Three more for perusal for anyone interested in an SE only DAC around that price. MHDT Orchid ($1210), Black Ice Glass FX ($899), and the Burson Conductor 3P ($1,044).
Thank you for this review. I have owned a Soekris 1421 since 2019 and have been very happy with it. I initially used it with a Hegel H90 amp which only has single ended inputs. I now use it with an Atoll IN300 amp, which is a very resolving amp, so the pairing is very resolving. The Atoll amp has single ended inputs that allow its pre-amp to be bypassed, which allows me to use the Soekris as a pre-amp; this is the configuration that sounds best to me. It was nice to hear a comparison to other DACs.
Great review and comparison! Comprehensive. Will you be reviewing the DAC 2541 at some point as well? Have had my eye on that one for some time and would love to get your impressions of that one comapred to that over $1k echelon 🙏
Is the power supply switch mode, or linear? Edit - it looks to be a switch mode power supply. And it seems that a headphone amp is a bit of a side show? On the big plus side- it appears to have a discrete output stage? I hope that you get a chance to use a decent 25W-50W linear power supply with the Geshelli J2S - the soundstage and the layering take a *big* leap for the better. And if you want the best it can provide, try the big Sparkos SS2590 (with 2 risers) on the single ended output. This is a *world class* DAC in this configuration.
Very informative review. I am a single ended user. From what I am understanding here, the 1421 is the best choice at this price range for single ended users, right? How about compared to the original Ares 2? Thank you
I found a sale on a new lake people rs-06 here in Germany. I’m really happy with it as a mid-fi dac pairing to my g111. I’d be curious to see how it compares to all of the dacs you’ve been reviewing lately
Really interested in the mid-fi DAC shoot out if you manage to get a Mojo 2. I'm familiar with many of the DACs you mentioned. However, I didn't have the opportunity to A/B any of them with the Mojo 2, the DAC I settled on for my work/portable set-up.
+1 for Chord Mojo 2, as a standalone DAC it can compete In 2k range, it quite holographic and gives textural information like my Holo Spring 3 KTE costing 3k, for its capabilities i think it's way underpriced.
I'd be curious for you to try the Yulong Daart Aquila III. It's got a Class-A amp with it, but it seems to me to be more meant to be used as a DAC (SE and BAL outputs) in some sort of Mid-Fi or Hi-Fi system. I've heard somewhere that it's available from Walmart for whatever reason.
Hi WT! I listen my He1000SE on a Fiio M15s. What king of DAC/Amp would really boost my listening experience? Maybe nothing, as the M15S is a pretty good DAP? 🤷🏻♂️
@@patlezinc As in recommendations? My set up is the XI Broadway Balanced amp and Matrix Element M DAC. Theres a lot of options to choose. It depends on what you want and your budget. Id recommend pairing your HEKse with components more or less of similar price point.
@@patlezinc That’s probably a nice set up from your DAP. I haven’t heard them though but I know those get good reviews. Try before buying if you can or find somewhere you can always make an easy return. Have fun.
