COS D10 all-in-one DAC

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On 11/22/2020 at 5:32 PM, Rexp said:

It sounds nice and glare free in this video, of course the server manufacture claims alot of the credit:

 

 

Ummm!!!  I fail to see the relevance of trying to determine audiophile level sound quality via a streamed video, recorded almost certainly by a crappy microphone, likely subject to a few AD/DA conversions and digital format conversions on its way to us, and very likely transmitted i by a lossy compression codec?  Everytime I see these "video reviews" it makes me cringe with wonder at how anyone could use these to assess possible sound quality in a high end sense?

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5 hours ago, mevdinc said:

@andrewinukm,

Thanks for further input.

For me, the problem with Tambaqui and similar DACs is that they don't have a pre-amp built-in. I only listen to digital sources but I want a DAC that provides all in one box solution such as Lindemann I have now and COS D10. COS D10 is modular too, you can even add a phono later if you want.

 

I have an active speaker system and prefer to keep it simple by just going DAC direct to my actives. Having a good analog volume plus analog inputs also gives COS D10 advantage.
In fact, recently I even started considering upgrading my Lindemann Musicbook DSD 20 to their new Musicbook Source, the same functionality as my existing DAC but with improved streaming and SQ.
 

The Mola Mola solution for you would then be the Makua preamp, with the same DAC as the Tambaqui internally.  It can also include a very, very good phono preamp onboard, and of course includes inputs for additional sources.

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1 hour ago, mevdinc said:

I never liked the idea of having a separate preamp in the chain. I believe in less is more and in my experience, a DAC with a good volume control/preamp connected directly to amp gives better results. 
Thanks for your input.

What???  You just said you needed a preamp in the chain because you want to have multiple sources???  The Mola Mola Makua is still a single box solution, it has the DAC onboard and connects directly to the amplifier?

If you want, call it a DAC with an internal preamp, that is what it is.  You can also add an internal phone stage, and remove another box from your set up if you would like.

So with Mola Mola you can have either approach:

The Tambaqui, a stand alone DAC with volume control designed for connecting to amp(s) directly

Or the Makua, with the DAC module onboard which allows for multiple inputs and direct connection to the amp(s).

Either way they have you covered.

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8 hours ago, mevdinc said:

Sorry my bad, I didn't realise Makua was a one box solution and DAC was a module. But then again I want it the way other way around i.e a DAC with a pre/ or a very good analog volume control with preferably one analog input (not absolutely essential but would be nice to have for multichannel home cinema setup). Whereas, Makua is a fully pledged preamp first then you can add a DAC module plus others.

The above is not really making much sense to me.  It is only semantics, but perhaps you do not understand fully the architecture of these products:

 

Tamabaqui DAC looks like this:

 

Input receiver with digital inputs-DAC section with digital volume control-discrete analog output stage to drive the output.

 

Makua preamp with DAC module looks like this:

 

Input switching for analog inputs and digital receiver section-DAC stage-variable gain discrete analog output stage to drive the output.

 

The Makua preamp is as simple as it gets, with just a single analog output stage, which uses variable gain (like Ayre) to control the volume.  The only real addition in comparison to the Tambaqui stand alone DAC is that of analog inputs with the ability to switch between them, and the best possible analog way to control the volume, which is necessary if one wants to have an analog input.  It does not get any more simple than this.  Whether one calls it a DAC with analog inputs, or a preamp with a DAC onboard and digital inputs, it is the same thing. 

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@mevdinc: I still do not understand why you think the Makua, with the DAC option is "more than I need".  The phono stage is optional, you are not obliged to add it.  It appears that you would like a DAC with an analog volume control and an analog input, that is exactly what the Makua preamp, with the DAC option added is.  Yes, it has a few more analog inputs, but those do not add any additional circuitry except for the switches used to select them, it does not add anything to the circuit in use, there are no additional gain stages or anything, vs. a stand alone DAC like the Tambaqui.  It is a simple and basic component from a signal perspective, and uses, arguably, the very best analog volume control approach: adjustable gain, which does not throw any of the signal away, unlike resistive volume controls which add noise and distortion in the signal path.

My system is digital only, so I use a Bricasti M3 DAC with its analog volume control, but I would rather own the Tambaqui, but it is a bit more money than I care to spend on a DAC, otherwise it sounds fantastic-although I have no fear of digital volume controls when well implemented, and I trust that Mr. Putzeys has designed a very, very good implementation.