MSB dac review by Audio Excellence ..,

**joeinid** · October 3, 2020, 04:21 PM

**FDPDK** · October 4, 2020, 06:35 AM

was really interesting to hear the things that dac does.....would love to hear one , although i would probably never be able to have one myself.

**cpucath** · October 4, 2020, 07:52 AM

Joe, have you gotten yours yet?

**Ritmo** · October 4, 2020, 08:07 AM

Interesting that Andrew was blown away with the Discrete driven with 2 power supplies but didn’t seem terribly excited about the Premier (even though he owned one as well). And, as I would have expected, settled on the Reference.

**GSOphile** · October 4, 2020, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Ritmo

Interesting that Andrew was blown away with the Discrete driven with 2 power supplies but didn’t seem terribly excited about the Premier (even though he owned one as well). And, as I would have expected, settled on the Reference.

I found this interesting too. The Premier was sort of the forgotten middle child. Lots of praise for the other two. Got the impression that he maybe stepped up to the Reference because he wasn't satisfied with what the Premier gave him over the Discrete.

**johnthomas** · October 4, 2020, 08:34 AM

Yes, MSB is the real deal, don’t listen to it unless you plan on buying it.

**joeinid** · October 4, 2020, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by cpucath

Joe, have you gotten yours yet?

Not quite yet. I’m taking a little detour. My brother is buying an Esoteric K01XD CD player/dac and he’s going to let me “break it in” for him. I’ll probably have it for a few months. I’m dying to hear how it compares with the MSB Discrete that Mike lent me.

While I love the MSB, the Esoteric is just too good a deal to pass up.

My only other curiosity is the Luxman D-01x but it’ll most likely come down to how the K01xd sounds before I pull the trigger.

**Mike** · October 4, 2020, 10:43 AM

Adrian has a nice store in Toronto. I went to his old store, but not his new one. He was always super big into SF and McIntosh. Glad to see him branching into some other brands. The GTA market sure is busy with audio dealers.

The Discrete with the second power supply ($1450) is just insanely good. The jump to the Premier sees some noticeable improvement, but the really big jump is to the REF DAC. And of course the Select II is in a league of its own.

I was shocked to learn from MSB that worldwide, the Premier is the biggest seller.

A pimped out Premier is VERY close in price to a base Ref.

**GSOphile** · October 4, 2020, 12:28 PM

Mike, wasn't the Discrete the last model to ship?

**Mike** · October 4, 2020, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by GSOphile

Mike, wasn't the Discrete the last model to ship?

Not really. They all came out around the same time.

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**brodricj** · October 4, 2020, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by johnthomas

Yes, MSB is the real deal, don’t listen to it unless you plan on buying it.

I did listen to it. A fully optioned up Select with Femto 33 and 2 x mono Powerbase. My Esoteric walked all over it. Different room, speakers and amps might have had something to do with it as well.

**Alpinist** · October 5, 2020, 08:08 AM

When they initially built the Premier DAC with newly designed but cheaper DAC modules, they had a problem, it sounded virtually as good as the Reference DAC. Then they went back to the engineering drawing board and came up with the final version that was appropriately sonically notched below the Reference DAC. For this reason, I would purchase a loaded Discrete or base Reference DAC first.

Ken

**Mike** · October 5, 2020, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Alpinist

When they initially built the Premier DAC with newly designed but cheaper DAC modules, they had a problem, it sounded virtually as good as the Reference DAC. Then they went back to the engineering drawing board and came up with the final version that was appropriately sonically notched below the Reference DAC. For this reason, I would purchase a loaded Discrete or base Reference DAC first.

Ken

Agreed. The REF is stunning. Plenty of room for upgrades and modules later too.

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**Alpinist** · October 5, 2020, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Agreed. The REF is stunning. Plenty of room for upgrades and modules later too.

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When all cylinders are firing on the Reference DAC (Server/Transport, cables and power), there is nothing lacking in the realism of its sound that makes you pause and ponder that you wish you had a Select DAC. It delivers the entire package with no compromise. In fact, if you hadn’t listened to the Select DAC, you wouldn’t believe it would be possible to go any higher sonically.

Ken

**AJR** · October 5, 2020, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Alpinist

When all cylinders are firing on the Reference DAC (Server/Transport, cables and power), there is nothing lacking in the realism of its sound that makes you pause and ponder that you wish you had a Select DAC. It delivers the entire package with no compromise. In fact, if you hadn’t listened to the Select DAC, you wouldn’t believe it would be possible to go any higher sonically.

Ken

Nice summary. Here is an interesting question given my quest for a speaker upgrade: would you put your money to upgrade my Premiere or into speakers? for me, it is speakers

**Alpinist** · October 5, 2020, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by AJR

Nice summary. Here is an interesting question given my quest for a speaker upgrade: would you put your money to upgrade my Premiere or into speakers? for me, it is speakers

My priority order has always been:

1. Speakers
2. Source
3. Amplifier
4. Preamp (If needed)

Please note on my earlier comments on the Premier DAC, I’m not saying that it isn’t superior to the Discrete DAC, only that I prefer audio components that are designed to deliver up to their maximum potential.

