MSB Technology The Analog DAC Review

With power base MSB seems to prefer the analog outputs. MSB seems a lot more dyanmics iwth the SE outputs, so I've stuck with that.

Switching inputs from Analog to balanced - Without critical listening, it is difficult to tell the immediate difference (it was obvious with the La Scala). Speak volumes on the Lumin as a value. The MSB is definitely more refined with a better soundstage. The blacker background and depth is immediately noticeable. More subtle are the detail retreival and dynamic and tactile presentation. There's more sparkle, smack, and texture on the MSB. A 20% improvement is relative. I would say it does add a minor to a significant amount of musical enjoyment depending on genre if you're doing nothing but listening. For pop and synthesized music, it's so difficult to tell the difference when switching. Live performanes are a different story. The bass decay on the MSB is slightly more natural and diffuses properly but has a more natural sound. Lumin is more soothing and relaxed. At first thought it was dull.
Overarching/Common Themes
Just better layering than the Lumin S1, no doubt. Better separation.
Vocals have more air around them along with some refinement
I tend to gravitate towards the MSB every time, more sparkle, better layering, just addictive, PRAT
MSB more positive sense of urgency and delivery
Extremely detailed goosebump inducing clairty with forward vocals but missing a bit of the thump on the low end. The voices are not natural sounding though.
Lumin is definitely softer treble
MSB sense of realism, not just detail
Lumin no sense of urgency, more relaxed
MSB blacker background, more weight on bass, amazing textures, tactile by a long shot
Lumin sounds like a cotton drape was placed over the performers
I've never heard music sound this good...on any setup.
MSB more bass weight, snappier, more resolving, textures
MSB cleaner and fuller.
Lumin - A flatter overall presentation
You get closer to what the sound really sounds like with the MSB. The Lumin gives you an idea. MSB gives you the live tapes.
The Lumin does sound analog as well. Sound fluency.
pushed and pulled in with extension
hypnotizing fluency - heart and soul of music
MSB more natural extension while the Lumin's decayed a bit more abruptly and unnaturally
soul of the music
Sheer dynamics of the MSB, more detailed with the body, just better.
Goosebumps
MSB just better extension and spacious, more euphonic. The Lumin comes off a bit thin sometimes. MSB more authoritiy and impact (tempest) but lumin doesn't sound bad, still sparkly. There's a warmer atmosphere on the MSB and it's seductive. You could hear the stadium. The lumin makes the stadium sound too clean.
seperation layering is unmatched.
If you're just sitting there doing nothing but listening, the MSB is a big difference. If you're on your computer developing software...it won't make that much of a difference IMO. Speaks voluesm on how good the lumin is as far as value. In reality, at summit-fi and DACs at this level, everything sounds good but the marginal benefits have a huge cost.
If you imagine the Lumin getting injected with some adrenaline
If I had to tie a percentage, I would say 25-30% improvement.
The Lumin as a much more soften treble, not as much body on the plucking of gutiars (Tempest). It is quite noticeable. You don't feel the music as much. Sitting in the back or with them. Strings also sound more realistic on the MSB, but ever so slightly. The MSB you could hear every nuance of the strings, the Lumin blurs it. A lot more depth and textures. MSB more defined outline around the audience and actors.
Bass
Gypsy eyes
the intro drum hits were more detailed and dyanmics on the MSB, micro-details micro-dynamics. You could hear the entire extension of the drums. Drums are much more realistic on the MSB.
Lumin isn't a slouch but doesn't quite have the same amount of visceral impact or detail or extension. you don't realize this until you do A/B.
MSB has more presence and textures than the LUMIN on the guitars and soundstage. MSB has a deeper and more hologrpahic soundstage. Doesn't take the enjoyment out of the Lumin.
Guitars have much crunch on the MSB, lumin a bit dull in comparison. Lumin isn't as dynamic, more in the back. MSB more PRAT and dynamics. MSB a bit brighter without being harsh.MSB more detailed.
