DAC Reviews

[blackraven]

On Saturday, I will be doing a DAC comparison at a friends house, comparing the New Exogal Comet DAC with a Bryston BDP-1, Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 DSDse, Hugo Chord and just for kicks an IFI DAC.

Exogal is a new company started by 3 ex-Wadia guys. Here is a link to their DAC-

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I will be getting the Comet today, on loan from the Company which is based here in the Twin Cities. I will put it through the paces in my system for a few days before the shoot out. It should be fun. I will post my review over the weekend.

[Hyfi]

Sounds like a bunch of fun.

Slightly off topic.....What is the consensus on the Fubar USB DAC? I was given one and recently started streaming my FLAC files from Laptop thru DAC into system and the sound is really good.

[JoeE SP9]

One thing I like about the Fubar DAC is that it's also an ADC.

[blackraven]

I have been listening to the Comet for at least 3 hours now and I have a better impression of it.

When I first listened to the Comet I was not initially wowed like I was when my friend brought over his W4S DAC-2 DSDse and Chord Hugo a few weeks ago. I thought this sounds very good but I was not hit with the immediate feeling that this was a piece of Kit that I needed to have. But after listening for a good while I found myself smiling for no reason and really enjoying the music, more so than I had in a long time. I had to sit and think about why and then I started thinking about what was missing from the sound. There was no glare, digital edge or fatigue and no sibilants. The back ground was completely black. I found the sound was very easy to listen too leaning on the relaxed side as I began to think about what was right with it. It is very liquid, holographic and 3D with fantastic transparency. The sound stage is wide and very tall. Bass is tight, well controlled and pleasing although it could use a just a little more weight with my Maggies. Cymbals sounded perfect and not too forward or pushed back. Vocals and horns are to die for, very natural and smooth. Drums had good kick to them. There was good spacing between instruments. Overall the sound is very analog and neutral with maybe a hint of warmth. The dynamics are good but not on the level of the W4S DAC-2 DSDse which has great slam, and there is good musicality but not to the level of the Hugo Chord which I really like but seems to sugar coat a little like the old CJ tube gear. I think that is why I was not initially wowed by the Comet, but the more I listened, the more it won me over as I realized that the sound is excellent and it just sounds right. It is a very analog sounding DAC and I just might buy this DAC after I hear a few more at Axpona. I really would like to hear a Marantz Na 11s1 and a lower level Lampizator as my budget is around $3K new or used.

More to come on Sunday after the DAC shoot out.

[sochnedo]

I was given one and recently started streaming my FLAC files from Laptop thru DAC into system and the sound is really good.??

[Feanor]

I was given one and recently started streaming my FLAC files from Laptop thru DAC into system and the sound is really good.??

Welcome to AR Forums. Glad you're enjoying your DAC.

It isn't surprising that the sound is better thru the DAC vs. direct from the computer: computer DACs, (e.g. Realtek), are typically not very good.