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A DAC that crushes price vs. performance ratio

I felt strongly that I wanted to inform the Gon members about a new DAC that ranks with the very best on the market regarding performance, but costs around $2,000.00.  The Lab12 DAC1 SE was compared to three reference level DACS that retail for over $12.000.00 in my review for hometheaterreview.com and was at least on the same level sonicly, if not better.  This DAC from Greece is not just "good for the money" but competes with virtually anything on the market regardless of price!

For all the details about the Lab12 DAC1 SE performance and what other DACS it was compared to take a look at the review.  If you are shopping/looking for a new digital front end to drive your system, you owe it to yourself to check this DAC out, unless you like to spend tons of more $ without getting better performance.
teajay
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
@grey9hound +1
Sounds like someone got out of bed on the wrong side.
melm
309 posts
 
I find it extremely odd that a reviewer for a magazine, even an e-zine, would find it necessary or ethically appropriate to "push" a piece of equipment he reviewed--along, of course, with "pushing" the review itself. Many similar boards would not tolerate this.

This is not at all a comment on the component under review; I had never heard of it before.  Moreover I am an advocate of small foreign companies that are pushing the boundaries of performance/price ratios especially in the digital arena.  But the reviewer does his component no favor by making it appear that something "fishy" is going on.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
1,457 posts
 
Lab12 has been around for a while, and is known in Europe.  It's now got a couple of toes in the US market.  Mainly tube gear, plus this DAC, plus a very interesting power conditioner that I was very seriously considering.

It wouldn't surprise me if the DAC performed very well for the price, but the proof is always in the pudding (or the eating thereof). OP's motives may be disinterested/altruistic, or not, but there's no way--epistemologically speaking--that we will ever know.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Yes, I failed to mention that the Lab12 power conditioner piqued my interest as well. But alas, it too got great reviews so I guess it must be looked at suspiciously as well.

C’mon guys (and gals), teajay is a professional reviewer but he’s always been upfront about it and what he contributes here is, as I’ve always seen it, as just another audiophile.

Same goes for schroeder. They’re not here to push a product but tune us onto one, as all of us do.

All the best,
Nonoise
strateahed
251 posts
 

@nonoise + 1

First, a big “thank you” to Terry (@teajay) for sharing this information. I wonder how many comments were from folks who actually read your entire review. What some have deemed as “pushing” or “promoting” can rightfully be termed “unbridled enthusiasm” based on one’s actual experience. Nothing wrong with that.

As far as what constitutes “reference level”, I think a $10K piece in service for 6 six years certainly qualifies. So that was the reviewer’s reference point; and what he said was the Lab12 DAC “crushes” the price/performance ratio. In other words, if a $2K DAC performs as good or better than DACs (3 to be exact) costing as much as 10x more, then …

Secondly, it would have been entirely different if teajay had some financial interest or if that was the overarching motivation behind his wanting to share this find with fellow audiophiles. Why do some people feel the need to find something negative to say? The fact that the Lab12 DAC is now in his personal reference system speaks volumes. I had never heard about the Lab12 before now. So again, Terry’s shared experience (there’s that word again) is much appreciated!      


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