THE REVIEWS
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MUSICIAN AUDIO PEGASUS - REVIEW
The $1-2k market segment for DACs is a crowded one with some very capable contenders, so I would definitely listen rather than reading before landing on a final purchase. That said, the PEGASUS represents a solid investment in mellow digital audio conversion. The overall careful construction, effortless ease of use, plethora of input choices and ability to upgrade the performance via I²S all make for a compelling package.
DENAFRIPS TERMINATOR II DAC - REVIEW
The DENAFRIPS Terminator II checks all of the required music lover and audiophile boxes easily and well and is a prodigious talent, especially when its price is taken into account. DACs within its ‘ambient’ pricing circle should take pause and perhaps never agree to a side by side comparison, lest they suffer a humiliating defeat.
GESHELLI LABS E2/J2 - REVIEW
Disinterested in ostentation, Geshelli Labs believes in real world pricing with high fidelity performance. Their JNOG2 plus ERISH2 are a petite and potent bargain. With just enough character to put flesh on bone, the classy little twosome sets your music free without excessive color or dispensable features.
PS AUDIO SACD TRANSPORT/ DAC COMBO - REVIEW
Seriously, if you have a mountain of CDs like a number of my friends and consider yourself a connoisseur of media—CDs, SACDs, downloads—the PerfectWave SACD transport and the PS Audio DirectStream DAC represent a one-stop powerhouse that will keep you seated in the listening chair for countless happy hours with its transparency, its detail and richness, its startle factor, and its engaging musicality.
BURSON AUDIO PLAYMATE 2 - REVIEW
The Playmate 2 is an unassuming desktop digital–to–analog converter (DAC) plus unbalanced headphone amp (HPA) from Aussie operational amplifier specialists Burson Audio.
MERASON FRÉROT DAC & POW1 - REVIEW
Despite my misgivings about outdated tech, there were no instances where I felt the frérot + pow1 was left wanting. The design path that was taken results in a refreshingly straightforward solution for digital audio playback.
BRICASTI DESIGN M1SE - REVIEW
The Bricasti Design M1SE has proven itself even beyond what the research had led me to believe. Perhaps it was the synergy conjured up by so many exceptional reference components at the time of its review. And, no doubt, the M1SE’s prodigious ability as a high fidelity DAC with a host of options—15(!)—so as to be tailored for most, if not all listening preferences, is but another star for its abilities.