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Musician Draco
The Musician Draco is a fully balanced, high end R2R DAC with high quality components. Versatile thanks to its complete connectivity, it can also work in NOS (Non Over Sampling) mode to avoid the artifacts that can be generated by oversampling.
Optimized linear power supply
The Musician Draco's linear power supply stage features an O-Core transformer. The linear regulator effectively isolates the digital and analog parts to ensure low noise and stable voltage for the DAC.
It is not recommended to connect the XLR and RCA outputs simultaneously. This could degrade the sound quality as the outputs are shared.
It is recommended to use the XLR output to take full advantage of the balanced structure of the DAC.
The Musician Draco's R2R architecture provides fast, high-quality decoding, combined with low digital noise for maximum distortion and extremely low noise floor. Combined with the specially developed Draco digital filters, the DAC is able to provide a dynamic, rich and natural sound reproduction.
Through the above I2S settings, Draco can basically meet most of the brands on the market.
If it can not playing properly(such as hiss sound) by the above setting. This shall not be considered as a defective product, but just a matching failed. The suggested solution is to use a customized HDMI cable.
tama
Reviewed in Japan on February 2, 2025
HDMIpiMkII(RaspberryPi5 GentooPlayer)とMusician Dracoをi2s伝送で使用しています。これまでToppingやRMEの200～1,000ドルクラスの製品を使用してきましたが、それらとは全く異なる音質です。非常に滑らかで解像度もあり、ずっと聴いていたくなります。音が出るまでに少し苦労しましたので、設定について纏めておきます。(1)HDMIpiMkII:Jumper Switch S1の設定DIP1:ON DIP2:ON DIP3:ON DIP4:OFF(マスタークロックは出力しない)初期状態は全てOFFでHDMI端子からi2s信号が出力されないため、必ず設定する必要があります。(2)Musician Draco:i2sのモードをMode5に設定フロントパネル右下のランプ[1X]と[4X]が点灯した状態にします。モードの設定方法はユーザーズマニュアル(DRACOのi2sPIN構成)に記載されています。(3)HDMIpiMkIIとMusician Dracoの接続私はECDH-HD14SS03BK(ELECOM製30cm)を使用しています。
Dragnet
Reviewed in Canada on December 28, 2024
The sound and build is premium. The service was excellent. Thanks to Kathryn at service department. Awesome!!
gary seppa
Reviewed in Canada on April 3, 2024
I have had this DAC for about 5 days now and I have listened to a variety of types of music through it . I must say that I am pretty impressed with its quality of sound . The background is very black with well defined bass , a solid mid-range and some very nicely articulated details emerging from it . Solid soundstage as well , with instruments well placed in front of the listener . Very analogue sounding which is a very pleasant surprise . The only problem that I have encountered is a rather flimsy optical in receptacle . Other than that , it is a great DAC . I would definitely recommend to people especially of you are looking for a very pleasant , analogue sounding DAC . These ladder DACs are much better sounding than most chip based DACs which place far too much emphasis on detail ..... to the point where the sound cuts into your hearing like sharp glass .
JOHN
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023
Had to write some comments, “product review” I guess, about this piece as I was very pleasantly surprised by its sound. In my opinion, this has got to be one of the least hyped audio devices that I’ve seen recently but definitely should be because it sounds marvelous even right out the box, at least for me. I don’t mind a product being overly hyped as long as it’s worth the hype but most aren’t unfortunately in my opinion.Having used a denafrips ares 2 for over 1.5 years now, I’d say this is a step up and then some. I had fell for the ares hype (probably like most) but never took a liking to its sound. It is overly bright for me. The draco doesn’t have the brightness of the ares, yet it is also far more resolving and I’m still only about 6 hours into listening to it. Owner manual says it needs about 300 hours of run-in time to sound its best. I am hearing tiny details in the music that I could not hear with the ares. Soundstage width is also just a bit better but I expect that to surpass the ares a lot more with time also. NOS mode does sound better than non NOS mode, difference is that NOS is more detailed sounding to me. I am using the single-ended RCA outputs and not the balanced outputs.I must also comment on the seller’s excellent customer service. The unit was delivered in 5 days from the day of purchase and during that whole delivery time I was receiving updates on the whereabouts of the unit from the seller followed by a final message from them to let them know if I ever have any questions or concerns.Hidden gem of a product that’s probably not very well known to the audiophile (and not) consumer world but very much should be.
Nickd
Reviewed in Canada on September 20, 2022
Received the open box unit the next day. It sounded great once installed to my Nad D3045 integrated amp. Also attached the Blue sound Node to it. After 300hrs of breakin period, it is amazing. I find that the sound, is more natural than a chip based DAC. The soundstage seems wider. I'm noticing sounds that I couldn't notice before.
Ticat
Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2022
Replaced a Delta/Sigma chip based DAC with the Musician Audio Draco R2R Dac and am flabbergasted by the Huge improvement in Sound Quality. Better Everything... blacker background, better initial attack and the spatial imaging is both Wide and Deep. Great value for the investment!
Amenigy
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2022
Huge upgrade from Syba Sonic 24bit 96KHz USB DAC. Music feels like there is depth in songs. Eg: keith don't go Nils Lofgren.Very good pairing with my Magni Hersey and Sundara's.
Rehana
Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2022
To be honest I have had lots dac but non of those can come even close to this Draco dac so musical ,good dynamic and details with good soundstage and lots of air if you listening to acoustic music and vocal ,Piano you will understand more about this beauty I believe this will be my last dac as far as I knowWith price of 1000$ you will get more than what you have to get I can highly recommend guys if you have this money to spend just give it to try you will not be disappointed 100% guaranteed.My setup is pair of kef R11 +willsenton R8 tube integrated amplifier + Draco dac = I’m on heaven loland I used very good hifi cables all aroundCheers guys.
Nico
Reviewed in Germany on November 19, 2021
Das Gerät brauchte lediglich 8 Tage(Versand aus China und sehr gut verpackt)von der Bestellung bis in mein Musikzimmer, super 👍. Die Verarbeitung ist auf einem sehr hohem Niveau, die Haptik ist grandios und die Bedienung intuitiv, intuitiv bezieht sich auf die Tatsache das dem Gerät keine Bedienungsanleitung beilag.Persönlich gefällt mir das Gerät sehr gut, cleane Optik und vor allem LEDs die sich visuell nicht aufdrängen.Bevor ich zu den Klangeigenschaften komme möchte ich noch betonen das ich kein Toningenieur, Musiker oder Techniker bin, ich höre lediglich seit circa 45 Jahren Musik 🎶.Zu meinem ersten Eindruck kann ich sagen das der Draco definitiv anders klingt als die ESS und AKM Fraktion. Ob das nun besser oder schlechter ist muss jeder für sich entscheiden. Mein subjektiver Eindruck ist auf jeden Fall, dass der Draco unagestrengt, lässig aber auch mit einer gewissen Zurückhaltung spielt. Das kann sich aber noch ändern da das Gerät erst 60 von 300 Stunden Einspielzeit geleistet hat.Die 5 Sterne gebe ich für die Verarbeitung, Optik, Verpackung und Versand und meinen ersten Eindrücken nach einigen Stunden des Musik genießens 😌.Ich hoffe meine ersten Eindrücke waren hilfreich aber es liegen noch viele Stunden des einspielens vor mir 🙂
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