This song is much more enjoyable on the MSB, just more crush, dynamic, tactile, detailed, authority, crazy enjoyable. The bass detail and transient response is too good. Lumin sounds a bit dull in comparison. The guitars have more detail on the MSB. guitar cries realistically, effortless layering, drums still have a good presence.
The layering is much better on the MSB, the guitars have better dept and separation in the beginning, on the Lumin they sound like they are on the same plane.
Not to say the lumin sounds worse, it sounds stupidly good but we're at the summit here and this is what the differienation is.
MSB more exciting, you get more energy from the performeres and instruments. sometimes the actors seem more fatigued with the Lumin S1. MSB more sparkle.
Now I know what you're paying for with the MSB analog
Minor Blue - Bluiett, Hicks, Novosel, Williams, Green, Booker
The MSB just has that extra air up top that I found lacking a bit on the Lumin. Air around the instruments. Incredible.
MSB is more impactful.
During casual listening, the difference as apparent as with other DACs..with speaks volumes for the Lumin.
The standout benefit of the MSB is the sheer dynamics and layering, more alive and deep. It just sounds more true and limitless. The Lumin is ever so slightly blurred and smeared soundstage. Dull is a harsh description, slight muted as far as dynamic presentation.
Intro: Brass sounds realistic on the MSB. The entire spectrum of dyanmics is much more realistic on the MSB, you could hear the air travel. I would say the MSB is more than 50% improvement in the details. The delicate air is more easily heard on the MSB. Lumin is like cliff notes. MSB deeper more holographic sound stage and textures. Does it add more enjoyment? You bet it does.
The extension is better on the MSB on both ends. The brass actually sounds like a different instrument on the MSB. Micro low-end details comes to the surface.
MSB fast. instruments comes to life and makes the instruments on the Lumin sound inaccurate. Ever nuance is heard and more true to recording, msb. Makes the lumin a bit cheap.
Lumin doesn't sound as limitless as far as air. Definitely sounds like a pancake soundstage, less dynamic. even plane.
MSB more emotionally and realistically driven.
Doesn't compare.
Waltz for Debby (take 2) - Bill Evans
The atmosphere and soundstage is not even a comparison. MSB wins hands down. The MSB gave me goosebumps, the Lumin gave me cues of the ppl dining in the background but didn't place me there.
Much better texture on the bass on MSB. Transient response.
Everything comes to life with the MSB analog. The piano player and bass player has their own space and weight and body. You could pay attention to one or the other but with the Lumin it's presented all at once, as a packaged deal in a sense. Doesn't overpower.
You could hear every resonence of the strings.
The piano isn't as weighty and doesn't have the same body as the MSB. Sounds flat. Strings resonence are smeared.
MSB much more refined, delinates properly, the players have a definite shape
The tonal balance of the MSB is incredible. Absolutely amazing.
What more do you want?
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man - Aretha Franklin
Still sounds good by not as dynamic, some layering missing.
Piano has more presence and sounds more 3D on the MSB
MSB more resolution
Lumin more relaxed and calm, no sense of urgency
Lumin flatter sound stage, MSB much deeper.
Just more details on the MSB, on voices. The goosebump factor is high with the MSB.
MSB has a wider soundstage
Casual listening...isn't a big deal, i could live with either.
Come on (Let the Good Times Roll) - Jimi Hendrix
Guitar riff and drums have more indepedence
his voice sounds so real
crunch of the guitar is more apparent
Lumin still sounds good, but less detailed, less dynamic, less textures, not as tacticle. dynamics and micro. taonlity is better on msb.
Lumin vocals aren't too bad, MSB gives it sound shape, teleportation device.
How much detail do you want? The MSB displays it all.
The thing i love about the MSB is how it performs when there are many things going on at the same time. Each piece gets their own space and air without overpowering.
Rainy Night in Georgia - The Persuasions
Lumin just sounds flatter in general. Vocal presentation still displays the vocals accurate in the human sense.
MSB has more details in the vocals as well.
Ignorance is bliss
The different players have their own colors, amazing.
Just sounds more live...while the lumin sounds more like an older recording
Never harsh
Just more human and body and texture on vocals. The lumin doesn't seem to differentiate the volume levels between players as well.
More than 20% improvement.
Does it really get better? Goosebump factor.
Vocals still sound realistc just don't have the body.
MSB is more hologrpahic and more more natural human voice with meat.
The Lumin is a bit dull in presentation, not as wide or deep.
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold
The MSB made the difference between hearing how Eva carries a note in the air at the tip of her lips and missing it completely.
MSB gave me the chills due to the realisim and detailed presentation of her voice. I didnt know that information was in the song, esp the intro.
The Lumin was a decent idea of how it sounds and if you listen hard you could kinda hear it but the MSB just gives you the answers so to say.
not just the detail but just a more real authenitc sound, its still sutble, and you have to listen carefully, but it's there.
Time - Pink Floyd
The chimes and ringing just engulfs you in this sonic presentation i've never heard from this song. Assault on your senses as a different meaning here.
Lumin very flat presentation.
The gears moving and clicking sound a lot more realistic on the MSB. Like a creepy movie.
Once it starts ringing, the Lumin loses a bit of its composer while the MSB handles it with grace.
The low rumble doesn't add atmosphere with the Lumin but has a strong presence with the MSB.
When you listen to something ghis good, this is when you don't want to return a demo.
You want to explore your entire collection.
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
The radio in the intro sounds a lot more like the radio is there on the MSB. Lumin, sounds like it was added to the music.
The shape and size of the radio could be imagined with the MSB. It's hard to describe, i just sounds there's something physicall there and spooks you out. 3D sound, lumin flat.
Clearing his throat sounds human...I didn't know it was like that.
So much more detail and microdynamics on the MSB, the reverb is realistic and natural. you could hear this finger and arm moves.
Lumin is more factual...the sliding to hit different notes isn't as apparent. plucking isn't as crisp.
Space Oddity (1999 Remastered Version) - David Bowie
The low volume guitar in the intro doesn't lose its textures.
Drums decays realistically
Realization is the key here
Walk of Life - Dire Straits
Once again, each part of the song doesn't overpower another, the Lumin smears the lines quite a bit.
Lumin just doesn't separate as well depth wise
Imaging is better on the MSB, more music.
Guitar strums are much more textural and realistic. To be honest, the Lumin sounds congested.
Verdi:Aida (1989 Remastered Version) - Franco Corelli
The gradation of his voice is a lot more apparent on the MSB.
The atmosphere is better conveyed on the MSB.
The lifting of his voice and power and effort is much more noticable on the MSB.
MSB more open and tonality screams perfection.
Those Were the Days - Blubell & Black Tie
I've heard this song more than a dozen times and there was always something I wanted more from it.
Extra crunchy, beautiful reproduction of this song. Great rhythm.
Her vocals are so beautiful and delicate. effortless.
The rythm is more apparent.
Sounds like the actors are all in the same room and harmonizing
More heft on the bass and detail.
Sounds perfect.
Almost Is Never Enough - Ariana Grande
The snapping and piano hit has a distinct separation in space. The decay of the snap is more apparent on the MSB.
You could hear gradation in vocals.
Piano has more warmth on msb
You have to be really paying attention....
3:50 - 4:50 - The two vocals never clash but blur with the Lumin. The individuality is preserved on the MSB.
Graceful in its presentation of her voice.
Lumin still sounds good, but MSB is cleaner, crystal clear. Just more realistic body to everything.
Ask About Me - Ice Cube
More presence of details
Much better separation of playing parts
Bass is tight with more information
Decay is much more realistic
CLEAN
Doesn't really take away from the music
Mediterranean Sundance / Rio - Al Diemola
8:00+ There's just more involvement and distinction betwene the guitarists. Not one more distinctiong but more weight.
individualism shines
You could distinctly hear the crowd shouts better and even they're detailed and natural sounding
Transported into the heart & soul of the music.
The lumin still sounds fantastic lacks body/texture. not as tactile. It's not warmness but not as engaging.
You could hear more of the material of the guitar strings and micro details that are just incredible. It just sings. Fast plucks are effortlessly reproduced.
MSB is just more dynamic, dips and control of the artists are conveyed perfectly.
Both DACs are enjoyable.
Gone - Kina Grannis
When switching between the two, it's difficult to tell the difference.
The vocals are more crystal clear, more human. More live. So well controlled.
I think you still have to pay attention.
A Way - Lotte Kestner
As I continue, it's apparent the MSB is the superior DAC is almost every way.
The differences aren't HUGE...but noticeable. Just more clarity and textures. Extension.
The Soundmaker - Rodrigo y Gabriela
MSB more impact, more cripsy slam
Tempest (Live) - Jesse Cook
Hynpotize plucks.
I will have sex with whoever is playing that guitar
You could hear the individuals in the crowd, sound ridiculous but yeah I can't make this stuff up.
Lumin - plucks don't have that same viscereal string sound. it sounds generic.
Over You - Ingrid Michaelson
Wow...you could hear all the dips in the way she carries that tone at the 3:00+ mark.
I didn't realize there was so much detail in her voice.
Lumin is just smeared, just an idea of what she's trying to do, but with MSB you actually hear her voice carry naturally.
Goosebumps, incredible detail dips in the same note.
Lumin is flat in comparison and not as dynamic. When she opens up for voice, you can't hear that range at all.
MSB doesn't give it away that's it's digital.
God why does it sound so good.
Call You Tonight - Whitney Houston
The MSB just sounds much better on the vocals. You get a peek into Whitney's actual voice.
I thought the recording was just missing that information. Turns out, I just didn't have a DAC good enough to resolve this information.
It's a night a day difference as far as vocal detail and presentation. The lumin is overall just flatter both vocals and soundstage.
Ignorance is bliss. On the Lumin you can't hear the holographic sound. The dips and changes in levels of the entire recording. MSB goes from the vocals to the instruments to the background singers. All of them have their own 3D body in the space. The Lumin...it's hard to hear this.

MSB Relaxed and doesn't color it, very neutral dept - soundstage digital harshness glare lack of grain and digital irritation robb the brass of their natural characristic loudness and bite outstanding dynamic reproduction of the band with no softening or compression of the brass sound detail and intimacy of the guitar not only capture the dynamics and acoustic space rich with detail and transparent purges the digital artifacts and create listening fatigue and loss of interest in the music beautiful bloom unravel complex musical passages dynamic changes were wellreproduced with a variety of music jazz, classical, jazz, or vocal Bass Mids Treble Transient Response - pluck and impact Dynamics & Micro-dynamics - vibration and extension of each chord, feel extension details & micro-details - things you've enver heard, leonard's going home instrument separation, layering and positioning - 3D, feeling like you're there tonality and naturalness - natural and smooth, good PRAT openess - soundstage, holographic tactility - MSB Something very special Delicacy and realistic presentation details just come up to the surface at the best times seductive without being warm makes you think...does it get better than this? doesn't make you want anything else no harshness whatsoever busy, don't want to take off my headphones, rarely get this sensation. "Just one more" my approach listen to music i'm familar with, no A/B, subjective impressions. then A/B hardcore, listening to same clips for 20 seconds 1 minutes, for various songs. might sound better with a black cat bnc cable missing a bit of that textural low end? black cat - plucking weight solves it mid-bass detail incredible attaboy - not really hearing the strokes that clearly no-rush, not as engaging over time, not soul lifting vocals are stunning shunyata + lumin + msb analog + SC cables + stillpoints + 430HA...I'm completely happy with this setup. + kimber silverstreak. kimber d60. I like using the MJ black or white song intro:

The guitar actually has more detail and sounds different on the MSB. The kids voice has more dynamics as well. pretty incredible. super realistic voice.
