Hey Manuel. I'm like the third or the fourth one I believe. I wasn't keen to be the first to deliver a Centaurus DAC review. However, I made sure to deliver a more in-depth review versus the others (more sound impressions and more comparisons).
Some of the reviews I've read about the Cyan2 from Holo Audio, it's supposed to be close to the Spring 3 and for $200 more that seems like the better deal than the Centaurus.
The obvious comparison I want to see, is between this and the cyan 2 The scuttlebutt I heard is that the "collaboration" merely involved Topping buying the ladder resistor boards from Holo, and nothing more. I already have the cyan and love it, but I'm insanely curious to know how Topping's impl with the same ladders changes the result.
I own a 12 years old Burson Audio HA-160D and it has all the qualities you describe on modern dacs except depth and 3D sound (i mean: I get 3D sound only after three hours and not always). Do you think one of these three dacs could be a real upgrade of the old Burson?
I had the next gen of burson, a conductor with burr brown chips and the d90 discrete sounds much better especially if you run it with a tube headphone amp or a tube stereo preamp
One thing I do not understand is why these higher end DACs use USB B. I have searched high and low for an answer. But only conflicting opinions. Very good review by the way. All the best!
Oh, Topping, I think I heard about them, DO THEY MAKE DACS TOO? Very SMSL-ish look if you know what I mean. I was expecting Topping to also join the R2R fashion, so predictable. Good idea too since most Topping releases sound cold, bright and very analytical.
As someone new to R2R would you recommend this Dac or something like the Pontus-2 or Pegasus 2? I’m actively looking for a R2R so any help is appreciated.
As you can imagine, there is always some bias and personal preference, so take this with a grain of salt, but at those prices, I would choose the Gustard R26. It has more features, better specs and it sounds sublime. By comparison, Pegasus 2 lacks in terms of resolution and dynamics and I can't say much about the Pontus.
@@dominich.9745 There would always be a better DAC at higher prices, that's how I ended up with my Wavedream Reference. The R26 is better versus the Centaurus, but it's also by 50% more expensive...
I was an early buyer on release day and the pricing was off so I got the Centaurus for $799 not $999 still waiting for it so I could cancel but in your mind @$799 does that change your opinion? Thank you for spending time on my questions.
Hi! looks like someone has won the race to review Topping Centaurus 🙂
(And the hype train is being slowed down)
Hey Manuel. I'm like the third or the fourth one I believe. I wasn't keen to be the first to deliver a Centaurus DAC review. However, I made sure to deliver a more in-depth review versus the others (more sound impressions and more comparisons).
Great review. Reviewers are lucky to be able to pick and choose. The rest of us can only buy one and be happy with it. Don't get into the rabbit hole.
Some of the reviews I've read about the Cyan2 from Holo Audio, it's supposed to be close to the Spring 3 and for $200 more that seems like the better deal than the Centaurus.
Just a bit quirky from what I read.
Was the S17 Pro EVO your collaboration with Aune? Hopefully we see a review soon!
Sound for the Topping D90 discrete into a new tube pre-amp would magic
Tharbamar in his review mentioned a little bit of sibilance issue, any that you'd noticed? Thanks
How do you compare this unit to hifiman serenade (similar price, r2r, but has headphone amp and streamer on board) ?
The obvious comparison I want to see, is between this and the cyan 2
The scuttlebutt I heard is that the "collaboration" merely involved Topping buying the ladder resistor boards from Holo, and nothing more. I already have the cyan and love it, but I'm insanely curious to know how Topping's impl with the same ladders changes the result.
Hi
Nice review
Thanks for that
Did Topping run out of linear power supplies? 🤔
Fantastic review! Really helpful. As an aside, since the term comes up a lot, note that the word "timbre" is pronounced like "tamber".
Sandu, thank you for another wonderful DAC review! 👌
Reverend Dr. Thomas,
✝️ The Vegan Vicar 🌱
Thanks, mate!
Still Taurus the bigger soundstager?
I own a 12 years old Burson Audio HA-160D and it has all the qualities you describe on modern dacs except depth and 3D sound (i mean: I get 3D sound only after three hours and not always).
Do you think one of these three dacs could be a real upgrade of the old Burson?
I had the next gen of burson, a conductor with burr brown chips and the d90 discrete sounds much better especially if you run it with a tube headphone amp or a tube stereo preamp
One thing I do not understand is why these higher end DACs use USB B. I have searched high and low for an answer. But only conflicting opinions. Very good review by the way. All the best!
Maybe for the aftermarket cables?
Probably because DACs don't need the bandwidth usb-c provides, and USB B is a reliable conector
Hello from WI!
I’m from Wisconsin too🤘🏻
Hi fellow music lovers! Regards from Dracula land ;)
@ nice bro, small world!
@ where are you located? I’m in Mequon
@@dominich.9745 Appleton here. Nice.
I would buy a Sandu Audio DAC
Oh, Topping, I think I heard about them, DO THEY MAKE DACS TOO? Very SMSL-ish look if you know what I mean. I was expecting Topping to also join the R2R fashion, so predictable. Good idea too since most Topping releases sound cold, bright and very analytical.
You seem to know a lot about them for someone who only just heard of them
Why the hell does the I2S input not work with the EQ...so braindead.
Complete waste of money. DACs a tenth of the price do a better job.
As someone new to R2R would you recommend this Dac or something like the Pontus-2 or Pegasus 2? I’m actively looking for a R2R so any help is appreciated.
As you can imagine, there is always some bias and personal preference, so take this with a grain of salt, but at those prices, I would choose the Gustard R26. It has more features, better specs and it sounds sublime. By comparison, Pegasus 2 lacks in terms of resolution and dynamics and I can't say much about the Pontus.
@@Soundnews so skip the Centaurus in favor of the Gustard?
@@dominich.9745 There would always be a better DAC at higher prices, that's how I ended up with my Wavedream Reference. The R26 is better versus the Centaurus, but it's also by 50% more expensive...
@ So I guess the question is is it twice as good as the Topping?
I was an early buyer on release day and the pricing was off so I got the Centaurus for $799 not $999 still waiting for it so I could cancel but in your mind @$799 does that change your opinion? Thank you for spending time on my questions.