Denafrips Mola Mola or Chord

[@Currawong]

I have the DAVE and MScaler here on loan at the moment, and at least one time with headphones I thought my speakers had been left on! Crazy resolution.

[@DJJEZ]

I have the dave on loan as well and already have an mscaler. The combination is mind blowing isn't it

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@JingoLoBa57]

The DAC in my ARC Ref CD9 SE is an amazing DAC taking Tidal etc via coaxial from a Pioneer N70ae SE.

[@PavelErmoshkin]

Accidentally found this channel. As an engIneer I was immediately bribed by the technically flawlessly competent presentation of the material.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏽

[@goahead3995]

I love the Mola Mola's build quality. So beautiful! These are out of my budget. I am happy with the Denafrips Venus II. Thank you for the great review.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Good choice!

[@Falcone-en4wl]

You read mind, Hans. I appreciated the three reviews and had plenty of questions about and this video is the answer. Thanks again

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

My pleasure!

[@MarkSpreitzer-ut8pt]

Your reviews are so articulate and your communication style is very calculated and precise. You definitely helped me to make my purchase decision. My favorite comment though is your advice to just enjoy the music and avoid anything that will frustrate the experience.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Awesome, thank you!

[@hershbagelstein545]

I have tolerated a similar issue for 73 years for which there is no resolution. An inherited disease. So, I could not be any happier for you that there is a bright light for your quick recovery. Go in there with a positive attitude, follow the doctors instructions and the results, hopefully, will meet your expectations.

[@grahamc1511]

Thanks Hans, always enjoy your reviews, informed comment and your care to remain balanced with your opinions, always well grounded in fact and logic. Keep up the great work!!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏽

[@shanestephenson8423]

Nice work Hans very interesting and very funny at the end🤣🤣🤣

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Many thanks

[@petergregory7199]

Thanks Hans, all help is golden, yours especially so since you speak with the voice of experience.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏽

[@90123jf]

I bought the terminator plus because of your review. The machine is really really awesome.Thanks you very much Hans

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Enjoy the music!

[@davidwiltshire6188]

Thank you again for a clear, concise assessment of the gear. Number 1 source for me

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Much appreciated!

[@giuseppelazzarotto2749]

Now we've a new reference dac and a reference you tube hiend channel. My compliments. This is the best hiend channel. Thanks!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Wow, thanks!

[@kenmcglown6642]

When I was in the market for a new DAC, I had the opportunity to hears both of the DACs being discussed here, and they were both outstanding! However, I opted for the, just as outstanding, IMHO, Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty DAC, and never looked back. There's a plethora of wonderful DACs out there on the market today, at all price points, and it's simply impossible to hears them all. The Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty DAC and I shall never part ways

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@greencraig8570]

Now THIS is interesting! I had been wondering about all these DACs. Hans is an acquired taste, but I really like his reviews now. "And on that bombshell..." Classic!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Welcome!

[@Maccaboy1984]

Fantastic review as always!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sumeetlal6564]

Wow! If I were to draw an analogy here, "these super premium DAC's are for those people who are trying to draw out the very last drop 💧 from an empty bottle" - bravo!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Well put. And you wouldn’t believe how nice these last drops are!

[@sumeetlal6564]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Well, it all depends how thirsty one is after finishing the entire bottle... 😂😂

[@tarichar8]

Great review. Thank you.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@CaptainCrunch823]

Great video as always! Loved the outtakes at the end😊

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Yay, thank you!

[@rajnishcmohan]

Hi there, the finale put a smile on my face.By the way top notch review.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@markwilliford7471]

Hello Hans - great to hear your reviews again. I have been away in a long hike and a good bit of that time I was thinking about the future direction of my system with regard to streaming,

[@markwilliford7471]

Sorry - to continue I am curious about the Weiss 501/2 and whether or not you have or will review this streaming DAC. More globally important to your audience, could you please explain the difference between a streaming DAC and feeding a DAC - for instance using Roon - from a PC? Thank you Hans

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven't reviewed the Weiss yes and I don't think I will at short notice. A streaming DAC is a DAC with built-in streamer. If the streamer is of equal quality to the DAC, it's an elegant and simple solution. If it's not, a separate streamer of sufficient quality is the better way.

