was expecting (and was told) that i would hear the difference between the Vega and Bricasti right away. So far, to my ears, they sound very similar. Perhaps I need to put more hours on it before i arrive at any conclusions. However, I've been thinking is it possible that the synergy of Aries and Vega allowed the Vega to keep pace with Bricasti thus far (to my ears)? And if so, an equally interesting question would be... is it possible that the Bricasti is simply emphasizing the Aries' shortcoming and therefore the overall composition is marginally better?

 

Are you saying the Bricasti is "new"? Or just that it is "new" in your system?

 

IMHO and IME it will take way more then just 20 hours for the Bricasti to come into its own if it is brand new or has just a few hours on it.

 

Some will take around 50 hours but many others can take 100, 200 and even 300 hours to reach their best.

I am not saying that you must give it the full amount of hours. But I would give it at least 100 hours.

 

If it is a demo from a dealer and has MANY hours on it it most likely would need around 30-50+/- hours just to settle in your system. So then you might have been just short of what you would need.

 

Of course once you get to that many hours it does not mean you will like it any better. As many say YMMV and we all have different tastes.