Best,
Ken

**bluegrassphile** · October 5, 2020, 08:29 PM

Stunning indeed, Mike. I have the dual power supply MSB Discrete...amazing! Can't recommend it highly enough. Beautiful, very alive all across the frequency spectrum. Warm and smooth. Great symbiosis with my system. It's every bit as good as they say...and then some.

**brodricj** · October 5, 2020, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by AJR

Nice summary. Here is an interesting question given my quest for a speaker upgrade: would you put your money to upgrade my Premiere or into speakers? for me, it is speakers

Speakers. M2 is calling out to you. Unless you want a good deal on a pair of Q3.

**Ritmo** · October 6, 2020, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by AJR

Nice summary. Here is an interesting question given my quest for a speaker upgrade: would you put your money to upgrade my Premiere or into speakers? for me, it is speakers

The Premier is a very nice DAC. I had one in my system for a few weeks.

Your biggest return, I think, would be in upgrading the speakers. If you still like Magico, the M2s are the sweet spot in their line; my honest opinion.

**brodricj** · October 6, 2020, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Ritmo

The Premier is a very nice DAC. I had one in my system for a few weeks.

Your biggest return, I think, would be in upgrading the speakers. If you still like Magico, the M2s are the sweet spot in their line; my honest opinion.

How did you get an MSB DAC in your system for a few weeks? I'd like to do the same, but I don't know anybody who would lend me theirs. It would take some convincing for me to change from Esoteric to MSB. My only experience with MSB was a Select II in somebody else's system. What I heard made me not want to own one.

**Ritmo** · October 6, 2020, 10:03 AM

My local dealer, Mike Bovaird at Suncoast Audio.

**brodricj** · October 6, 2020, 10:11 AM

Oh, lucky you. Only chance I have is if he does the same for me. It would be a long ride, 22,696 mile round trip.

**KeithR** · October 6, 2020, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Agreed. The REF is stunning. Plenty of room for upgrades and modules later too.

It is, but $42k for the price of admission (w/ network streamer) is a gigantic sum of money for digitalphiles.

I've always wanted to compare the Premier to the Discrete. I came from an Analog dac, so decided to pay up for Premier but it sounds like the Discrete is the better value.

ps. Joe, I heard the Esoteric at my Rockport dealer and had to switch to vinyl - sorry!

**Alpinist** · October 6, 2020, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by KeithR

I've always wanted to compare the Premier to the Discrete. I came from an Analog dac, so decided to pay up for Premier but it sounds like the Discrete is the better value.

The better value but not better sounding. 4 DAC modules versus 2 DAC modules equals greater voltage gain and lower distortion. Since you already own it, I would hold my ground if I were you.

Best,
Ken

**Ritmo** · October 6, 2020, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Alpinist

The better value but not better sounding. 4 DAC modules versus 2 DAC modules equals greater voltage gain and lower distortion. Since you already own it, I would hold my ground if I were you.

Best,
Ken

Great observations and perspective.

**GSOphile** · October 6, 2020, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by KeithR

ps. Joe, I heard the Esoteric at my Rockport dealer and had to switch to vinyl - sorry!

Which Esoteric - an XD model?

**joeinid** · October 6, 2020, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by KeithR

It is, but $42k for the price of admission (w/ network streamer) is a gigantic sum of money for digitalphiles.

I've always wanted to compare the Premier to the Discrete. I came from an Analog dac, so decided to pay up for Premier but it sounds like the Discrete is the better value.

ps. Joe, I heard the Esoteric at my Rockport dealer and had to switch to vinyl - sorry!

No worries. It's not costing me anything to try it. I am very curious. Mike thinks at my volume levels, I might love it.

**Mike** · October 6, 2020, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by KeithR

It is, but $42k for the price of admission (w/ network streamer) is a gigantic sum of money for digitalphiles.

I've always wanted to compare the Premier to the Discrete. I came from an Analog dac, so decided to pay up for Premier but it sounds like the Discrete is the better value.

ps. Joe, I heard the Esoteric at my Rockport dealer and had to switch to vinyl - sorry!

XD with Master Sound Discrete is different. “It’s not your Father’s Esoteric”.

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**brodricj** · October 6, 2020, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

N...Mike thinks at my volume levels, I might love it.

I'm left scratching my head over that comment...

**joeinid** · October 6, 2020, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

I'm left scratching my head over that comment...

I don't crank the volume to 11. I am more moderate in my listening levels.

**brodricj** · October 6, 2020, 05:56 PM

OK, my first thought was you like 11.

**joeinid** · October 6, 2020, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by brodricj

OK, my first thought was you like 11.

I’m an easy listener. Lots of late night and early morning listening. I should know next week how the esoteric sounds. Looking forward to it.

**AJR** · October 7, 2020, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Ritmo

The Premier is a very nice DAC. I had one in my system for a few weeks.

Your biggest return, I think, would be in upgrading the speakers. If you still like Magico, the M2s are the sweet spot in their line; my honest opinion.

Don’t want to hijack this thread, but if I stick with Magico it will be the M3 - I want the extra bass

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