[@markwilliford7471]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you Hans. Once the new PS Audio DSD comes out I plan to trial it head-to-head with the Weiss, and with the modular DA2 that came with my McIntosh C2700. Both should be better, based on price, but I want to make sure there really is a difference that I can justify/appreciate in my system. Thanks very much for your reviews. As a fellow engineer I love your straight-forward approach and your explanations of the tech.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Two other good ones: Molamola Tambaqui and Chord Dave.

[@geraldtoh535]

Really enjoyed this review! I've been looking at the Mola Mola for a while and have also considered the Aqua Formula XHD. Would love a review of the Aqua one day.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I'll check it out.

[@geraldtoh535]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thanks Hans! Looking forward to it!

[@supabayes3284]

Wow, this is the flagship dac comparison review that I enjoyed most in 2021. Thanks

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@markdoherty2750]

I would love to own the Chord Dave!!! 😍🎶

[@saverioricchiuto5386]

Thanks for the bonus content at the end! 😂 BTW I counted a couple of smiles during the video…a clear sign your summer break is getting closer! Any plans to come back here in Italy this year too?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I’m in Umbria right now😁

[@klaymoon1]

Great comparison review! I wish you review Holo May DAC. Some reviewers liked it better than Dave & M-Scaler at less than half the price.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I don't. I did review the Holo May here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3LNkGONj7loe9E It's a great DAC though.

[@mesonto]

Only with software upscaling... personally I was able to test both during a 1 week period including the Term+... a few friends and thought that the may kte won out. (I cannot remember the prices of all of them) But to each their own as they say.

[@tigertiger1699]

Lol why the single thumbs down😂 what’s that about😂 Great vid as usual 🙏

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@wojciechczupta]

I had a pleasure to have Dave+Mscaler and Mola Mola in my system one after another replacing my old good Yggdrasil. Disclimer: I had them for a couple of days only and not in the same moment. Rest of my system is ATC SCM100 active and Freya+ pre. I use also Minidsp SHD studio to pacify modes of my room. First impression: both are clear improvement over Yggy in sound clarity and imaging. However if your ears are sensitive to timing the winner is Dave+Mscaler hands down. Mola sounds pretty, but Dave+Mscaler sounds almost like live music. Astonishing. It was hard to walk away from it. Mola in contrast I have no discomfort to switch back to Yggy as it is much faster (PRAT). Mola will charm you but it will not give you the feeling of live music. There is this subtle feeling that sound is always a fraction of second behind. I'm actually amazed reviewers don't mention this difference. Dave stand alone - don't even think about it - Without Mscaler no wow effect. They should put it in a single box.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing

[@magicmulder]

“A fraction of a second behind”, behind what?

[@wojciechczupta]

@@magicmulder I'm not talking measurments here. I'm trying to depict the feeling in my sense of hearing. Do you get the difference between live sound and playback? Mola is playback, Chord is live. The attack notes are not in the place they should be. The attack is streached too much accross timeline. My system is based on active speakers, which naturally reveals any deficits in this department.

[@ericelmore2742]

Thanks for comparison.. have you heard the Weiss Dac? Trying to achieve Dave and Mola Mola sound for a more budget price . The Weiss is supposed to have a studio reel to reel sound.

[@morespinach9832]

Dave and Mscalar are over twice the price..

[@joseauger1353]

Is there a possibility that you do a review of PS Audio's Direct Stream DAC? It is an FPGA based DAC. There is a new version coming soon and it would be great if you could review it. I highly regard your reviews and contributions. After seen one of your reviews I acquired an Auralic Aries G2.1 and it sounds wonderful. In addition I acquired a Denafrips Gaia and it helps quite a lot.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I can’t get my hands on a review sample of the Direct Stream DAC. Sorry.

[@rktrkt-tw8nd]

Simply using FPGA is not enough. Type of algorithm and amount of processing power used in real time is important.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Absolutely correct. And often an FPGA is used very different than in the PS Audio, Chord and MolaMola DACs. Like in the denafrips R2R DACs.

