Brinkmann Nyquist DAC - technical jewel with marvelous sound

[still-one]

Kuoppis
Make sure it is a "great" stereo recording. Not the normal everyday music we listen to on a daily basis.

 

[mep]

Kuoppis
Make sure it is a "great" stereo recording. Not the normal everyday music we listen to on a daily basis.

So you think playing a bad recording to make comparisons between two sources is a good idea? Or, should you use a recording that you know well and it sounds great?

 

[Kuoppis]

Kuoppis
Make sure it is a "great" stereo recording. Not the normal everyday music we listen to on a daily basis.

Jim, also towards you no reporting obligations here. Read the thread if you like, skip it if you don’t.

I only test with recordings I like myself. Definition of “great recoding” depends on personal taste and is hence a slightly difficult definition, YMMV.


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[Kuoppis]

So you think playing a bad recording to make comparisons between two sources is a good idea?

Yes, as long as it is the same source material. The insufficiencies will shine through on different media. A 1950’s mono recording will not suddenly change into some meticulously engineered audiophile material, just because it is in digital format. And the vinyl was a 2013 re-issue in case you did not know. Besides I think that less well recorded material might even sound better on vinyl than in digital.

A recording will be anyway slightly different depending on what media is used. Sometimes even mastering is different, as likely the case with MQA. And as already indicated in my test, an audiophile vinyl vs. PCM or MQA is likely to be the next test. Hopefully you will like that better - or maybe it is then the wrong kind of music or an artist you do not enjoy.

Long story short, I liked the album I just bought and that’s why I used it. I would recommend you to get your hands on a Nyquist and test it yourself, any material you want.


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[still-one]

Jim, also towards you no reporting obligations here. Read the thread if you like, skip it if you don’t.

I only test with recordings I like myself. Definition of “great recoding” depends on personal taste and is hence a slightly difficult definition, YMMV.


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That was my way of responding to MEP's post who seems to believe that under no circumstances can or will digital sound as good or better than vinyl. In other words if you had done it properly you would have gotten a different result. I just get tired of reading the same old BS that I know isn't true. Over and over it has been shown that the results will vary depending on the audience.

 

[Kuoppis]

That was my way of responding to MEP's post who seems to believe that under no circumstances can or will digital sound as good or better than vinyl. In other words if you had done it properly you would have gotten a different result. I just get tired of reading the same old BS that I know isn't true. Over and over it has been shown that the results will vary depending on the audience.

Thank you for elaborating Jim, I’m glad you did.

I am a vinyl lover and pretty much stopped listening to digital except for checking out some new releases last year before getting this new DAC. At that point I might even have agreed with MEP’s view. Not because digital cannot sound good, but because I did not have the right DAC.

But it looks a bit like MEP already found a flaw in his own thesis, as he seems to think superiority of vinyl applies to high quality stereo recordings only. The point we’re both making, that the result will vary based on who’s listening, is only adding to that.

But for me personally, the Nyquist has made digital again palatable. And as indicated, I don’t think it can only hold its own, it’s rather that it looks like the digital system has now leapfrogged my analog rig. The Nyquist sounds like analog, but better.


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[UltraFast69]

Remember resistance is futile, you will be assimilated [emoji3].

In case you will indeed get to have the Nyquist into your system, you’ll love it. The PS Audio DSD DAC Memory Player are great, but the Brinkmann will top it. And the Oppo can be connected via AES/EBU.

Good luck, please report back.


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False alarm, thank god! He sent me a CD and a Christmas Card. I don’t want a 16-18K DAC right now, just want to finish up my reference cabling


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[Kuoppis]

False alarm, thank god! He sent me a CD and a Christmas Card. I don’t want a 16-18K DAC right now, just want to finish up my reference cabling


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Nyquist, CD,... almost the same. It’s the idea that counts, isn’t it [emoji3].


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[Kuoppis]

Here’s just an example of how meticulous the Brinkmann product development is: the Nyquist comes with a 20 lbs granite slab inbox to place it on, to isolate the DAC from vibrations and provide a stable base for the product to be placed on. Amazing.

