LakeWest MDAC vs M2Tech Young DAC
The DAC off I alwanys wanted is definately on! My friend goes on holiday tomorrow, and has just dropped off his standard MDAC - for me to compare to my Young. I will be very interested in the comparison, as the long delayed MDAC was on my radar before the Young ever was.
It may take a week or more for me to post some thoughts, so please be patient!
To his credit, the MDAC designer, John Westlake, is currently offering modifications to lift the MDACs performance - and despite being skeptical himself is now investigating why it is that the DAC is benefiting from resistors a customer sent him to try. He admits he cannot explain the difference, and doubts there should be one - but he hears it and is investigating. He even goes so far as to say the units he has already shipped should be returned to him to add the new resistors, the cost of which he will cover, as well as half the shipping. Hooray for open minded (and ear-ed) designers, I say!
It may take a week or more for me to post some thoughts, so please be patient!
To his credit, the MDAC designer, John Westlake, is currently offering modifications to lift the MDACs performance - and despite being skeptical himself is now investigating why it is that the DAC is benefiting from resistors a customer sent him to try. He admits he cannot explain the difference, and doubts there should be one - but he hears it and is investigating. He even goes so far as to say the units he has already shipped should be returned to him to add the new resistors, the cost of which he will cover, as well as half the shipping. Hooray for open minded (and ear-ed) designers, I say!
Comments
Keith.
I am not in any way dissatisfied with the Young, my interest is in consolidation. In playing with pre amps, I am being drawn to conclude I prefer a decent passive to a decent active. Putting attenuation into the DAC is the logical progression of that, one less component, and one less interconnect (with the two solder joints, and junction between plugs and sockets each side).
So, if the MDAC can nearly match the Young, I will have to decide whether to swap, as the MDAC can be upgraded. In its final guise it costs as much as a Young (minus the Young PS), and I would fully expect it to equal or better the more attractive Italian, plus I could simplify my rig.
Keith.
Keith, Mods are good for a designers income, just as sales are for a dealer... your point being? These DACs are both unmodified, and will be compared as such. I prefer to give JW benefit of the doubt, as a sincere designer interested in both his product and his users, unless I see evidence to the contrary.
(In fact, I shall have to dig out the Young's original wall-wart supply, and euro adapter to make it work, in the interests of fairness.)
As for J Westlake's modifications being clearly audible, and/or aftermarket power supplies providing value for money (something JW has actually discussed on pfm), the only way for anyone to know is to try them. Any speculation made without direct experience is just, er, speculative.
To quote that literary giant, D Rumsfeld:
Keith.
My point was really that seldom do users have the oppurtunity to compare a modified unit to the standard spec.
Keith.
I take your point though, about quality and involvement - things I think the Young excels at.
Keith.
After a few brief listens, it seemed every bit as competent as I would expect a decent DAC to be, although I wasn't familiar enough with it to make a meaningful comparison.
I plan to compare it sometime in the future, Justin lives just around the corner.