MUSICIAN Pegasus R2R DAC

[firedog]

Looks really interesting. I couldn't get their web site to work, so I found it here for sale at $1099:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001054833814.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.7e263500sDp2RJ&algo_pvid=790e9196-ae5b-435d-ad34-b7d17b7f1b2b&algo_expid=790e9196-ae5b-435d-ad34-b7d17b7f1b2b-0&btsid=0be3769015907369770097969e2177&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

 

specs and some more detail are listed there also. 

On paper it's a giant killer. Will be interesting to see how good you think it is. 

[firedog]

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I've been communicating with Aoshida who solicited this review from me and I can't say my experience is any different. 

 

The Pegasus uses the Denafrips USB driver and even has the Denafrips logo on the driver. So far my questions have received evasive answers, misleading answers, and some that I'm not sure if they are lies or just accidental misstatements. 

 

I have more questions into Musician Audio, but so far no response. 

 

If I can't get answers that enable me to present more information to the AS community I will not be able to review this DAC. I just can't, in good faith, support or publicize or recommend a product from a company that I can't stand behind. 

The article by Srajan for Darko probably got it right: it's the same Chinese manufacturer working as an OEM and selling two very similar DACs to 2 different brands. 

Does it suck for Denafrips? You bet. But if the design isn't theirs and they didn't lock down an exclusive on the design from the OEM, I don't think there is much they can do. This is not at all uncommon with Chinese plants. 

[firedog]

1 hour ago, matthias said:

 

If this design is not theirs, what about the other Denafrips products?

Do they get all designs from the OEM?

If this is the case MUSICIAN maybe comes up next with something like a Terminator?

 

Matt

Sorry, I said it wrong, I got the names of the companies mixed up. From the article, the manufacturer of Denafrips is also working as an OEM for other companies with other brands. He has an agreement to manufacture under the Denafrips name for the global distributor, Vinshine. If Vinshine doesn't have an exclusive right to the technology, I don't think they can do much about it when he makes a very similar product for someone else under a different brand name. 

[firedog]

18 minutes ago, Blake said:

At least we know now that the performance of this Pegasus DAC is the result of Denafrips' design and engineering skill set.  I suppose at the end of the day, Denafrips needs to make business decisions that will ensure it is profitable and viable in the long term.  I have been in contact with Alvin and the Vinshine/Denafrips relationship remains very solid and the Musician situation is not a problem for him.

 

From my perspective, I would only purchase Denafrips branded product, because when you purchase Denafrips branded product you are also getting the outstanding service from Alvin at Vinshine.   With Musician brand product, you won't get Alvin's service.  In my opinion, getting Alvin's service is worth paying an additional premium over Musician product.

 

 

 

the price difference between the Ares and the Musician item isn't very big.

[firedog]

http://highfidelity.pl/@main-1023&lang=en

Review - very positive