Prism 8xr, The best DAC I've ever heard (Mom, I am speechless)

This is the strongest dac I've ever experienced, without doubt.

Around 9k bucks (standard version, standard means only ieee1394 input, no aes input, the rest is the same), 8xr provides another level enjoyment comparing with the previous dacs I've enjoyed. I think $9k is the highest price among the common-sensly normal dacs. (some MSB, Vivaldi are from another planet, sounds like some jokes. $70k I prefer deaf.)

I've listened 8xr at my friend's, connecting the pc is so simple. After installing a Syba ieee1394 pcie card ($30), and bought a $20 ieee1394 cable, and it's done, no need for a 600 bucks usb cable in the case of usb input if you wanna chase god. (Chase god=avoid the bad influence from the usb cable as much as possible. 600 bucks a usb cable actually is not crazy.)

When I began to listen (KH310 speakers), wow, just like breathing, nothing else, 100% purity, 100% naturity, that's all I can say, no additional harshness, no weird color.

(Prism Lyra has slightly color, but that's good color. Lyra's less than $2k and it's allready better than the money-sucker Vega. Well power-supplied Hilo with Thunderbolt input is a little better than the usb input Lyra 2 due to the advantage of the Thunderbolt port, but, Thunderbolt-Hilo with the original power supply, it's still (much) less good than the usb-Lyra...Usb-Hilo is totally no good, yah, damn level. If you add an excellent USB to SPDIF/i2s converter on them at the same time, such as OR5 USB Converter, Lyra is better than Hilo.)
(I mention the advantage of Thunderbolt port cos I used a $600 usb cable with Lyra 2 and $80 thunderbolt cable with linear power-supplied Hilo, comparing them on the same computer which motherboard is Asus Z77 contained a thunderbolt port. Hilo is better as I mention above. If you ignore the input and the power supply parts, the DA in Lyra is better than Hilo anyway, a little better.)


8xr is clearly now the king dac in my mind, bloody good, though I haven't heard Yggdrasil, such a pity.

 

That is definitely one of the sexiest looking industrial pieces of shit I've ever seen. Looks straight out of the late 70s, I'd love to hear it someday.

 

Would be interesting to hear the comparison with Yggdrasil. I heard people thinking 8xr as the best DAC in the world and place it above Yggdrasil. (Well considering the price 8xr should do a better job)

 

I'd like to hear people thinking myself!

 

Well, so much for your credibility ...

 

Reminds me of the look of the old DBX Range Expanders from back in the day.

 

just cos under comparing....

 

Kind of a random necro bump, but a friend of mine has the Prism 8xr and Benchmark AHB2 amp feeding his HE-6.
It's his current "end game" rig, and he's rotated through a fair bit of other dacs, including the Yggdrasil so far.

 

Hmm, should we ask @Torq for an audition?

 

Has FireWire gear ever sounded great? The better USB 2.0 stuff and AES and S/PDIF just sounded better on the same units to me. Might just be the older Macs.

Yeah, yet he recommends a FireWire DAC gimme a break.

 

Apart from meme'ing and whatever, if anybodies heard this DAC and has a serious impression, I've love to hear it.

 

Actually, between the Rednet3-to-AES vs Thunderbolt-to-Firewire inputs on the 8xr, he prefers the Firewire. Granted, part of that decision was also for vastly simplifying the setup, and gaining proper access to all the 8xr's functions.