MDAC first listen thread

[Space is the Place]

To me it not thin or sterile at all its very controlled and refined, it reminds me a little bit of TDA amp/dac i used to have before.

I think it is all down to system synergy, i can remember my friend getting a Benchmark Dac for his ATCs and it working incredibly well as a dac preamp, not giving up much ground to the 10k combo of Opus 21 and BAT preamp.

A couple of weeks later i'd managed to get an as new Benchmark Dac/pre from ebay for a good price, it didn't work anywhere near as good with my set up as it did with his ATCs.

So i think this might be the case with this Dac too, I don't think its a preamp amp thing either as the The Matrix Dac/pre worked well in my set up if losing a little in outright detail, as does the DM Dac without the preamp (either using an EVA passive or heavy digital attenuation on the computer volume control).

Oh well, as Django Bates would say "You live and learn"

 

[liszt]

Space is the Place: Let me know if you'd like to sell yours, i'll take it, thanks

 

[rtrt]

RTRT, so i guess you see what I mean by the surprising build quality, the amount of thought that has gone into the mdac is simply off the map. I wouldn't have expected the rectification and smoothing section of the internal psu to be shielded behind a full length metal webbing. It makes similar price competition seem frankly, half arsed.

Yep when you mentioned the web in an earlier post had assumed it was some sort of strengthening addition, but once had the unit dismantled last night i saw that the power board was effectively in a separate compartment within the chassis - cleverly done. Additional strength is just the added benefit.

Really like the all round utility of the MDAC - there's enough functionality and flexibility in there to support the minimimal box approach thats becoming increasingly attractive.

 

[Plutox]

here...

..and it's gone!

 

[arthur]

thanks for the various replies..

the MDAC's been on for since thursday, though not always playing music..

I'm sure its a system balance issue. For me its the midrange thats doing it, the Epos have a very open midrange and tends to suit more fruity sounding sources, though I also think its a volume issue and if i listened a louder levels it would not be so much of an issue.

Got a fairy large room, but I have moved my speakers further back to try to help get a fuller balance. May try to go further with moving the speakers...

in the end though i need something that suits my current system, don't really want to change speakers just because a source component is not working with them..

i would also agree that the cryrus DAC was too warm, for me the Rega has the best balance in my system...though thats not perfect either

Lo spxy.

What level of attenuation are you using the Mdac at? anything less than about -20dB may well sound a bit thin, especially if there is a tendancy for that in your system anyway.

I don't know the input gain of your amp but perhaps some attenuators may fix your issue if it's not down entirely to taste?

 

[finesensations]

To me it not thin or sterile at all its very controlled and refined, it reminds me a little bit of TDA amp/dac i used to have before.

I think it is all down to system synergy, i can remember my friend getting a Benchmark Dac for his ATCs and it working incredibly well as a dac preamp, not giving up much ground to the 10k combo of Opus 21 and BAT preamp.

A couple of weeks later i'd managed to get an as new Benchmark Dac/pre from ebay for a good price, it didn't work anywhere near as good with my set up as it did with his ATCs.

So i think this might be the case with this Dac too, I don't think its a preamp amp thing either as the The Matrix Dac/pre worked well in my set up if losing a little in outright detail, as does the DM Dac without the preamp (either using an EVA passive or heavy digital attenuation on the computer volume control).

Oh well, as Django Bates would say "You live and learn"

Hi Space

Out of interest, what combinations/settings have you tried?

For example I initially avoided the Optimal Spectrum filter because of the warning that it 'can lead to listener fatigue' but to my ears I prefer it and no headache so far.

Also was using XLR to RCA with pin 3 floating but prefer RCA to RCA,

Changed from DAC Only mode to Pre Amp mode at -20dB.

It now sounds similar to my Benchmark DAC1 USB but with deeper bass and slightly more refined at higher levels.

Well worth trying as many combinations as you can as I doubt you will get a better DAC for similar money.

Still listening but will need to decide at some point if it's the Benchmark or MDAC that I sell on.

 

[PhilCTTE]

Well with the disappointment of HD Tracks download of Nirvana Nevermind remaster I've just came across Miles Kane - Colour of the Trap which the MDAC states it playing at 24/96

Using the Spotify app from laptop usb interface

Experimented listening to Radiohead No Surprises from both Spotify app at 24/96 and 16/44.1 foobar2K and the winner is Spotify 24/96.

Boy am I enjoying the MDAC !

