New DAC time (again)

New DAC for you?  New DAC due to be released by NAIM?

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question...

For me, and - alas - not from Naim.

and it's not from Chord.

QB9 ?

Obviously T Dac!

The Invicta Mirus?

So the Hugo hasn't lasted for the 4 years you predicted earlier!

Thanks Jan,

Very interesting!

The Mirus looks interesting, and the TDAC was a consideration for a while, but I think I'll stick with the Hugo despite its ergonomic shortcomings.

Works out to two Hugos in Canada. What is the retail price of the Mirus in Europe?

£4.5k in the UK... 

Ouch... so not really a contender in the UK then.

Then comes the next contender, Vega.

Would Hugo for it? 

Chag -

Let me at least listen to the Mirus for a week or two...

'Ouch' sums it up pretty well... it's predecessor quickly got dropped from my list of options when I bought my DAC-V1 15 months or so ago.

Edit : In North America.

I have never understood why virtually no company offers a straight SSD player: just insert a drive in a slot, browse through your music and play: no MacSomething, UnitiSomething, AirSomething, ethernet cables or NAS. It would probably be too simple or too good (or both), I guess .

Probably because SD cards are a lot cheaper and do just as good a job. Admittedly, their capacity doesn't come close to an SSD drive, but I've read that they're headed for 2 TB, driven primarily by video requirements. That's the same as the drive on the UnitiServe!

At any rate, I'm highly impressed by what I'm hearing from a lowly 16G SD card, on plain vanilla 16/44.

Jan

Quite. Not having to add the cost of these solutions makes the Mirus' price a little more palatable. 

In North America... 

Dear Jan,

I am still wondering where the gap is in performance between the immensely good and quite reasonably priced DAC V1 and the more expensive and somewhat insubstantially built Chord Hugo.

Rather than in technical terms [beloved of reviewers of course] but in simple musical terms, what advantages are you finding? I am specifically not impressed by claims for stereo imaging, or claims of an extra-octave of bass and so forth, but merely in the effect of an evening pure musical pleasure listening to recordings or the internet radio. Musical examples and the differences shown would be illuminating ...

Just asking, as this whole thing currently seems no less esoteric than the old thing of polishing the rim of an LP 12.

ATB from George

George,

I finished writing the review late yesterday afternoon, closed the laptop, and thought, well just one more track. I picked Elizabeth Wallfisch's readings of Locatelli's L'arte del Violono, disc 2 (of 3), listened (in rapture) to the whole disc, then disc 3, then disc 1, marvelling at her eloquent demonstration of Locatelli's genius. I won't argue with you on the merits of this version vs others, because I'll lose. Usually (on the Naim DAC), there's a touch of acidity on the violin that eventually becomes tiring, but not here. The Mirus toned it down and brought out a more burnished / richer presentation that I found compelling. The extended listening session was the result. It was still a bit early for bed, so I cued up Inside the Dub Plates by New Zealand's Salmonella Dub and sat - boogying away in my head - and marvelling at the power, the rawness the creativity and the sheer energy of the music. You could argue that Fat Freddy's Drop do it better, but I don't think you will.

ATB

Jan 

Elizabeth Wallfisch, now she is an artist who gets everything right in my experience.

Her perceptive musicianship is second to none in the the playing of the baroque fiddle, though Rachel Podger is equally engaging!

And both make a delicious tone - varied, dynamic in the best way, and utterly at the service of the music rather than a fireworks party.

I must commend a great recording to you on Virgin/EMI of Elizabeth Wallfisch playing the three standard Bach Violin concertos, plus the reconstructions from harpsichord concertos known to have originally been violin concertos. It is simply the best recording from the timbre point of view of this repertoire that I have come across, but most of all they get the music right. Please do investigate this release.

I have found the V1 gets the timbres in "credible" fashion. I cannot ask for more. Of course the ESLs help here as timbre is also one their strengths to place alongside the usual aspects of musical balances, micro-dymanic and tonal shading [of the phrase] and specifically articulation, so they are ruthless at revealing any lack of accuracy in the electronics feeding them.

There is no aspect where the V1 does not consistently improve in the sense of credibility and musical swing over the CDS 2 I used for many years with great pleasure.

I have found the V1 brings no incredible astringency to the qualities Elizabeth Wallfisch brings to her readings. Sure there is plenty of firmness here and there. Without this the music would be softened into dullness by the replay ...

I am guessing that really the preferences we might not share are hugely down to personal taste and experience of these players in the concert hall. The factor  with respect to replay I have already called "credible."

I hope that you do not mind me probing on this!

ATB from George

Samonella Dub - well, thanks Jan-Erik! That takes me back to Dux De Lux back in the early 90s.  a venue sadly destroyed by the Christchurch earthquake - not sure if its back in business yet?  Seem to remember they brewed their own beer as well as being a great live music venue.  

PS: I will add that I significantly prefer the DAC V1 with asynchronous USB connection to a current MAC Mini [using unmodified iTunes] over a CDX2 feeding an nDAC, where the timbre "credibility" was a distraction once I had the privilege of using the junior Naim DAC at home more or less since it issue early last year. The nDac is quite more like the CDX players than the CDS in my humble opinion as compared with the V1 ...

ATB from George 

Wat, so true, a DAC is just part of the equation. However as Jan, you and I as well as many others here and elsewhere have found that when it is a Hugo it can hugely increase the enjoyment from ones audio system. 

I am sure it's not the 'best' and there will be countless other devices that I'm sure will eclipse the Hugo in terms of performance over time. Interestingly those who have appreciated the Hugo haven't recommended others buy it.. Rather they have recommended other audio enthusiasts who love their music simply try it If they are curious. It may increase one's enjoyment / appreciation of one's recordings... Surely that's what it is all about?

Simon

George, is this

www.bach-cantatas.com/Pic-NonV...b%5BVirgin-CD%5D.jpg

the release you advise ? Thanks, nbpf