MSB Sentinel DAC arrives at Suncoast Audio

I just looked up the retail price. I would love to visit your shop someday, not that I'm in that kinda market, but to hear your products. For me it's a drive across alligator alley.
 
Fantastic! Can’t wait to hear it!

The Sentinel will be added to my list of unobtainable gear that includes the MBL 101 Extremes, SAT turntable and now the Sentinel.
 
I just visited Mike and the team at Suncoast. My friend Pat and I (both Cascade owners) listened to the Sentinel. It was connected directly to the power amps driving the Clarisys Arias.

I’ll try to not overhype the presentation but, damn it, it is clearly superior to any DAC I’ve ever heard; and, I’ve heard most in the uber space. It is definitely superior to its next in line brother the Cascade.

So, what’s better? Everything. It has a wonderful pace to the presentation. Very open, clear, no digital artifacts. Dynamics? Tons. Instrument definition is fantastic - violin strings of Anne Sophie Mutter were the best I’ve hear; the trumpet in Lee Morgan’s Sidewinder was in the room; Eric Clapton’s guitar strings from Old Love’s Unplugged album snapped and were nicely extended; and, Eva Cassidy’s beautiful voice and guitar playing were presented beautifully.

We only listened to about 30 minutes of music. I could have listened for hours!

So, those that have the resources to get a Sentinel will be very happy. It is a special component.
 
Kingrex said:
Does MSB still sound like MSB? Or has the Sentinel changed the voicing.
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The MSB guys have taken their special sauce to “the next level”. As a Cascade owner, and as amazingly good as it is, the Sentinel is in another league.
 
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I guess I am wondering, at what point do all these DAC sound the same. DCS, Wadax, MSB. Can't tell them apart. Or, do they have a house sound. If they do have a sound, does one or the other pair better with different equipment. Maybe a better way to say it would be, do they gel into a type of system sound. Or not. You could pick any one and not really know a difference. They are all $375K. No one can say any are flawed.
 
Kingrex said:
I guess I am wondering, at what point do all these DAC sound the same. DCS, Wadax, MSB. Can't tell them apart. Or, do they have a house sound. If they do have a sound, does one or the other pair better with different equipment. Maybe a better way to say it would be, do they gel into a type of system sound. Or not. You could pick any one and not really know a difference. They are all $375K. No one can say any are flawed.
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I can only speak to the MSB as being the digital that sounds like master tape. The higher up their food chain, the gap closes. Our customer today said, “wow! It sounds like analog, only without the clicks and pops, it sounds better.”
 
Mike said:
I can only speak to the MSB as being the digital that sounds like master tape. The higher up their food chain, the gap closes. Our customer today said, “wow! It sounds like analog, only without the clicks and pops, it sounds better.”
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Sorry Mike tapes have no clicks or pops. I guess he means hiss😉
 
Ritmo said:
Fantastic! Can’t wait to hear it!

The Sentinel will be added to my list of unobtainable gear that includes the MBL 101 Extremes, SAT turntable and now the Sentinel.
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Don't feel bad, Ritmo. My list of unobtainable gear includes just about everything that I find appealing. I'm just trying to keep up with what's out there just in case a windfall comes along...

I agree with you about the 101 Extremes. I find their their looks absolutely mesmerizing, and I've read countless times that their sound is reference-quality.
 
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