Do you know any other audio product with similar attention to isolation and vibration control? The Magico S series comes to mind, but SPODs are 3K extra.

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[UltraFast69]

Man your continuous updates are a bad influence on me, and we have never met.

As I said prior, the dealer I work indicated he was blown away at this from performance and price, and indicated he would send me one to demo, I declined then seen the UPS, but still happy a false alarm.

I am really looking at Nyquist, MSB and DCS as primary contenders, and see a lot of detail on MSB, but everything is an option.

While I have no regrets with the PS Direct Stream wBridge and Memory Player - I still can hear, or believe I can hear where it struggles if that is even a fair word with needing just a little more punch to fulfill the resolution at near perfection.

If this was corrected, what would be the sound gain, dunno, maybe 10%, 15%, 20%? Only way to find out is demo in the home.






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[Kuoppis]

Yes indeed, I am a bad influence. Mea culpa.

I am not surprised to hear your dealer is excited about the Nyquist. MSB and dCS are also nice, but dCS is at least double the price and more likely even triple. Lower level MSB are not in contention and the top models are also going for top dollar. In addition, as you say, every bit costs extra. The level of connectivity alone, the Nyquist has as a standard, will cost another 10K. Media support is also partly a bit sketchy on those.

About a percentage gain I don’t know, but the Nyquist and PS Audio are not even in the same league sound-wise. And I do agree auditioning at home is the only way to go.


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[mep]

Yes indeed, I am a bad influence. Mea culpa.

I am not surprised to hear your dealer is excited about the Nyquist. MSB and dCS are also nice, but dCS is at least double the price and more likely even triple. Lower level MSB are not in contention and the top models are also going for top dollar. In addition, as you say, every bit costs extra. The level of connectivity alone, the Nyquist has as a standard, will cost another 10K. Media support is also partly a bit sketchy on those.

About a percentage gain I don’t know, but the Nyquist and PS Audio are not even in the same league sound-wise. And I do agree auditioning at home is the only way to go.


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Which PS Audio DAC did you have in your system?

 

[UltraFast69]

Which PS Audio DAC did you have in your system?

Thinking your meaning me since he has the Nyquist, I have the Direct Stream with Bridge using current Red Cloud update, and it’s a significant improvement.


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[Jack]

I think he was referring to the blanket comparison pronouncement he had highlighted, so not you.

 

[mep]

I think he was referring to the blanket comparison pronouncement he had highlighted, so not you.

Thank you Jack. You are exactly correct.

 

[sharkmouth]

Since you are comparing the latest nyquist to msb, I think you might want to put that theory of comparison on hold too..... Congrats on owning something you are proud to have in your system, but, we all know todays invention is tomorrows trash in audio

 

[Kuoppis]

Since you are comparing the latest nyquist to msb, I think you might want to put that theory of comparison on hold too..... Congrats on owning something you are proud to have in your system, but, we all know todays invention is tomorrows trash in audio

Unfortunately the half-time of our audio gear is rather short. The more reason to enjoy it while having it.

The MSB Analog DAC was great when it came out, but has now been surpassed by others. The successor coming out in spring will for sure be good as well, but it will not be a Select II just for less money.


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[Kuoppis]

I think he was referring to the blanket comparison pronouncement he had highlighted, so not you.

Not sure to what blanket comparison you might be referring to. I heard the PS DSD at a dealer’s and in a private setting and it did not interest me enough to go for a home audition.

It is a great DAC, but it is not for me. And I think there are a number of more expensive DACs I would prefer to the PS Audio, not only the Nyquist.

I only audition gear at home I might be interested to buy.

YMMV.


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[Kuoppis]

Didn’t we just all collectively say CDs are dead?

Here are a couple images to that...

This on not an uninteresting proposition IMHO.

Just did a regular rip and stored it on the Aurender.

And it sounds really good.


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[bmichels]

Did you ripped this CD ? Do you need any specific software or CD reader to RIP MQA CD's ?

Didn’t we just all collectively say CDs are dead?

Here are a couple images to that...

This on not an uninteresting proposition IMHO.

Just did a regular rip and stored it on the Aurender.

And it sounds really good.


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