 

[Plutox]

My M-DAC is sitting alongside its cousin, the CDQ, which has been my main source for most of 2011. The CDQ, it must be said, has completely transformed my listening habits. Such is the quality of its USB input that my system now consists of a Windows netbook (fed via Wi-Fi from a small NAS server) plugged directly into the CDQ and thence straight into the power amp. The newly arrived M-DAC is a direct substitute for that functionality of the CDQ so it’s straightforward to compare the two on a like for like basis.

The first noticeable point about the M-DAC is that it runs a good deal cooler than the CDQ. Cool is good as it makes housing the unit easier and is beneficial for long-term reliability. The lessons of the CDQ display have been well learned – the quality of the new OLED display is impeccable and its size, well up to the task. The ability to dim it would be nice but we already know that’s to come. Pressing the volume knob is positive and causes the unit to enter its MUTE mode. I would suggest to JW that rather than being an absolute CUT, this operation becomes user configurable to be a DIM function with values of, say, 10dB, 20dB, 40dB and CUT (i.e. as it is now).

The remote control is less wide than we have come to expect but very tidy. I particularly like the way that some elementary functions are fed back to the computer via the USB link (as they were with the CDQ) so you can stop, pause and skip tracks with most media player software. Just a thought, but when you press the mute button, what about an option to send a pause command to the host and a resume play command when you un-mute? It would be reasonable to assume that if the above (DIM) suggestion were implemented, you would want PAUSE combined with full MUTE but not when you had selected DIM (when it keeps playing, but quieter).

The inclusion of the bit-perfect test function will stop a fair few online arguments but I dare say it will cause a few others! It will be interesting to know how some of the “specialist” audiophile software performs in this respect – the sort that takes a minute to load each track into memory and effectively locks you out of the computer while it's playing, all in exchange for “better” sound quality. When is bit-perfect not perfect enough?

I haven’t tinkered much with the choice of reconstruction filters nor the de-correlation engine settings but comparing the M-DAC alongside the CDQ reveals the former to offer rather richer bass which, in my view, is no bad thing because, in my system, the CDQ comes across as just a tiny bit lean in the bass – nothing that couldn’t be corrected by a small amount of LF boost in the playback software. The M-DAC’s rendition of detail is immaculate without a trace of harshness.

If there is better domestic digital playback than this, I certainly haven’t heard it. I think the M-DAC is a bargain!

 

[Space is the Place]

Hi Space

Out of interest, what combinations/settings have you tried?

For example I initially avoided the Optimal Spectrum filter because of the warning that it 'can lead to listener fatigue' but to my ears I prefer it and no headache so far.

Also was using XLR to RCA with pin 3 floating but prefer RCA to RCA,

Changed from DAC Only mode to Pre Amp mode at -20dB.

It now sounds similar to my Benchmark DAC1 USB but with deeper bass and slightly more refined at higher levels.

Well worth trying as many combinations as you can as I doubt you will get a better DAC for similar money.

Still listening but will need to decide at some point if it's the Benchmark or MDAC that I sell on.

Ive tried a few of the combos, at the moment im running D3E, Optimal transient DD both from USB in, teralink X2 and CD transport, balanced out, no preamp.
Still got another system to try it with yet, playing it between -35 and -10 (on some quieter tracks).

 

[finesensations]

Ive tried a few of the combos, at the moment im running D3E, Optimal transient DD both from USB in, teralink X2 and CD transport, balanced out, no preamp.
Still got another system to try it with yet, playing it between -35 and -10 (on some quieter tracks).

I'm using the volume control on my Integrated Amplifier, with the MDAC 'fixed' at -20dB.

Suggest you give the Optimal Spectrum filter a good listen if you are looking for an open natural un-coloured sound with well extended damped/controlled bass.

Stanley Clarke - Jazz in the Garden via Grooveshark sounding excellent.

 

[JohnW]

I'm using the volume control on my Integrated Amplifier, with the MDAC 'fixed' at -20dB.

Hi finesensations,

If your using your volume control on your integrated amplifier - then the MDAC should be set to "DAC mode" (or its Volume level set to 0dB - which is in essence the same as setting to DAC mode).

John

 

[sq225917]

I find Optimal Spectrum has a hint of the NOS dac sound about it.

 

[The Moog]

Sorry to hear about this. It seems the IR bus connection is shorted to a nearby signal, perhaps voltage rail and it's upsetting the unit while there's IR traffic, unsurprisingly. I'm afraid your unit will have to be checked over by IAG Service guys.