[@webersteve1547]

As always I appreciate your work. What would interest me, is if such high end DAC make a noticeable difference in lesser systems too. I tested some years ago highly regarded DAC from Luxman, Teac etc in my system and didn't find a reason to upgrade from my also very good electrocompaniet. Maybe my overall system (Tannoy Kensington with SE tubes) was just not good enough?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

To get the optimal result all components should of equal quality.

[@is1dre]

Great review Hans! I traded my Dave and Mscaler (which are amazing) for a used dCS Rossini and would not go back! dCS is a clear step up.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I believe you, and rather be for the money. 😊

[@presidentpotato222]

Yippppeeeee .. Thank You Hans ..wonderful

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Enjoy!

[@neilparnell2089]

great review....I thought you were having a seizure at the outtakes..all the best

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

😁

[@pierregendulphe]

Hi Hans, thanks for sharing your passion and bringing some highlights. Appreciated. If I may, I had a question: I don't recall why you selected the Denafrips over the Audio-GD R2R H7 with (or without) the Regenerative power supply. Did I miss something onto an earlier video ? Thanks, and keep up ! :)

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

For a very simple reason: it was still in the house.

[@Revelator2025]

Wondering after a year how a DAC like the T+A DAC200 would fare against the Mola Mola. Eventually there will be. DAC unit that takes these more out of reach DACs to task. Looking forward to that day (if I’m still around!) :)

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I wouldn't put up hopes too high. Making a high end DAC still involves using very difficult t make components that hence have a high end price.

[@MrBoomtheroom]

T+A DAC200 meant to be better than the may?

[@borisbobowski628]

@@MrBoomtheroom t+a isnt high end

[@ChrisMag100]

I haven’t heard the Denafrips. I have heard the Chord Dave and Mola Mola in my system. I bought the Tambaqui. I found the Mola Mola more natural sounding. I agree though Hans, the bass definition of the Dave was very impressive. I did not audition Dave w/m scaler. Too many boxes, especially when you consider the need for a separate streamer.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You made your right decision using the right arguments for you. That is exactly what I try to achieve with my reviews

[@ChrisMag100]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Your review and those from other well known channels were helpful with my purchase decision. Thanks Hans.

[@4thewin759]

CN we review the PS Audio direct stream DAC? Also FPGA but upsamples to 10x DSD within the DAC. Very good reviews from many high budget audiophiles

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I can’t get my hands on a review sample. Sorry.

[@Stephenwongdirectimaging]

I have listened both. ..I prefer denafrips terminator plus

[@christiantessier6599]

Gréât description

[@ColocasiaCorm]

what about holo may l2?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

That was not included.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

🙄

[@yasirsendi922]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel is it because it is a Chinese product?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Of course not. But I can’t do all of them at the same time. I did do the Holo May…

[@ColocasiaCorm]

Holo is inferior to frips

[@TheMcinto65]

Hi Hans, which HAT & cable for rp4 can I use to link to my chord mojo for quality sound . It will mainly be used for headphones. Budget is not a problem. Thanks, Mark.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Go for the Allo USBridge Signature (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYeTZK1soLakbdk). I don’t do cable reviews but I use an AudioQuest USB to microUSB cable that is modified by AQ for use with the Mojo.

[@TheMcinto65]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you.

[@drplot1]

Would you consider reviewing the Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC?- would love to know what you think about this unit compared to the ones you have already reviewed

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I can't get a review sample. Sorry.

[@johnreed6495]

Mr. Beekhuyzen did you use the Chord Dave/MScaler combo when you reviewed the Grimm MU1 or did you just your the Dave. Thank you.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I tested both but the MScaler in the chain reduced the sound quality slightly. That is why it's no longer in my reference setup 1. That doesn't mean that the MScaler can't be a valuable addition to your digital front-end. It's just that the Grimm Audio MU1 is even better.

[@iepdeklein1701]

Thank you Hans for this clearification. I wood like to contact you about the Eno Lan filter and wood like to ask you to double test it on an other location becouse of the broadcast antenna within 300 meters.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Sorry, that would not fit my schedule.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

PS You can buy the system and return it when you don’t like it.

[@redrockdejan2507]

Hello Hans, have you had experience with listening to the Exogal DAC? Thank you .

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Sorry, no.

