adamslim;157503 Wrote: > I recently got a Derek Shek d2 DAC..... I agree 100% with your observation. My experience with the "new" Shek DAC is the same. When I got it 2 weeks ago, I was awed by the soundstage and presentation. But then I noted that the top wasn't quite that open. I gave it the benefit of the doubt that it was too new. Now, another 2 weeks later, I think the sound has stabilized and it has broken in for good. Here's my opinion - I feel that overall the sound is like on the "Yin" side (Yin/Yang philosophy in China). I have been using a Musical Fidelity A324 (MF)upsampling DAC, which was Class A according to Stereophile (I believe). The MF I would say is more "Yang", masculine, dynamic. The Shek I believe is good for certain music which emphasizes the mids more than anything else. With say acoustic recordings, the fact that the top end is not as vivid is not so obvious. But.... when you do play symphonic works, the Shek's personality really comes off. In one way, I can't say it's bad. The designer is of the opinion that it's a matter of taste. I believe it's a matter of "balance" rather. There is something about the Shek "AS IS" that I am not sure I like, mostly because of the "rounded" top frequencies. I say "rounded" for the lack of a better word, and be polite about it. For The $money, I think the Shek is a very good DAC. But, for the more dynamic programs, I think I would prefer the MF more. But, for that kind of money, about $350 delivered, can't really complain too much about the "softness" (I don't know if someone will attack me on using such a word). I also had entertained the thought that my associated equipment may have something to do with the sound. But... I do note that the difference in sound between the 2 are based on using the same equipment in my system, nothing else but the DAC changed. So, I ruled that out. May be, using a different amp, wire, may have made a difference. But.... I must emphasize that all the other equipment pieces were not changed - Rowland 112 amp (some say the closest solid state thing to tube sound), Cary AES 3 DJH preamp (quite dynamic preamp), Acoustic Zen WOW wires (pretty dynamic), and Audience PowerChord (pretty analytical).
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