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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
rbstehno
916 posts
 
I read the review and IMO it is way over the top for a review. What top quality dac uses those chips? I went out and reviewed other threads on those dac chips and here is an example of what I found:
The TDA1543 chip is a budget chip and was designed as such back in the medieval times.

This TDA1543 DAC, or any 1543 DAC, really, is only worth considering if you want a cheap, entry-level, non-oversampling DAC to try and are curious about that old school Philips sound. 

The dac that that was used as a reference wasn’t a top notch dac IMO. If he would have compared it to the DCS or ps audio DS dacs and came out ahead without blasting “it crushes” these dacs, then maybe he is on to something.

if the dac doesn’t use FPGA, or support hires/dsd/MQA, then it’s old technology and wouldn’t be on my list to review

agriculturist
160 posts
 
@teajay,  I was completely on board with your view of the Concert Fidelity tube NOS DAC-040 as you gave it in a review here some years ago. How does this DAC compare to that in your opinion? Thanks. 
teajay OP
1,333 posts
 
Hey rbstehno,

My oh my, ignorance has no boundaries in this fun hobby of high-end audio.

1) This NOS Phillips DAC chip is extremely held in high esteem by many listeners/designers because if used in the right way it offers an analog perspective regarding timbres/colors and great 3D imaging compared to more recent DAC chips.  Have you ever personally heard any of these "medieval" based DACs?

2) I have had in my system DACs from DCS (full stack) and PS Audio's DAC, along with the top notch DACs mentioned in the review (Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series MQA and the Playback Design Dream Player MPS-8) both can do DSD/MQA formats.  I agree that the higher resolution formats sound different,but necessary better.  So much "kool aid" has been drink believing higher and higher sampling rates get you superior sound,  just ain't necessarily so. 

I always find it amazing when someone comes to the conclusion that a piece of gear can't be any good, even though they have never heard with their own ears.
teajay OP
1,333 posts
 
Hi agriculturist,

As I stated in my review the Lab 12 DAC1 SE completely out performed my Concert Fidelity-040 hybrid DAC, my reference for over five years, across all sonic parameters. 


If you loved the sound of the Concert Fidelity, you would be very enamored with the sound of the Lab 12 DAC. 
skywachr
21 posts
 
The comment about the Phillips chip is spot on. No DAC technology can overcome the limitations brought about by a lesser chip. The 1543 is ancient and never came close to performing at the level of its very worthy predecessor the 1541A. I feel DAC discussions really begin with a comment about the chip(s) employed rather than perceived SQ.
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