Topic: bel canto DAC-2 vs. grace m902

[Simp-Dawg]

i'm over at markham's place with dueling DACs!

brought the m902 down to put up against his bel canto and there is a clear difference...though each has it's own unique sonic qualities that are equally pleasing to the ears.

the DAC-2 is thicker...sometimes a bit more musical, depending on the tape.  the m902 is much cleaner and at times punchier, though the dead tape we listened to sounded more musical and smooth to my ears on it.

the tapes we've heard so far are dead 7/10/03 red rocks, u89 40cm split subcards > v3
sts9 1/31/04 u89 hypers > m148 > mod sbm-1
nmas 6/23/02 ak40 > lc3 > km100 > m148 > mod sbm-1

i preferred the m902 on the dead and sts9.  nmas sounded a little better on the DAC-2.

gonna throw on maceo with my mbho hypers > v3 from the fillmore next.

[Simp-Dawg]

also listened to a few key gd tapes, mostly oade...4 mic mix and split omnis from the 80's...must say i preferred the m902, think we both did.  but those tapes just smoke anyway!!!

we're off to have some drinks...

[BC]

cool comparison, could you hook em' up for back and forth on-the-fly switching?

Which do you think is the least colored of the two? I would guess Grace but haven't heard either personally.

Peace,
BC

[Tim]

no on the fly switching but we used the same cables and power cable on both units

the BC is more colored for sure, I think it's coloration is like that of an ad1k... subtle and pleasing

[Brian]

so basically they both RAWK

[Tim]

I'd like to spend more time with them and write down some notes on what I think of them both.... I like my Bel Canto just fine though

[Simp-Dawg]

so basically they both RAWK

pretty much

i mean, i'm definitely pleased with my purchase but i wasn't doing comparison shopping, i just heard the m902 and knew i wanted it...it was very interested to hear how it stacked up against another contender, both were great in their own rights.

[Brian]

was the green plugin turned on or off?

everything sounds musical with it on

[Simp-Dawg]

yeah we had the green knob cranked to 11

[Tim]

where I prefered my bel canto was in the width and depth of the soundstage, I think the grace was a little flatter

I also thought the highend (cymbals) was a little smoother in the bel canto...

next time we do this I'll bust out the cowboy junkies 1st album and brubeck's time out and take some notes

The grace has a ton of clean gain... I'd love to mate the m902 with a nice tube power amp, that would be killer

yes, the green plugin was engaged

[Brian]

cool.  thanks guys

[BobW]

so basically they both RAWK

I'd be "pleased as punch" to own either.
I'm liking the feature set on the Grace ('cept the USB1.1-  w/o USB2.0) a bit more.
It is flexible. Flexible is good.

There is nothing shabby about the BC.

[Simp-Dawg]

I'm liking the feature set on the Grace ('cept the USB1.1- w/o USB2.0) a bit more.
It is flexible. Flexible is good.

that's what attracted me to it.

[Charlies]

Great info, guys, thanks!

So, I got some (Grado) RS-1s (gift from 'rents) for my b-day on the 20th (tho' they sent a Grado "phono" pre instead, so I really didn't get the phones until Thursday...should have demo'd the pre before shipping back) and was planning on just getting the m902 to run in front of it (gift from wife), after doing a bit of research, other than the best kind, which is using and listening. 

Well, the RS-1s sound great straight out of my 1990-ish "vintage" Luxman R-115 receiver, but what do you guys think to put in front of it? Again, did a bit of research and none of it could talk me out of the 902 (although some have speculated that the punchiness of Grace and of Grado may be a bit much).

Many thanks.