Eternaloptimist35
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2024
- Messages
- 3
- Likes
- 38
Hello everyone on ASR!
After spending many years down the audiophile rabbit hole... I have come to my senses (!). I feel a bit like someone who has come out of a cult.
Until 3 weeks ago, I had a Chord TT2 DAC/preamp into Cyrus x200 signature mono amps. Very expensive.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the sound and love listening to music more than listening to equipment.
Then one of the mono amps developed a fault that made the orignially $AUD 6K amp not worth repairing....
I then spent a lot of time looking at power amp options, settling on the Benchmark AHB2. A big factor in the decision was Amir's measurement data and his clear analysis.
Although there are cheaper modern well-measuring amps, the fault protection (protecting my speakers) circuits swayed me. Also, I just like the appearance - which i do think is a legitimate consideration like anything in my living room.
The amp in the system sounds amazing... which I translate as... the amp is doing what a modern designed amp should do: be a straight wire with gain.
So for half the price of the old dual mono amps, I have an amp that uses less power, has excellent fault protection circuits, looks great (IMHO) and just does what it says on the box.
Then I started thinking about the "sunk cost" of the Chord TT2 DAC.... $AUD 7.5K 3 years ago. Yes, yes... not smart.
Although Amir's measurements show it measures well, I was struck by how many much, much cheaper DACs measured as well or better.
I have owned many DACs over the years and prior to good USB implementations, I do think there were some crap designs.
However, it really does look like DACs are now a "solved problem" and features, appearance etc. then are what really should matter.
Therefore... I ordered the SMSL 400EX. Again, although there are cheaper DACs, it measures really well and looks great! I don't plan on changing it any time soon.... I am also honest enough to acknowledge that I could have the SMSL 400ES for less money but have an unjustifiable bias against ESS DACs, based on old and poor implementations in the past. Yes, it is stupid, but just like many recent cult escapees... I still have biases that remain...
One fifth of the cost of a Chord TT2 DAC (!), measures better and has more features. Definitely looks better.
Could I have a cheaper DAC and not pick the difference in a blind test? Undoubetdly. But I like the features and just love the appearance.
Sorry about the essay.
I really appreciate Amir and the contributers on this site. Is a breath of fresh air.
Cheers,
Dave
After spending many years down the audiophile rabbit hole... I have come to my senses (!). I feel a bit like someone who has come out of a cult.
Until 3 weeks ago, I had a Chord TT2 DAC/preamp into Cyrus x200 signature mono amps. Very expensive.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the sound and love listening to music more than listening to equipment.
Then one of the mono amps developed a fault that made the orignially $AUD 6K amp not worth repairing....
I then spent a lot of time looking at power amp options, settling on the Benchmark AHB2. A big factor in the decision was Amir's measurement data and his clear analysis.
Although there are cheaper modern well-measuring amps, the fault protection (protecting my speakers) circuits swayed me. Also, I just like the appearance - which i do think is a legitimate consideration like anything in my living room.
The amp in the system sounds amazing... which I translate as... the amp is doing what a modern designed amp should do: be a straight wire with gain.
So for half the price of the old dual mono amps, I have an amp that uses less power, has excellent fault protection circuits, looks great (IMHO) and just does what it says on the box.
Then I started thinking about the "sunk cost" of the Chord TT2 DAC.... $AUD 7.5K 3 years ago. Yes, yes... not smart.
Although Amir's measurements show it measures well, I was struck by how many much, much cheaper DACs measured as well or better.
I have owned many DACs over the years and prior to good USB implementations, I do think there were some crap designs.
However, it really does look like DACs are now a "solved problem" and features, appearance etc. then are what really should matter.
Therefore... I ordered the SMSL 400EX. Again, although there are cheaper DACs, it measures really well and looks great! I don't plan on changing it any time soon.... I am also honest enough to acknowledge that I could have the SMSL 400ES for less money but have an unjustifiable bias against ESS DACs, based on old and poor implementations in the past. Yes, it is stupid, but just like many recent cult escapees... I still have biases that remain...
One fifth of the cost of a Chord TT2 DAC (!), measures better and has more features. Definitely looks better.
Could I have a cheaper DAC and not pick the difference in a blind test? Undoubetdly. But I like the features and just love the appearance.
Sorry about the essay.
I really appreciate Amir and the contributers on this site. Is a breath of fresh air.
Cheers,
Dave
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