Article: Audio Research DAC 9 Review

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, mrvco said:

I think it is fair to say that this is a "read between the lines" review.  Being that AR used a non-audio DAC chip, I'd love to know how their implementation compares to the Schiit Yggy.  And a highly comprimised USB  interface on a $7500 DAC in this day and age is wholly unacceptable.

 

You're free to read as you wish, but I don't write for people to read between the lines. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 minutes ago, mrvco said:

 

Well hopefully they get the USB issues addressed in a timely manner.  I do find it interesting that AR used a "not designed for audio" chip in their DAC.  Other than the Yggy, how common is this approach?

 

The DAC chip is designed for audio. There is a DSP chip in the DAC 9 that isn't doing what it was designed to do.

[The Computer Audiophile]

39 minutes ago, Ralf11 said:

How did you discover this?  Did you trace ... ah... traces on the PCB?  Or use a logic probe, or??

 

At the launch of the product in Italy last year they briefly mentioned it and said no information would be given about it.

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 hours ago, Peterks said:

Would anybody know from where one could obtain a CD-quality (or better) copy of "One Nite alone ...." at a reasonable price? I have found the MP3 version on archive.org.

Many thanks

Peter

 

 

Reasonable price is the key. This one is so rare, I don't think you'll find it for a reasonable price. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

8 hours ago, Doak said:

Apparently the ONLY reason someone would buy this item is because it has the AR name on it. 

 

They wouldn't consider the great sound quality?

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 hours ago, Taxman said:

Is the RigiSystems USB-innerface commonly used? I can't get my mac to cooperate with a brand new TAD D1000Mk2 CD/Dac and was thinking if it could be the same issue!?

 

It's not commonly used. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, Doak said:

Scary AR would push a product out that they KNEW had problems with the hope that they could fix it down the line.  Unconscionable IMO. 

 

Perhaps I have a different idea of what unconscionable means. Dropping sarin gas on one's own people = unconscionable. Releasing a product with a less than great USB interface = not the best move. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

[The Computer Audiophile]

6 minutes ago, austinpop said:

Chris, nice review.

 

One question though - do you have a policy of not making product comparisons? You, probably more than most of us, must have access to a bigger suite of products on hand at any given time.

 

With products like these, and at price points like these, the information I want is not - does it sound wonderful? It had better damn do so! No - I want to know how it sounds relative to something else. That something else could be at a comparable price point, which would assess the review piece with its direct competition. And/or, it could be at a lower price point - for example, something well-known, like the Yggy- to answer the question: what does buying up gets you?

 

That is, after all, what we discuss on these forums on a daily basis!

 

Bus perhaps you're going after a different audience in these reviews?

 

Hi austinpop - Thanks for the comment. I have no such policy with respect to comparisons. Comparing components sounds like the answer to cancer, but in reality it's much different. I do it on occasion when I'm inspired to compare some products. for example in the Yggdrasil review I compared some of the sonic qualities to the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC RS.

 

For the most part, these comparisons cause more problems than they solve. Publishing articles like Top 10 USB DACs or DAC Shootout are terrific clickbait for search engine traffic and lead people to believe they are getting the real answers they need / want, but in reality these kinds of articles are a disservice and are solely for the publisher looking to boost the bottom line. 

 

In this context specifically, there is no end to what could be compared. For example, below is a list of DACs on the CASH List right now. What would it mean if I compared the DAC 9 to one of them. What about two of them? Who would that comparison really help? These are somewhat rhetorical questions. 

