Crane Song Solaris vs. Prism Callia

I am in need of a DAC. It will be used strictly for 2-channel stereo.

My first choice is the Solaris. But it is on back order until who knows when. Used is an option, but I don't see them come up too often.

The Callia has caught my eye. These DACs are readily available.

Anyone heard both these DACs? Any impressions on how these compare soundwise would be helpful.

Thanks for any feedack.

 

I have owned both of these and presently still have a Prism Lyra (which is basically the older brother of the Callia).

The Prism house sound has what I describe as an airy quality to it. There's an upper mid presence that kinda floats and presents itself to you without being shouty but if I were to use negative terms some might interpret it as a very slight haze, but in a contradiction because I feel that it actually does extract upper detail very well. I find the Prism sound very easy to listen to overall and it has lasted with me longer than any dac.

The Crane Song to me was an excellent all-rounder and supremely average in a good way. It doesn't lean into the clinical side like RME but lacks the surgical precision, doesn't bloom warmth like a Forssell but doesn't stage as wide either. Overall I prefer the Prism, but that's all taste at this point. Also note, the Solaris I used to have was the pre-HEDD version or whatever the model now is called. I do not know what the latest updates have changed.

Both the Callia and Solaris have respectable headphone outputs. They aren't afterthoughts, but I wouldn't call it their strength either.

 

Thank you Armaegis. Very helpful feedback.

I am inclined to order a Prism Callia and see how it goes. I will report back my impressions.

 

p.s. if it changes anything, looks like there's Solaris in stock from Studio Economik which is a Canadian retailer:
http://www.economik.com/crane-song/solaris/

 

I will follow up with Economik and we'll see. I have come across several online retailers listing the Solaris as available only to find out they too are out of stock. I don't think Crane Song has shipped any product now going on 2 years.

I did order the Prism. looking forward to hearing it in my system.

 

A good friend has the Callia and I have the Lyra. Headphone section on the Lyra is medicore and actually uses a different dac than the main outs. The Calia HP out is much better than the Lyra, but I have not compared them on their regular outs. Need to do that some day.

Indeed for my ears, the Lyra is the best dac I have owned or had on extended audition in the past 20 or so units I have experience with.

 

Hmm there was a Lyra 2 posted over on USAM just last week.

 

Again, thanks to all posting positive feedback/comments on the Callia/Lyra.

I managed to order the Callia for 20% off list. Besides being a great deal, the Prism seems to be preferred over the Solaris by those posting here.

I spent much time here on SBAF and considered many of the threads regarding Burl, Dangerous, Crane Song, Prism, and the Chinese DACs. In the end, I boiled the choice down to Solaris vs. Prism. Could not convince myself to buy this months latest, greatest option from China.

I appreciate all the collective wisdom on this forum. I am sure all the options I considerd are excellent.