Dominik

Sounds like this might be the issue! The volume of the bleeping is not attenuated by the volume set on the MDAC, and sounds like interference being injected into the outputs at a fixed level.

Could either of you guys (JohnW or Dominik) PM me and tell me who best to contact at IAG to get the unit fixed or swapped please?

Cheers!

 

[Neil Gilbert]

Listening to TV via Mdac from freesat box via optical. All is fine but no sound on HD channels.

Can I do anything about this?

 

[dtd]

Listening to TV via Mdac from freesat box via optical. All is fine but no sound on HD channels.

Can I do anything about this?

There might be an option in the freesat box to only output PCM only. I just had to do this for the Sky HD box 10mins ago, so might exist for yourself.

 

[JohnW]

The ability to dim it would be nice but we already know that’s to come.

Yes we will add Display Dimming, Display Off and Auto Dimming (The MDAC hardware has an ambient light sensor fitted - it just needs to be implemented within the software).

Pressing the volume knob is positive and causes the unit to enter its MUTE mode. I would suggest to JW that rather than being an absolute CUT, this operation becomes user configurable to be a DIM function with values of, say, 10dB, 20dB, 40dB and CUT (i.e. as it is now).

Yes, we will add a volume "Attenuation mode" - this is already on the Dominik’s request form.

Just a thought, but when you press the mute button, what about an option to send a pause command to the host and a resume play command when you un-mute? It would be reasonable to assume that if the above (DIM) suggestion were implemented, you would want PAUSE combined with full MUTE but not when you had selected DIM (when it keeps playing, but quieter).

I’ve already requested this Dominik myself!!! On the "to do" list!

I haven’t tinkered much with the choice of reconstruction filters nor the de-correlation engine settings but comparing the M-DAC alongside the CDQ reveals the former to offer rather richer bass which, in my view, is no bad thing because, in my system, the CDQ comes across as just a tiny bit lean in the bass – nothing that couldn’t be corrected by a small amount of LF boost in the playback software. The M-DAC’s rendition of detail is immaculate without a trace of harshness.

If there is better domestic digital playback than this, I certainly haven’t heard it. I think the M-DAC is a bargain!

I also cannot understand the comment about the MDAC being “lean” as the MDAC has such a “Rich Body” to the sound, without being harsh – it makes you wonder about the system its being used in.

But my first thought is – my God has this guy go a duff unit… as its so un-characteristic of the sound quality – in fact I’d would have said quite the opposite…

Thank you for your feedback, I’m very happy you like your unit

John

 

[Purité Audio]

HD is Dolby I believe, the Mdac needs PCM , there may be an option on your Sky box?
Keith.

 

[JohnW]

Sounds like this might be the issue! The volume of the bleeping is not attenuated by the volume set on the MDAC, and sounds like interference being injected into the outputs at a fixed level.

Could either of you guys (JohnW or Dominik) PM me and tell me who best to contact at IAG to get the unit fixed or swapped please?

Cheers!

Moog PM your contact Email and daytime phone number and I'll have Steve at IAG to arrange an exchange unit for you,

John

 

[finesensations]

Hi finesensations,

If your using your volume control on your integrated amplifier - then the MDAC should be set to "DAC mode" (or its Volume level set to 0dB - which is in essence the same as setting to DAC mode).

John

Hi John

That's how I did have it set up (see #411).

Is there any advantage or disadvantage in setting it to -20, as long as I don't 'run out' of volume on my amp?

Why don't you recommend using the Optimal Spectrum filter?

 

[JohnW]

Hi John

That's how I did have it set up (see #411).

Is there any advantage or disadvantage in setting it to -20, as long as I don't 'run out' of volume on my amp?

Why don't you recommend using the Optimal Spectrum filter?

With MDAC set -20dB AND using your integrated amplifier volume control, you apply two levels of attenuation - so you get the worst of both worlds. But if sounds better in your system then that's all that counts.

Selection of Digital filters is a personal choice, based upon the system and personal preferences.

I learnt long ago from the "Dacapo" days which had "user replaceable" filters - that there is no "perfect sound" everyone has there own personal preferences.

So rather then making it a "hardware change" as on the Dacapo - we achieve the same with software configurable digital filters – which makes it a lot easier to fine tune to your system preferences.

Again, it’s what YOU prefer, nobody can tell you otherwise