General Asylum: REVIEW: Musical Fidelity V-DAC DAC Processors by layman

Model:	V-DAC
Category:	DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price:	$300
Description:	Latest generation DAC with USB, Electrical and Coaxial Inputs
Manufacturer URL:	Musical Fidelity
Model Picture:	View

Review by layman on January 19, 2009 at 18:01:07
IP Address: 71.163.62.240 Add Your Review
for the V-DAC

I have been living with the V-DAC for a couple of weeks now. Its sonic character reminds me an audiophile player that I heard recently, the latest Meridian model G06. Technophiles have pointed out a certainly commonality between many of the latest digital products with regard to their DAC circuitry, but I think the similarity goes beyond the silicon "brains" inhabiting these new machines.

The V-DAC sounds sweet, refined, reserved, and sophisticated in the manner of a Spendor speaker. It "feels" like you are missing something, like some editing has taken place, but you are actually hearing a bit more than most digital players reveal musically.

More timbral authenticity...voices and instruments sound subtlety more believable, rounded and meatier, more like live performers do (it's like adding flesh back onto digital bone). The V-DAC seems to lack the glare and crudeness that has given digital a bad name.

With that said, the V-DAC does not sound as liquid as I was hoping that it would. Nor is it the most exciting sound and the V-DAC will never give an "edge of the seat" perspective. It's more mid-hall. The V-DAC won't have you on the edge of your seat with thrills either (I am thinking of an old live vs. Memorex ad with a listener blown away in his seat).

I don't think the V-DAC outperforms audiophile players like the Meridian (which sounds a good deal more refined and realistic) but it is certainly closer to that type of sound than most budget gear and thus qualifies as a great bargain to audiophiles who value timbral authenticity and subtlety over a more thrilling (and more fatiguing) digital sound.

Product Weakness:	Not as exciting and "edge of the seat" as other players
Product Strengths:	Sweet, refined sounding DAC with timbral authenticity that's unsual for digital audio

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Primaluna Prologue One
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony
Speakers: Dynaudio Focus 140
Cables/Interconnects: Van den Hul
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Everything...Beyonce to Beethoven
Room Size (LxWxH): 30 x 14 x 7
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: several weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): none
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Primaluna Prologue One
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony
Speakers:	Dynaudio Focus 140
Cables/Interconnects:	Van den Hul
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Everything...Beyonce to Beethoven
Room Size (LxWxH):	30 x 14 x 7
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	several weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner