One day I will retire and buy a Cascade on the ultra used market, I just need to patient. You’ll see me from the moon!
My dealer will be in Munich next week, curious to know his thoughts about the new MSB DAC. Dreaming costs nothing.
3 Likes
Small leap IMO from what I have heard of their down the line products. Still not in my price range, but considering what is offered, it seems to be a bargain compared to the MSB Select. I am certain you will enjoy it as much as all of us here will enjoy learning of your listening experience.
1 Like
The new MSB architecture is based on a simple separation of the digital processing (into the new digital director chassis) from the conversion to analog (into the DAC/pre chassis).
What should happen in future as a consequence? The software elaboration made into the digital director, DSP, filtering and so on… could open new scenarios: how long MSB will take to introduce some kind of crosstalk separation into the equation? Yes, I mean a BACCH-like proprietary technology into MSB DACs line.
@aangen are you thinking what I’m thinking and already predicted a few weeks ago? Nah! I stop speculating and back to enjoy music, sorry!
3 Likes
Not to worry, there’s about to be AI for that.
The current challenge is how much of that processing can be/should be on prem vs off-loaded to a cloud resource.
2 Likes
I’m certainly not an expert on digital, but wasn’t there, not long ago, the widely believed notion that state of the art DAC technology advances relatively quickly, so don’t commit to an expensive one? Is that still a thing?
3 Likes
Digital still has a long way to go, I believe, and streaming gears (streamers, switches, etc.) advance way faster than DACs. Topline products will always be expensive, but the trickle-down effect benefits lower-end products vastly. Yesterday’s topline will age faster than any analog gear for sure.
This was the main reason I selected Lumin U2 over Aurender N20 in last year (replaced my 6 month old Euphony Summus2 streamer), and I am already thinking about my next upgrade. I do not have any urge to replace any of my other gears in the system (including DAC).
The future is in water molecules (ok and coffee grinds, Vince).
4 Likes
Do you really need 12 of B2 to align water molecules correctly in your room?
Shouldn’t four (ok, maybe 8) do most of the job already?
1 Like
First 4 pieces I think are enough to understand how (if) they can bring results in your room. Think about the first glass.
4 more pieces can improve the pleasant feeling. Think about the second glass.
I went for 6 more pieces in the same way I often order a second bottle each time I discover a new champagne before unknown to me. Is it necessary? Surely not. But life’s too short, my friend.
1 Like
That wine analogy makes me understand perfectly. 
I’m packing a couple of bottles to Asia to go with some nice meals we will have there. One more day before parting with my system for 10 days😕
2 Likes
Enjoy both the trip and the wine, Donald. Hope you’ll do your best to stop thinking about audio tweaks. Even if I guess you won’t be able. Exactly like me! We are lost cases, as we use to say here.
1 Like
Hi.
I considered buying the MSB Reference DAC and know the platform pretty well.
For most people, adding one module to the Digital Director should do the trick, either the Network Renderer (NR) for ethernet; or the ProUSB adapter, for MSB’s custom USB/Fiber connection. This enables a user to either this:
Roon–>Network via ethernet; and
Ethernet–>MSB Digital Director via Network Renderer Module;
or
Roon–>Network via ethernet; and
Roon–>MSB Digital Director via ProUSB Module
Either module costs around $2k, so not very expensive relative to the $95k total system cost.
More generally, IMHO the Cascade has a very compelling architecture/approach: (1) bring all digital into one box; (2) send all digital signals to the DAC via noise-free fiber link; (3) isolate and simply the DAC so it has only DAC processing and a low-jitter clock; and (4) isolate analog power supply.
I am very impressed and can’t wait to read the reviews and listen to it!
Cheers,
R
4 Likes
Congratulations. It looks like a very compelling product. Please share your listening notes when you are able
Best regards,
R
Of note: When poking around the MSB website, I found this printed on the MSB Trade-In Program website (below):
“Up to 90% when trading The Cascade DAC in “good condition” for The Sentinel DAC while in current production”
and
“Up to 50% when trading The Select DAC with or without the Select Digital Director in “good condition” for The Sentinel DAC while in current production.”
The MSB Sentinel DAC is not listed anywhere on the MSB website, and since this is an upgrade program, it implies that it is above the Cascade DAC in the product line.
Another new MSB DAC may be announced shortly… Let’s see.
R
The Cascade should replace the Reference and the Sentinel should replace the Select II (but the latter will take more time - not this year at least).
1 Like
Unusual.
Usually brands lead with the top of the line, then upgrade down the line.
For example, dCS will upgrade the Vivaldi first, then Rossini, not the other way…
R
1 Like
Luca has the same info that I do. And I heard the Sentinel should take 2 to 3 years to be released
1 Like
learned that price will be stratospheric, possibly $250,000
That’s the word on the street. At least 2x the cascade (that explains the 90% trade in offer for the cascade when upgrading),
1 Like
Wow, that’s a lot of cola.
Just MHO, Sentinel is not a good name for a high end DAC.
In contrast, dCS’s approach of naming its DACs after composers does make a lot of sense.