Music Hall's DAC 25.2
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Agree, I have had mine for several weeks now and I am quite pleased. The balanced outputs and headphone out with volume are a nice touch!
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I posted about this unit on another forum I frequent, here is the text from there:
I had been asking for advice and got frustrated with the lack of a review of the Music Hall unit, so I did one myself...
"A month or so ago I asked for DAC recommendations, got some good feedback and decided to order these from Music Direct and do an extended audition. Budget was ~$1000.
-Benchmark DAC-1 USB ($1300)
-PS Audio Digital Link III ($700)
-Music Hall DAC25.2 ($600)
-Channel Islands Audio VDA-2 ($600)
I had my wife hook them up in random order so I didn't know what was what (I was afraid I'd be biased toward the Benchmark, more $$=better, right?). And left them on and playing music via my Apple TV or an Airport Express continuously, although I only listened at night after work and on weekends. Every week or so we'd swap in another one.
My Marantz CD5001 was used as the CD transport and I a/b'd it's internal DAC against the one in the rack at the time. Here are my opinions:
All music sounded better thru an outboard DAC vs the built in one in the AE, hands down...they are in a different league, anything would be an improvement.
Of course there were differences among them;
The one I was going to buy before I decided to do an audition, the Benchmark, was probably my least favorite. It was very detailed, which was nice at first, but after awhile I found myself wanting to go do something else or fiddle with the tone controls, very bright and fatiguing, something I had not previously experienced with this system. And on a subjective note, it was the least attractive of the bunch, It was also the most expensive, 2x as much as the others, definitely not twice as good. Back in the box it went, excluded from further consideration.
The VDA-2 was next and may have benefited from following the DAC-1, I liked it enough to not box it up right away and consider it as the one I would keep. Aside from lack of harshness I would say the next thing I noticed was the sound stage opened up a lot. Night and day difference between this and the CD5001.
The Music Hall was next, and at first I thought I was listening to the Benchmark again, very bright the first couple days, but this quickly went away once it warmed up (tubed output) and it took the VDA-2's ability to make digital music sound analog even further, Detail and musicality were amazing but not too high resolution. I think this is the Benchmark's main problem, unless a recording is mastered perfect it will magnify problems or poor practices. I had a feeling I knew which one this was before I saw it, because I thought I heard some tube "warmness". Again, much improved over the CD5001. This one was also kept for consideration.
The PS Audio was kind of disappointing, it started off well, warm out of the box and it sounded great with the compressed streamed content, but when I compared it to the DAC in my CD player I really could not hear a difference, if anything it was a little muddier...back in the box it went.
I listened to both the CI and Music Hall all week, and last Wed. I decided on the Music Hall, mainly because it just sounded less digital than the CI. And I think the Music Hall demonstrated a bigger improvement over the CI when compared to the CD5001's DAC. Plus the CI does not have a USB input or a built in headphone amp which may never be an issue, but who knows?? Either one would have made me happy."
Just my opinions...this was posted a couple of weeks ago and it continues to improve, I'm very happy with it. I find it curious I liked the 2 least expensive units the most...
This was done as a stop gap until I could budget the DAC i really want, but that is years away. This will do nicely until then.
the relevant parts of my system are a MC252, C220 and Monitor Audio RS8's
I had been asking for advice and got frustrated with the lack of a review of the Music Hall unit, so I did one myself...
"A month or so ago I asked for DAC recommendations, got some good feedback and decided to order these from Music Direct and do an extended audition. Budget was ~$1000.
-Benchmark DAC-1 USB ($1300)
-PS Audio Digital Link III ($700)
-Music Hall DAC25.2 ($600)
-Channel Islands Audio VDA-2 ($600)
I had my wife hook them up in random order so I didn't know what was what (I was afraid I'd be biased toward the Benchmark, more $$=better, right?). And left them on and playing music via my Apple TV or an Airport Express continuously, although I only listened at night after work and on weekends. Every week or so we'd swap in another one.
My Marantz CD5001 was used as the CD transport and I a/b'd it's internal DAC against the one in the rack at the time. Here are my opinions:
All music sounded better thru an outboard DAC vs the built in one in the AE, hands down...they are in a different league, anything would be an improvement.