 

A couple other points; the length of a review is unlimited in theory but very limited in reality. Nobody wants to read a 6,000 word review. In fact, many people read the first paragraph and the conclusion. It's (modern) human nature I guess. In addition, it's a tricky situation for manufacturers that send me gear. Not necessarily those sending me gear for the review at hand. Would a manufacturer want to send me gear for review, knowing that a couple weeks after the review I may use it in several comparisons (without sending the comparisons to them for fact checking or further manufacturer's comments, etc...)? I doubt it. It's not that most manufacturers don't have confidence in their products, it's more of the subjective nature of this hobby that worries them and the system dependencies that can throw off reviews big time. Some manufacturers won't let me review the component unless they personally visit my listening room for setup. They are careful and know how strange things happen that lead to unnecessary negative reviews. If I do a comparison of three DACs, it's just not feasible to have three manufacturers present for the comparison. 

 

Can you think of a comparison involving the DAC 9 that would really benefit readers? I'm honestly open to the discussion. Perhaps we should start a separate forum thread to discuss the issue.

 

 

Audio Alchemy DDP-1 DAC / Preamp & PS-5 Power Supply $1,995 & $595

AudioQuest DragonFly Red & DragonFly Black $199 & $99

Auralic Vega $3,500

Ayre Acoustics QB-9DSD DAC $3,250

Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC $5,000 (Replaced by Alpha DAC Series 2 in 2011)

Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 2 $19,500

Chord Electronics QBD76HD / QBD76HDSD $7,000 / $8,500

EMM Labs DAC2X $15,500

exaSound e12 $1,999

exaSound e28 (Multichannel) $3,299

Hegel Music Systems HD30 $4,800

Lumin Network Music Player $7,200

Luxman DA-06 $6,000

Meitner Audio MA-1 $7,000

Meridian Explorer $299

MOON by Simaudio Neo 380D DSD $5,500 with MiND, $6,100 with MiND and variable analog outputs

Mytek Brooklyn DAC $1,995

Schiit Audio Yggdrasil $2,299

T+A Elektroakustik Music Player Balanced $4,500 ($310 for optional preamp module)
 

[The Computer Audiophile]

16 minutes ago, Ralf11 said:

Yes, a comparison involving the DAC 9 and the Yggy would really benefit readers - even if the Yggy "loses" it costs a lot less

 

personally, I'd really like to know what "extra" I get when I move from say $500 to $2,000 to $5,000 etc.  (not gonna buy a $30,000 DAC)

 

There's the rub. Where do the comparisons start and stop? Not only for you, but the next guy who wants a comparison to something else. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, Miko said:

 

I have zero respect for junkies.. how many of these talented people have had their lives cut short because of addition?

 

How many of these same addicts without the financial means to support their habit have killed innocent people?

 

Mother Nature will separate the Wheat from the Chaff.... Just another statistic.

 

Wow, the guy was prescribed opiates by a physician for pain after joint replacement. He got physiologically addicted to them and accidentally died. 

 

I have tons of respect for his work and feel sorry for him and his family. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

14 minutes ago, LarryMagoo said:

I hope the Yggdrasil messes up the entire High End pricing paradigm....$7500 when the Yggy will at the very least, keep up with it....for less than a 1/3 of the price!

 

Have you heard both DACs? Or, are you going by anonymous internet opinions. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

38 minutes ago, LarryMagoo said:

I know what the Yggdrasil has done to my system.   I am not remotely interested in DSD when I can listen to 44/16 that sounds excellent and closer to live than my system has ever been!

 

And what does the pricing paradigm have to do with the whether or not I've heard it?  ARC has ALWAYS been one of the high priced component builders.  I think their stuff is fabulous but way over-priced.   I don't think they or many other high-end manufactures gives anything close to value like Schiit does.   Thats the reason for my point!

 

You mentioned the Yggy keeping up with it, so you should probably hear something to make such comments. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

19 minutes ago, ChrisG said:

If you're referring to my comments, having owned both, I'm happy to stand by them.

 

Chris (no longer anonymous) Gossard

Seattle, WA

 

Nope, not referring to your comments :~)

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Jay - Thanks for the kind words and for such a well worded and respectful post, even though you disagree with me. If your post doesn't make someone at least reconsider his approach, I'm not sure what would do the trick. 

 

I take your comments seriously and will consider making changes.