The Best DACs, Servers, Streamers, and Disc Spinners | Buyers Guide 2021

Remember, this is a list of things that they've reviewed. Many great products are missing from it.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk
 
Actually the article did say those were products their team "has heard". That should include lumin and others...

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk
 
Their review archive for digital products goes back to the Summer of 2018 and from that point that have not reviewed a Lumin product so hard to recommend unless one of them actually owns one.
 
CPP said:
These ridiculous list are just that ridiculous poppy cock.
Click to expand...
Agreed. How many negative reviews of any product do you generally see? Maybe, once in a while, you see a criticism or two, but mostly you find just glowing, gushing reviews of nearly every product. Are all of these speakers or amps really that good? Difficult to make a comparison or buying decision based solely on such superlative descriptors (the veil has been lifted, performs right along with the big boys at several times its price, made me jump from my seat, startling me with crescendos I’ve never heard before in a symphony movement which is my reference demo, etc.). I would imagine it’s mostly about advertising. This is why Mike and Suncoast are so important to the industry and why what we read and learn from each other on Audioshark is generally more reliable and a more accurate barometer of how good a component really is. If you’re going to make a significant investment in audio, go and listen and buy what sounds best to you within your budget.
 
RDSChicago said:
Agreed. How many negative reviews of any product do you generally see? Maybe, once in a while, you see a criticism or two, but mostly you find just glowing, gushing reviews of nearly every product. Are all of these speakers or amps really that good? Difficult to make a comparison or buying decision based solely on such superlative descriptors (the veil has been lifted, performs right along with the big boys at several times its price, made me jump from my seat, startling me with crescendos I’ve never heard before in a symphony movement which is my reference demo, etc.). I would imagine it’s mostly about advertising. This is why Mike and Suncoast are so important to the industry and why what we read and learn from each other on Audioshark is generally more reliable and a more accurate barometer of how good a component really is. If you’re going to make a significant investment in audio, go and listen and buy what sounds best to you within your budget.
Click to expand...

Thanks. What’s hard for everyone to understand is the incredible butt hurt some manufacturers get when a 99% positive review, gets one negative comment in passing. They say “the consumer will read that review and only focus on the one negative thing mentioned.” It’s like that one mentioned of a flaw or lacking in functionality is calling their baby ugly. Maybe that’s true. Maybe not. I know some on one particular forum can read one negative comment and make a 140 page thread trashing the product and it’s reviewer. That certainly doesn’t help things. As long as we accept no product is going to ever be perfect in everyone’s eyes, we can learn to find the one that’s perfect for us.

No audio product is perfect, just like no car is perfect and no audio product is perfect for every system. But you will find the products YOU love in your system and learn to look past any minor flaw.

Dealers would be an excellent source of information for manufacturers, but rarely are we asked for input. For example, if I had seen the new MA3 DAC, I would have immediately suggested integrating a headphone input (1/4” and XLR). That would certainly broaden it’s appeal into a $10 Billion dollar market, but then again, from a manufacturers side that may have jeopardized sound quality and the ability to hit the sub $10K price point. Who knows?

As for these lists, I know Scott and his team do an excellent job and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how supportive PTA has been of me and the Florida Audio Expo. Stereophile, SoundStage, PTA, ETM, Tone and others were right there from day one cheering us on. That means a lot.

Should you buy strictly from an awards list? No. Go listen or in a Covid world, find a dealer you trust and buy from him.
 
Mike said:
Thanks. What’s hard for everyone to understand is the incredible butt hurt some manufacturers get when a 99% positive review, gets one negative comment in passing. They say “the consumer will read that review and only focus on the one negative thing mentioned.” It’s like that one mentioned of a flaw or lacking in functionality is calling their baby ugly. Maybe that’s true. Maybe not. I know some on one particular forum can read one negative comment and make a 140 page thread trashing the product and it’s reviewer. That certainly doesn’t help things. As long as we accept no product is going to ever be perfect in everyone’s eyes, we can learn to find the one that’s perfect for us.

No audio product is perfect, just like no car is perfect and no audio product is perfect for every system. But you will find the products YOU love in your system and learn to look past any minor flaw.

Dealers would be an excellent source of information for manufacturers, but rarely are we asked for input. For example, if I had seen the new MA3 DAC, I would have immediately suggested integrating a headphone input (1/4” and XLR). That would certainly broaden it’s appeal into a $10 Billion dollar market, but then again, from a manufacturers side that may have jeopardized sound quality and the ability to hit the sub $10K price point. Who knows?

As for these lists, I know Scott and his team do an excellent job and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how supportive PTA has been of me and the Florida Audio Expo. Stereophile, SoundStage, PTA, ETM, Tone and others were right there from day one cheering us on. That means a lot.

Should you buy strictly from an awards list? No. Go listen or in a Covid world, find a dealer you trust and buy from him.
Click to expand...

Bingo, well double bingo. The man of reason
 
Mike said:
Thanks. What’s hard for everyone to understand is the incredible butt hurt some manufacturers get when a 99% positive review, gets one negative comment in passing. They say “the consumer will read that review and only focus on the one negative thing mentioned.” It’s like that one mentioned of a flaw or lacking in functionality is calling their baby ugly. Maybe that’s true. Maybe not. I know some on one particular forum can read one negative comment and make a 140 page thread trashing the product and it’s reviewer. That certainly doesn’t help things. As long as we accept no product is going to ever be perfect in everyone’s eyes, we can learn to find the one that’s perfect for us.

No audio product is perfect, just like no car is perfect and no audio product is perfect for every system. But you will find the products YOU love in your system and learn to look past any minor flaw.

Dealers would be an excellent source of information for manufacturers, but rarely are we asked for input. For example, if I had seen the new MA3 DAC, I would have immediately suggested integrating a headphone input (1/4” and XLR). That would certainly broaden it’s appeal into a $10 Billion dollar market, but then again, from a manufacturers side that may have jeopardized sound quality and the ability to hit the sub $10K price point. Who knows?

As for these lists, I know Scott and his team do an excellent job and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how supportive PTA has been of me and the Florida Audio Expo. Stereophile, SoundStage, PTA, ETM, Tone and others were right there from day one cheering us on. That means a lot.

Should you buy strictly from an awards list? No. Go listen or in a Covid world, find a dealer you trust and buy from him.
Click to expand...

As always, hit the nail on the head, Mike.
 
Yet another completely random collection of “what the f@£! I ever stumbled upon recently, and still can remember” -list. Glorious!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Good posting Mike.

This list, not unlike all lists is severely off the mark, as would be expected. Starts out with two Schiit's and two Lampi's, two Bricasti get included. Cool, all are good products for different reasons. But no MSB, no Berkeley, No T+A, no PS Audio. How can any best of list leave these guys out and be taken seriously?
 
And in the print at the"" top it notes "" Sorry, but I’m a vinyl guy and have no time for all the new digital thingamabobs. Not even sure what a “network streamer” does. Let’s clear this up: these are the best DACs, streamers, servers and disc-spinners that we, the PTA team, have heard." , that alone just says, turn the page nothing to see here. :hmmm:
 
I think your misinterpreting the intent of the comment thingamabobas. But agreed its not a big page turner. Its a review of last years published products made to look as something it is not.
 
Kingrex said:
I think your misinterpreting the intent of the comment thingamabobas. But agreed its not a big page turner. Its a review of last years published products made to look as something it is not.
Click to expand...

like : Thingamabob is a very informal word for an object whose name you don't know, have forgotten, or can't recall at the moment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top