Of course there were differences among them;
The one I was going to buy before I decided to do an audition, the Benchmark, was probably my least favorite. It was very detailed, which was nice at first, but after awhile I found myself wanting to go do something else or fiddle with the tone controls, very bright and fatiguing, something I had not previously experienced with this system. And on a subjective note, it was the least attractive of the bunch, It was also the most expensive, 2x as much as the others, definitely not twice as good. Back in the box it went, excluded from further consideration.
The VDA-2 was next and may have benefited from following the DAC-1, I liked it enough to not box it up right away and consider it as the one I would keep. Aside from lack of harshness I would say the next thing I noticed was the sound stage opened up a lot. Night and day difference between this and the CD5001.
The Music Hall was next, and at first I thought I was listening to the Benchmark again, very bright the first couple days, but this quickly went away once it warmed up (tubed output) and it took the VDA-2's ability to make digital music sound analog even further, Detail and musicality were amazing but not too high resolution. I think this is the Benchmark's main problem, unless a recording is mastered perfect it will magnify problems or poor practices. I had a feeling I knew which one this was before I saw it, because I thought I heard some tube "warmness". Again, much improved over the CD5001. This one was also kept for consideration.
The PS Audio was kind of disappointing, it started off well, warm out of the box and it sounded great with the compressed streamed content, but when I compared it to the DAC in my CD player I really could not hear a difference, if anything it was a little muddier...back in the box it went.
I listened to both the CI and Music Hall all week, and last Wed. I decided on the Music Hall, mainly because it just sounded less digital than the CI. And I think the Music Hall demonstrated a bigger improvement over the CI when compared to the CD5001's DAC. Plus the CI does not have a USB input or a built in headphone amp which may never be an issue, but who knows?? Either one would have made me happy."
Just my opinions...this was posted a couple of weeks ago and it continues to improve, I'm very happy with it. I find it curious I liked the 2 least expensive units the most...
This was done as a stop gap until I could budget the DAC i really want, but that is years away. This will do nicely until then.
the relevant parts of my system are a MC252, C220 and Monitor Audio RS8's
I think we have a sleeper of a unit here. I got together with some friends and we compared the Music Hall , PSAudio and Paradisea and the Music Hall won hands down. It was more musical than the others.I thnk that the upsampling and tube output combo is the key to this baby. I am loving it. But it dos take some time to burn in.
at $700 it is hard to beat on sound and you get a headphone and balanced outputs...
Handlebar
Well-Known Member
got my Music Hall DAC 25.2 and am on the 3rd day with it. I'm very happy to have an external DAC and would highly recommend getting one. I'm sure the various models are all very good. I wanted this one account of the tube output (6922) and will use it with a tube integraded amp that should arrive any day now. With upgraded crossovers/caps in the Klipsch Cornwalls, I'll be trying to keep up with this little guy..>>
..lol..:thmbsp:
Hbar
..lol..:thmbsp:Hbar
I added the Music Hall Dac 25.2 to my system 2 months ago and immediately noticed a fuller bass and smoother treble. However, the cheap Russian tube in my Dac was replaced by a Siemens tube. Jeff Wells, who owns Audible Arts in Campbell Calif, where I bought the Dac believes there is a large improvement in the harmonic richness of the sound when the Siemens is added. But the cost is higher - the Siemens cost $175 more - and it takes about 200 hrs. to break in.
Agree on the tube upgrade. I changed mine to a high specification 7308 (CV2493) NOS Mullard with gold pins and after about 100 hours it really stepped up the performance of this DAC. In simple terms it has even more detail and instruments and voices sound natural, isolated, and well defined. Simply more of the same from this DAC with a high spec and better tube.
tentoze
Twangophile
Had mine for 3-4 weeks now, and it continues to sound better every time I run it, not that it sounded anything but fine from the outset. I'll swap a tube or 2 some time in the near future, but it's no rush for me- best thing I've done for digital playback in my system since I bought a cd player in 1984.
I just ordered one from Music Direct. Is it true that they are the exclusive dealer for this DAC? MD had a screamin' deal going until 6pm CST. I just beat the clock by about 10 minutes. I could have received 10% off, but instead opted for a free Shuntaya AC power cable that is presently marked down to $125 from $250. I've never tried an upgraded AC plug, but what the hell, the price was right.
I too was on the fence about which DAC to buy and this thread convinced me. Thanks guys...I think.
