Black Lion Audio White Sparrow DAC Review

[astr0b0y]

What does the sync button do?

 

[RHO]

can you name a <$50 DAC that share similar features and performance?

Maybe not the features, but it seems the features it has don't even work as advertised.

 

[respice finem]

Not terrible, if it was 199$, for 1999$ that's plain poor IMHO.

 

[nyxnyxnyx]

Maybe not the features, but it seems the features it has don't even work as advertised.

Fair enough. If we separate the price and just look at performance at least it stays in the above-average group. $2000 is too steep even if this DAC performed significantly better though.

 

[voodooless]

I see. This looks kinda meh today but I guess it might have been adequate or even competent around that time.

The DAC is already capable of 120 SINAD. Somewhere almost 20 dB were lost. Even 13 years ago, that was meh...

 

[GeekyBastard]

$1,999, what a joke.

 

[GeekyBastard]

What does the sync button do?

Is that a button or a LED indicator?

 

[astr0b0y]

Is that a button or a LED indicator?

Of course. Well, I guess knowing it has a lock is a feature.

 

[Jim777]

Performance is as vintage as the looks haha

 

[mightycicadalord]

I think Black Lion is known more for modding other people's gear than for their own designs. This result doesn't give me confidence in their modding ability.

Go look how they present their mod differences, it's a joke. The company has always been filed under BS for me. Morons at gear space eat their BS up.

 

[sarumbear]

@amirm as always, thank you for testing such a wide variety of equipment. The unit has rack mounts but the width doesn't look like 19" to me. Can you comment on what standard of rack the device adheres to?

 

[juliangst]

Damn, that's one ugly DAC!

 

[simchaz]

It looks like this was discontinued almost a decade ago and was in production for a few years by then. Saying it "costs" $1999 is misleading

 

[Grooved]

What does the sync button do?

Looks like a LED to confirm it synced on the input signal (more to show that there's a problem if it doesn't light)

 

[Miiksuli]

Not terrible, if it was 199$, for 1999$ that's plain poor IMHO.

My thoughts too.

 

[dfuller]

I wish someone would send you a Burl Bomber or Cranesong Solaris to test.

The Bomber isn't that much more money than the White Sparrow, and lots prettier. The Cranesong is the same price and similar styling.

Isn't the Burl stuff deliberately designed to not be entirely transparent? I know their A/D is all transformer coupled so you can drive it hard for some character.

@amirm as always, thank you for testing such a wide variety of equipment. The unit has rack mounts but the width doesn't look like 19" to me. Can you comment on what standard of rack the device adheres to?

It looks like it's a half-rack design, why it has ears is beyond me.

 

[simchaz]

Isn't the Burl stuff deliberately designed to not be entirely transparent? I know their A/D is all transformer coupled so you can drive it hard for some character.


It looks like it's a half-rack design, why it has ears is beyond me.

I assume so that you can rack two of them together.... Rupert Neve and several other companies use the same format for the same reason.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Designs aesthetics-wise, looks like the perfect DAC for guys who wear their broken eyeglasses with white masking tape on the nosebridge holding them together.

And $1999.

 

[sarumbear]

It looks like this was discontinued almost a decade ago and was in production for a few years by then. Saying it "costs" $1999 is misleading

It’s a vintage device. Even the Mk2 version is no longer available.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Looks like DIY home made with very cheap chassis and poor finish, 2000usd? You can get better finish at 200 usd,