This is a review and detailed measurements of the Massdrop Grace Design Standard Balanced DAC. It was announced a long time ago and finally became available last week at which time, I purchased it. It costs US $150. The initial quantity of 472 got sold in two days so you have to wait if you want to buy it.
The Balanced DAC enclosure is similar if not identical to the classic "O2" DACs:
There is a switch for USB input versus optical/coax. The business end is the rear:
A pair of XLR balanced connectors is the reason for anticipation for this DAC. I think it is the cheapest brand name DAC with balanced output at this price.
For my testing I used USB. There is that combo 3.5 mm coax/toslink which I don't like as I seem to never find my special cable for that. However, it is better to have it than not.
Despite the name, there is also unbalanced output but it too is 3.5 mm jack. These adapters are readily available so not an issue. If you are buying this DAC though, I hope you will be using its balanced output anyway.
XLR cables are massive and heavy. The sticky feet on the Balanced DAC help it stay put but they can do so much. If you let the balanced cable lay on the desk some, then it won't tip over the unit.
Overall, the feel is a "solid budget" product. You won't have to apologize for its looks or feel.
DAC Audio Measurements
Let's through our dashboard measurements at the XLR output and see what happens:
Output is a bit higher than required at 4.3 volts (a good thing). That unfortunately costs the unit 2 dB in SINAD (signal over noise and distortion). But even where it is, this competent performance:
We are in "green" bucket of DACs which is comforting. The closest competitor to the Balanced DAC is the SMSL SU-8. As you see on the graph, they land right next to each other.
EDIT: Someone with better eyes than me noticed that the SMSL SU-8 I highlighted above was the first revision which had problems. The updated "V2" is much better and lands in blue region with 9 dB better performance.
The spectrum of distortions shows a third harmonic at -102 dB which sets the THD+N value by itself, indicating distortion is dominant than noise.
Testing unbalanced output shows the same performance:
Speaking of noise, we can see it being very low:
This is well above dynamic range of 16 bit music at 96 dB so you are good there.
Let's drill into distortion using intermodulation test:
Our more expensive Topping DX3 Pro DAC and Headphone amplifier is a tough benchmark to unseat. It shows that here with less distortion and noise but the gap is small.
Perhaps a more interesting comparison is against the SMSL SU-8:
The SMSL SU-8 uses the ESS DAC chip without IMD fix so it has that bulging hump/increase in distortion which the Grace Design Balanced DAC due to its use of AKM chip doesn't. The winner is hard to declare though as the Balanced DAC wins in the mid-levels but then has rising distortion at levels greater than -10 dBFS (digital signal). The rising distortion may be due to having to live with just the USB power versus SU-8 which is mains operated.
Jitter spectrum is not perfect but is darn good anyway:
Multitone test at 192 kHz sampling shows the typical amount of intermodulation distortion between tones as we could predict from THD graph earlier:
Linearity is very good although it does get uncertain little bit more than I like:
Frequency response is ruler flat as it should be in any competent design:
Finally white noise shows good selection of the only filter available:
Attenuation is weak at 22.05 kHz but as is typical, it becomes really good at around 24 kHz. Look to SMSL SU-8 if you want to mess around with the filter types. For me, this is fine.
Since some of you like this test, here is the intermodulation test of 19+20 kHz tones:
As far as distortion products, it is the same as what we saw in FFT as far as distortion products. Ultrasonic components are nicely reduced by the reconstruction filter.
I wanted to show you the value of balanced output with this zoomed in spectrum of 1 kHz tone:
And making the point of how there is no mains noise whatsoever at 60 Hz and harmonics. Alas, I switched to unbalanced output (not show) and got the same perfect response! This will vary on your system though so you may indeed benefit from balanced output. By using the PC power over USB, and not introducing yet another power supply in the chain, chances of mains leakage is reduced and hence (one of) the reason unbalanced was also good.
Conclusions
Massdrop and Grace Design set out to design a competent balanced output DAC for the lowest price possible and they have achieved that. Until now, our budget recommendation for balanced DAC was the aforementioned SMSL SU-8. The SU-8 is much more functional with remote control, display, multiple filters, etc and with better measured performance. But if saving $50 to $100 matters, now you have a second choice in the form of Balanced DAC.
It is comforting to see companies designing even budget products with attention to design.
No, this is no dragon slayer DAC. Our top performing DACs pull ahead by as much as 20 dB which is huge. Fortunately your ears and ability to hear non-linear distortion is far lower so you can buy this DAC and enjoy wonderful fidelity.
