HAKAI playground

[beck]

In both set of clips, the first is Linn Akurate DSM > Coaxial digital > RME ADI-2 Dac, SD slow filter

And the second is..?

HAKAI > USB > RME ADI-2 Dac, SD Slow filter

[Spannko]

For my part this was not me starting a discussion about different formats though cd has it’s merits. What is worth noting is that with any format when you get it tuneful enough it can produce sounds that we can interpret as music.

I totally agree, beck.

[Lego]

Well, well, now we need a set of clips comparing the ADSM with its integrated DAC vs. with the RME DAC...

I can do that, but will post it in playground for practical listening exercises thread.

Oh, and which version ADSM are you using?

2011 generation (ADSM/0?)

I want to hear Akurate DSM vs Hakai P(proper)

What do you mean Lego?
HAKAI with ESI dac vs Akurate DSM with RME dac?

Hakai ESI vs Akurate DSM no rme as I'm not interested in spending 1k on a dac. Thinking about it knowing how flaky the Hakai can some2 sound in the first few months because of so called burn in comparisons at the moment tell us very little

[Sopper]

2 clips again:
HAKAI > USB > ESI Gigaport HD+ dac
ADSM > Coax digital > RME ADI-2 dac

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tzpwmlezm1h8u ... 8.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1c5nx1p6ynw3q ... 9.MOV?dl=0

[Charlie1]

I prefer clip 1.

[Lego]

I found clip 1 made me feel uncomfortable and I struggled to listen to the end. In clip 2 I got an image of a horse strolling down a cobbled street, so that's good enough for me :0)

[Tendaberry]

Number 2 for me, the guitar playing is much more appealing and her singing got me interested in the story she's telling.

[lejonklou]

2 clips again:
HAKAI > USB > ESI Gigaport HD+ dac
ADSM > Coax digital > RME ADI-2 dac

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tzpwmlezm1h8u ... 8.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1c5nx1p6ynw3q ... 9.MOV?dl=0

I think both clips sound really great!

The first one is more clear and detailed, the second a little clouded but a bit more emotional. After several back and forth, I decided to vote for the second.

How much do these two options cost, roughly?

[Sopper]

I think both clips sound really great!

The first one is more clear and detailed, the second a little clouded but a bit more emotional. After several back and forth, I decided to vote for the second.

How much do these two options cost, roughly?

The pricedifference is off course huge...
HAKAI + ESI = approximately €600
ADMS + RME = approximately €8.000 (old ADSM price, the new ADSM/3 costs €9.000 alone)

[tokenbrit]

100s vs 1000s. Each clip had its own qualities - maybe a slight preference for 1, for me, but I'd be happy with whichever is the ESI ;) :D

[Charlie1]

I listened again. Earlier I used my work laptop which is ok but not as good as my iPhone. I just picked 1 cos I found it a lot easier to make sense of that guitar at the start. I still prefer 1 on balance, but they are much closer now using the iPhone. I like clip 2 for its more natural sound and also it seems to better convey the atmosphere. I like both for different things. I’ll have 1 scoop of each please waiter.

[Sopper]

2 clips again:
HAKAI > USB > ESI Gigaport HD+ dac
ADSM > Coax digital > RME ADI-2 dac

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tzpwmlezm1h8u ... 8.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1c5nx1p6ynw3q ... 9.MOV?dl=0

Clip 1 is ADSM
Clip 2 is HAKAI

[Sopper]

3 Clips; Dead Can Dance - Saldek

HAKAI > USB > ESI Gigaport HD+ dac
ADSM > Coax digital > RME ADI-2 dac
ADSM > Build-in dac > Linn Silver

ADSM first generation 2011 variant (2013)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n8clg5nl9qbt7 ... 3.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rfeyyfqbdo2ai ... 4.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ukc2fkzsmvj7h ... 5.MOV?dl=0

[tokenbrit]

1, no 3, .. maybe 2. Yes 1 ... or one of the others :)

[beck]

Try listening from 36 sec and onwards. It makes it easier to hear the differences. Listen to the chord at the end and how it sounds when fading out.

[tokenbrit]

Dropbox has been a bit flaky for me recently, so I have had to try different devices to listen to the clips: phone, tablet, laptop. The clips are close enough to each other that it feels like my preference between the clips is more dependent on which device I am listening on than on the differences between the clips. I really would prefer to listen to them as pieces of music, & musical performances, than breaking it down into which clip sounds better for a particular section or chord. I feel it's more telling that there is very little in it on performance, but a huge amount in it on price. In isolation they all sound decent - it's only in direct comparison, and repeated back & forth that aspects of each reveal themselves.
For what it's worth, I'd have put 2 in last place listening on my phone, but in 1st place when listening on the laptop - 1 was a marginal preference on the phone; 3 was maybe the most consistent between phone & laptop. I like Charlie1's idea - a scoop of each, thanks. Since the ESI-Hakai is less than a tenth the cost of the ADSM +/- the RME, I'll 'make do' with the Hakai and spend some money on music :)

[beck]

Since the ESI-Hakai is less than a tenth the cost of the ADSM +/- the RME, I'll 'make do' with the Hakai and spend some money on music :)

+1 (if I needed a streamer)

[tokenbrit]

Since the ESI-Hakai is less than a tenth the cost of the ADSM +/- the RME, I'll 'make do' with the Hakai and spend some money on music :)

+1 (if I needed a streamer)

Just for you beck, I was going to type that I'd make do with the Hakai and spend some money on LPs ;)

[Sopper]

I agree that it is really a no-brainer to choose the HAKAI

[Lego]

3 best then 2 then 1

[lejonklou]

3 Clips; Dead Can Dance - Saldek

HAKAI > USB > ESI Gigaport HD+ dac
ADSM > Coax digital > RME ADI-2 dac
ADSM > Build-in dac > Linn Silver

ADSM first generation 2011 variant (2013)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n8clg5nl9qbt7 ... 3.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rfeyyfqbdo2ai ... 4.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ukc2fkzsmvj7h ... 5.MOV?dl=0

I'll have number 3, please.

[jewa]

Comparing three clips are bit difficult but:

clip 3, clip 1, clip 2

[Tendaberry]

Number 3 for me too.

[Sopper]

1 = ADSM build-in dac
2 = ADSM + RME
3 = HAKAI + ESI

HAKAI and ESI running stable now with a dev Volumio build, so keeping this configuration.

[Lego]

1 = ADSM build-in dac
2 = ADSM + RME
3 = HAKAI + ESI

HAKAI and ESI running stable now with a dev Volumio build, so keeping this configuration.

What do you mean by running more stable and dev volumio build Sopper