MSB = goosebumps man.
when you laugh, you know it's good. I can't make this up. with the MSB you immediately get the sense of the hallway the father is yelling from. The father also sounds less thin and more like an authoritve figure. The kid sounds like he's in his room and has an eeries naturalness and realism to his voice. the guitar portition is so clear that you could almost just listen and focus on that and it's almost a hi-def song. That's how crazy this MSB is. MSB has much better bass slam. The Lumin does not hae that level of detail no matter how closely you listnen. it sounds like a radio quality music, can't hear the strums of the guitar. You could hear the dad and the distance of the door.the guitar rift sounds like a real song, as if they took an hd version of it and placed it in the kid's stereo. the lumin it actually sounds like a radio. i can't believe this is the same stream.
Pretty dam creepy. the guitar portion is well separated as well, guitar, drum. "This is the best part" you could hear his voice curl upwards. It just sound as real as you could get. Lumin sounds flat in comparison.
You could hear the weight and authority of the father. lumin is just a guys' voice that's been suppressed.
Overall the MSB gives more detail, more meat on the bones, more structure, and more dynamics. when he starts knocking it should surprise you, if not then you're not listening to the MSB. I've listen to it 100x times.

MSB The cable made more of a difference than the DAC (positive). MSB is more dynamics, deep ass soundstage. Just hard to imagine better. Berkeley Alpha Reference, Bricasti M1 SE, or EMM Labs DA2 or DAC2X. tempest - jesse cook - MSB has better extension than the lumin on this song and more detail and textures, much more detail on guitar, every dam pluck in the first 5 seconds. lumin more smeared. Over You (Demo) - Ingrid Michaelson At this 3:00 mark, a lumin and MSB makes the biggest difference in vocal reproduction. The MSB kills it. You thought you heard her sing...but you realize you just heard her moaning. The deep fluid bass , perspective , timing , detail resolution spaciousness, musicallity , dept and 3D is mentally good, and are the leading key words that describes the sound of DAVE, or we can use one word: Ultra Transparency . This cable in a 3 meter length cost $2,660 with the Xhadow XLRs, almost as much as my HE-1000 and while this was a very tough pill for me to swallow when I first ordered it, looking back, it has been one of the best things I've done. I no longer consider the HE-1000 complete without them and any headphone I've connected them to (with adapters) has benefited. Any brightness or harsh glare that was present before is gone. Enhanced detail and yet you're never aware of it in an analytical sense because the presentation is so smooth and effortless. Unlike other silver cables that can sound thin and dry, the Silver Spore does not. They are extremely quiet with zero microphonics. And before you start thinking Peter is getting rich charging this much for a headphone cable, trying pricing UP-OCC grade silver, the purest continuous (not stranded) cast silver you can buy, and you will be shocked how much the raw materials costs. There are supposedly only 5 companies in the world where you can buy genuine single crystal OCC wire so be wary of counterfeiters. As you start to compare other cables, also be wary of what dielectric is used. Stay away from teflon (PTFE) or polypropylene as a primary dielectric if you can unless you want a "plasticky" sound (they can be ok as a secondary dielectric). Natural dielectrics, like cotton, are ideal, and all of this applies not just to headphone cables but also analog interconnects. DHC uses cotton as a primary dielectric in their best cables but not their lower end cables. For interconnects, DHC makes a Silver Spore interconnect with all of these traits. Antipodes and Entreq are examples of other interconnect manufacturers that use cotton dielectrics. I'm sure there are others. Over You (Demo) - Ingrid Michaelson At this 3:00 mark, a lumin and MSB makes the biggest difference in vocal reproduction. The MSB kills it. You thought you heard her sing...but you realize you just heard her moaning. This song blew me away on the MSB but didn't do quite the same on the Lumin. You could hear her carry the pitch at the proper levels and plenty of detail is lost with the lumin. Lumin gives you a good idea and still sounds good. The DAC could definitely make the difference between creating a emotive response or casual enjoyment. The MSB is part of that emotive response. This still requires the listener to be attentive however (mostly). Call You Tonight - Whitney Houston

Lumin - not as well extended as the MSB that gives Whitney's voice that extra warmth. This cannot be corrected with a cable and I think it contributes heavily to musical enjoyment.