I am happy to recommend the Massdrop Grace Design Balanced DAC for budget audiophiles. It does what it set out to do.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
I thought I heard it all but get this: one of the pink panthers wants to run for a government office!!! He says he can do a better job than half of them. Alas, it wants me to fund his initial expenses for the campaign. If you are frustrated by our government as much as he is, please donate generously using:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
The Balanced DAC enclosure is similar if not identical to the classic "O2" DACs:
There is a switch for USB input versus optical/coax. The business end is the rear:
A pair of XLR balanced connectors is the reason for anticipation for this DAC. I think it is the cheapest brand name DAC with balanced output at this price.
For my testing I used USB. There is that combo 3.5 mm coax/toslink which I don't like as I seem to never find my special cable for that. However, it is better to have it than not.
Despite the name, there is also unbalanced output but it too is 3.5 mm jack. These adapters are readily available so not an issue. If you are buying this DAC though, I hope you will be using its balanced output anyway.
XLR cables are massive and heavy. The sticky feet on the Balanced DAC help it stay put but they can do so much. If you let the balanced cable lay on the desk some, then it won't tip over the unit.
Overall, the feel is a "solid budget" product. You won't have to apologize for its looks or feel.
DAC Audio Measurements
Let's through our dashboard measurements at the XLR output and see what happens:
Output is a bit higher than required at 4.3 volts (a good thing). That unfortunately costs the unit 2 dB in SINAD (signal over noise and distortion). But even where it is, this competent performance:
We are in "green" bucket of DACs which is comforting. The closest competitor to the Balanced DAC is the SMSL SU-8. As you see on the graph, they land right next to each other.
EDIT: Someone with better eyes than me noticed that the SMSL SU-8 I highlighted above was the first revision which had problems. The updated "V2" is much better and lands in blue region with 9 dB better performance.
The spectrum of distortions shows a third harmonic at -102 dB which sets the THD+N value by itself, indicating distortion is dominant than noise.
Testing unbalanced output shows the same performance:
Speaking of noise, we can see it being very low:
This is well above dynamic range of 16 bit music at 96 dB so you are good there.
Let's drill into distortion using intermodulation test:
Our more expensive Topping DX3 Pro DAC and Headphone amplifier is a tough benchmark to unseat. It shows that here with less distortion and noise but the gap is small.
Perhaps a more interesting comparison is against the SMSL SU-8:
The SMSL SU-8 uses the ESS DAC chip without IMD fix so it has that bulging hump/increase in distortion which the Grace Design Balanced DAC due to its use of AKM chip doesn't. The winner is hard to declare though as the Balanced DAC wins in the mid-levels but then has rising distortion at levels greater than -10 dBFS (digital signal). The rising distortion may be due to having to live with just the USB power versus SU-8 which is mains operated.
Jitter spectrum is not perfect but is darn good anyway:
Multitone test at 192 kHz sampling shows the typical amount of intermodulation distortion between tones as we could predict from THD graph earlier:
Linearity is very good although it does get uncertain little bit more than I like:
Frequency response is ruler flat as it should be in any competent design:
Finally white noise shows good selection of the only filter available:
Attenuation is weak at 22.05 kHz but as is typical, it becomes really good at around 24 kHz. Look to SMSL SU-8 if you want to mess around with the filter types. For me, this is fine.
Since some of you like this test, here is the intermodulation test of 19+20 kHz tones:
As far as distortion products, it is the same as what we saw in FFT as far as distortion products. Ultrasonic components are nicely reduced by the reconstruction filter.
I wanted to show you the value of balanced output with this zoomed in spectrum of 1 kHz tone:
And making the point of how there is no mains noise whatsoever at 60 Hz and harmonics. Alas, I switched to unbalanced output (not show) and got the same perfect response! This will vary on your system though so you may indeed benefit from balanced output. By using the PC power over USB, and not introducing yet another power supply in the chain, chances of mains leakage is reduced and hence (one of) the reason unbalanced was also good.
Conclusions
Massdrop and Grace Design set out to design a competent balanced output DAC for the lowest price possible and they have achieved that. Until now, our budget recommendation for balanced DAC was the aforementioned SMSL SU-8. The SU-8 is much more functional with remote control, display, multiple filters, etc and with better measured performance. But if saving $50 to $100 matters, now you have a second choice in the form of Balanced DAC.
It is comforting to see companies designing even budget products with attention to design.
No, this is no dragon slayer DAC. Our top performing DACs pull ahead by as much as 20 dB which is huge. Fortunately your ears and ability to hear non-linear distortion is far lower so you can buy this DAC and enjoy wonderful fidelity.
I am happy to recommend the Massdrop Grace Design Balanced DAC for budget audiophiles. It does what it set out to do.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
I thought I heard it all but get this: one of the pink panthers wants to run for a government office!!! He says he can do a better job than half of them. Alas, it wants me to fund his initial expenses for the campaign. If you are frustrated by our government as much as he is, please donate generously using:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
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