[@orionn6306]

Hello Hans, thx for the clear review. Could you pls review Metronome DAC ?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I will look into it.

[@jeremygoh879]

I wonder if Dave is fully balanced or single ended......and just having dual xlr out as compatibility

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It’s truly balanced. You could have concludes that from the fact that the output voltage of the balanced outputs is twice as high as from the single ended outputs.

[@stefanoferioli8721]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel DAVE is a single ended DAC and the RCA outputs are preferable to the XLR outputs as they have an extra opamp that amplifies the signal.

[@Patriot6669]

@@stefanoferioli8721 Good info!

[@masonsafari3412]

Thanks, nice show as always… one question , will I get any benefit adding Gaia to Auralic Aries G1>>>Chord MScaler >>>Chord Dave ?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven’t tried but my guess would be that for instance exchanging the Aries G1 by the G2.1 would be a better upgrade

[@HPMIKE55]

@The Hans Beekhuyzen channel great job & what Dac that has a remote and a sub out can I use for a powered speaker and a sub?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I know of no DAC that has a sub out

[@HPMIKE55]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel what can i us? the speaker is a good one but no sub out.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Look for a matching pre-amp. I have not reviewed these though.

[@HPMIKE55]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you very mush and keep up the great job!

[@Walter-qy5mx]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel, Resolution Audio Cantata als Pre/Dac

[@Lipjam]

@13:33 Is that a wider variety of ways to misspeak variety😂

[@gene8933]

Hans if you get a chance review some different Schiit.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Sorry but Schiit doesn’t answer my request for a review sample.

[@MaciekP2]

…and DCS Bartok?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

As I have mentioned several times, other DAC’s in this price range will follow, provided I can get a review sample on loan.

[@mingming9670]

Well done!

[@aerofart]

@00:30 Are these product images to scale?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It is an attempt to scale correctness😕

[@aerofart]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I'm not sure I understand your answer, Hans. The question was not meant in jest, only to determine if the size of each DAC unit relative to the other is accurate as depicted. I think knowing this would be a valuable bit of information to add to your videos.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I did not precisely scale the DACs. Put in the original reviews I show the precise measures. See the show note for links.

[@aerofart]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you

[@allansh828]

Would you include dCS Vivaldi?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I will try to get a review sample….

[@puciohenzap891]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Might be difficult, I suppose dCS couldn't be damned about reviews, having been in the biz for so so long already they have almost a cult following in certain audiophile circles. I've had the Debussy and it was extremely good though.

[@jamesstruble1]

Are you ok, I am missing this weeks video, you are like clockwork

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have announced that I take a 2 week leave. You must have missed that.

[@blainerivera9733]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I missed that, too. Been worried.

[@zachariahadams]

I don't think DACs are keeping up with moors law.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I think you are totally wrong there. Especially with FPGA DACs.

[@zachariahadams]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel maybe to the extent of the technology but I was focused more on the cost of the two year old counterpart.

[@guystpierrecomposer]

Hi Hans! Thank you for the comparaison. I did not have the chance to listen to those dacs. I saw the Audioscience (Amir) review of the Dave... Is this guy crazy? Or everybody else are fools...? How can he put those measurements if the are false?

[@colanitower]

I guess these three DACs are one high-end level above the Holo Audio May DAC?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

As I have mentioned several times, I reviewed the Holo on the previous amp in my setup 1 and therefore can’t compare it to the three DAC’s mentioned in this review.

[@colanitower]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I noticed that, but you chose one of these to upgrade setup 1, not the holo. I guessed that says something, but maybe that was a guess too far 😉

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Sometimes it is but this time I’m not sure at all.

[@beslemeto]

@@colanitower Actually most people prefer Holo May over Chord Dave+M Scaler!

[@rktrkt-tw8nd]

Wait how can that be possible ? A chord dac is your reference ? There are more chord haters than lovers. R2r, nos brigade has mindwashed people so much for so long believing into inferior r2r tech thar people spends so many $k to listen to nos distortion.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I trust my ears, not the angry mob on the web that rather shout than listen😉

[@87togabito]

A chord dac is my reference too. Or rather, the design philosophy of the Chord dac is what I believe to be ideal.