MSB Select DAC

Hi Jim,

Cool! I'd love to hear/read what you think of it! I wasn't really prepared for how good it was...

alexandre

Jim - Enjoy the listening session. Let us know how you like it.

I just returned from my audition of the new MSB Select DAC at David Michael Audio which is located about 45 minutes from my house. The Select DAC was paired with MSB's Platinum Mono Blocks and Quad's 2912 speakers. The source material was CD's and digital files and at least those I remember hearing were all redbook 16/44.1.

I was able to rotate into the sweet spot on a couple of occasions, and believe me there is a sweet spot when listening to these Quads. The sound from that location was excellent. Right up there with some of the best I have heard in demos. Surprisingly the set-up provided all the bass I would ever need from speakers. (I am sure that some of you can never get enough. )

I could find nothing missing. The sound was detailed but never bright. The bass was taunt and musical. Voices were very realistic. It seemed to get more out of Redbook files than just about any other system I have auditioned.

Is it worth ~$90k. Not for me. Even if it was the best digital I have ever heard, and I am not saying it is or isn't based on this session, it wasn't that much better than much lower priced offerings.

So for those of you who can afford to play in that ~$100k digital sandbox that includes the likes of dCs, Esoteric Grandioso etc you now have another player. I'm glad I don't have to choose amongst them.

$90,000 for a DAC? I'm sure it was great. MSB makes nice stuff, but holy cow! Like you said Jim "it wasn't that much better than much lower priced offerings."

As a side, I think your Meridian with its filters is still damn good.

Mike said:

$90,000 for a DAC? I'm sure it was great. MSB makes nice stuff, but holy cow! Like you said Jim "it wasn't that much better than much lower priced offerings."

As a side, I think your Meridian with its filters is still damn good.

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Mike I agree. I don't sit listening to my set-up with the Meridian thinking I am missing much.

The whole pricing structure of high end audio is getting ridiculous.

Jim, What a great opportunity. Do you happen to know which clock 33 or 77?

I can't get my digital head around those price points. No doubt it sounds great like the dSC stack I heard. I honestly couldn't tell the difference at this level compared to cheaper DACs.

Surely a balanced Lampizator Golden Gate is got to be up there. And even that big hand built box of tubes, copper and wood is expensively priced IMO...

GG is not built of wood. Total metal enclosure.

If there is wood inside, its for isolation.

The BOM is high (compared to retail price) and parts are hard to come by, hence a bit of waiting time.

Still $18K vs $89K, what is there to compare? Different galaxies.

FlexibleAudio said:

Jim, What a great opportunity. Do you happen to know which clock 33 or 77?

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I came in a bit late and Vince had probably already covered that point. I believe it was the 33 version of the clock but not the final version. During another session I was in another room talking with Larry who indicated this was still a pre-production unit. Production units will sound better as he had just given instructions to upgrade the transformers on the first run of 50 units.

Lets see, $90,000 for an MSB DAC.....


Or $85,000 for a 2016 Porsche Cayman fully equipped. :skeptical:

Double-D said:

Lets see, $90,000 for an MSB DAC.....

Or $85,000 for a 2016 Porsche Cayman fully equipped.

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Dan, since I'm in car mode, I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing.

Now which one has better overall engineering, parts costs, etc.? Hmm...

Thx for the update Jim. Spending north of $20K on a DAC is not for me. The technology is moving too fast and these devices depreciate faster. However, always fun and exciting to see and listen to these units. The hope is that the technology will trickle down to lesser priced DACs.

Mike said:

Dan, since I'm in car mode, I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing.

Now which one has better overall engineering, parts costs, etc.? Hmm...

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Ill take the Cayman GTS in a heartbeat.

Ritmo said:

Ill take the Cayman GTS in a heartbeat.

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Me too! A mid engine bad ass.

Mike.......Engineering perfection is in the Porsche. So is the fun factor. I ask myself this, which one of these two expensive items will get the most use, provide the most satisfaction, and keep me excited to enjoy it daily? It won't be some gold anodized box in my sound room, not at that price point.

Mike -

I had a 2006 Cayman S. It was a little under powered but a blast to drive. Since then I owned a C63 and (still own) an M4 (coupe). Neither drives as nice as the CS.

but....back to the MSB...

Double-D said:

Mike.......Engineering perfection is in the Porsche. So is the fun factor. I ask myself this, which one of these two expensive items will get the most use, provide the most satisfaction, and keep me excited to enjoy it daily? It won't be some gold anodized box in my sound room, not at that price point.

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I couldn't agree more...............the Porsche would be my choice, it's not even a close decision.

Porsche, yes please! :safe:

This is is exactly the issue I have with DACs in general. Like computers, subject to Moore's Law and huge depreciation. For less than $2K on a complete iFi iDSD/iTube/iUSB rig which is around the spend on a good computer, I still have a big stiffy.

Steve, I have theiDSD and the Mercury/Gemini/IUSB/iPurifier and it still does not hold a candle to my plain vanilla Big7. Great for the money, but not in the same league. Indeed the plain L4 DSD-only is still a few notches above the iDSD….and remember, I own them all.

On another note car prices are faar cheaoper in the US. That same Porsche will run more like $130K here.

Having said all that, give me the BMW i8 any day….I was just at BMW Welt in Munich a few days ago and am in LOVE!!!