I have a MSB Technologies Link DAC III that I'll be moving to another system.
I too was on the fence about which DAC to buy and this thread convinced me. Thanks guys...I think.
I have a MSB Technologies Link DAC III that I'll be moving to another system.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
I just ordered one from Music Direct. Is it true that they are the exclusive dealer for this DAC? MD had a screamin' deal going until 6pm CST. I just beat the clock by about 10 minutes. I could have received 10% off, but instead opted for a free Shuntaya AC power cable that is presently marked down to $125 from $250. I've never tried an upgraded AC plug, but what the hell, the price was right.
I too was on the fence about which DAC to buy and this thread convinced me. Thanks guys...I think.
I have a MSB Technologies Link DAC III that I'll be moving to another system.
I'm assuming it's the Diamondback 1.5 meter? I bought one at this sale price, it's a good power cable, and you will be better off using this with your new DAC than whatever stock thing it comes with.
Mr Lin,
Yes, that's the one, but MD called it a 5 footer. I was planning to use it with the MH.
jjgaspard,
Nice review...and nice speakers. :yes:
Yes, that's the one, but MD called it a 5 footer. I was planning to use it with the MH.
jjgaspard,
Nice review...and nice speakers. :yes:
The Music Hall that I ordered on Monday night arrived on Thursday (yesterday) and I now know why you guys like yours so much. This thing is sweet! I hope to try my laptop thru it tomorrow, but I need to buy a longer USB cable. Thanks to the positive comments in this thread, I bought the right DAC. :yes: The Shuntaya power cable that was thrown in with the deal looks like it could power an electric chair.
The MSB Link DAC III it replaced is now in the bedroom system and sounds very good there.
The MSB Link DAC III it replaced is now in the bedroom system and sounds very good there.
The Music Hall that I ordered on Monday night arrived on Thursday (yesterday) and I now know why you guys like yours so much. This thing is sweet! I hope to try my laptop thru it tomorrow, but I need to buy a longer USB cable. Thanks to the positive comments in this thread, I bought the right DAC. :yes: The Shuntaya power cable that was thrown in with the deal looks like it could power an electric chair.
The MSB Link DAC III it replaced is now in the bedroom system and sounds very good there.
Try upgrading the tube...
Long time listener, first time caller...
Does anyone know that th maximum input word length and sampling frequency is for the Music Hall DAC 25.2? All the specs I have read say that it will upsample to 24/96 or 24/192, but nothing about what it will accept through the Optical, SPDIF, and USB interfaces.:yes:
Thanks in advance!
Does anyone know that th maximum input word length and sampling frequency is for the Music Hall DAC 25.2? All the specs I have read say that it will upsample to 24/96 or 24/192, but nothing about what it will accept through the Optical, SPDIF, and USB interfaces.:yes:
Thanks in advance!
g_georgi
Member
Bought one of these to hook up to my mac mini which serves as my music/video player. I swapped the EH tube for a Tesla. Over the stock analog out the DAC improved the low end response, hitting new lows and with grunt. Upper frequencies sound more airy.
I'm using the USB output for now and will test the optical out once I get a mini toslink cable.
Quickly did a compare on my PS3, analog out vs DAC via optical and the analog outs sounded substantially better. My guess is that the 1st gen ps3s which support sacds where built with a better than avg. dac built in.
I'm using the USB output for now and will test the optical out once I get a mini toslink cable.
Quickly did a compare on my PS3, analog out vs DAC via optical and the analog outs sounded substantially better. My guess is that the 1st gen ps3s which support sacds where built with a better than avg. dac built in.
While this thread's been dormant for 6 months,I thought I might resurrect it and ask those who've been listening to this DAC for over a year comment on what tube swaps they've been made and more importantly,how much of an improvement in sound was made. Also,where were they purchased .
The reason for asking is,I just bought this DAC today and would like to find as many possibilities for upgrading the stock tube. This was my main reason for choosing the MH, because of it's tube output and the many good reviews.
I will not be using a PC, just CD/DVD players as the source.
The reason for asking is,I just bought this DAC today and would like to find as many possibilities for upgrading the stock tube. This was my main reason for choosing the MH, because of it's tube output and the many good reviews.
I will not be using a PC, just CD/DVD players as the source.
