New Multichannel DSD DAC from Merging Technologies

[bmoura]

The team at Merging Technologies which make the Horus and HAPI DAC & ADC for recording studio and pro use - with resolution levels up to Quad DSD (4 times the SACD quality level) are now planning 2 Channel, 8 Channel and even 16 Channel Digital to Analog Converters (DACs) for the home audio market.

The first look at the new NADAC (Network Attached DAC) line of home audio products is happening this week at the CES 2015 show in Las Vegas. More details will be available on their web site after CES ends. Good to have a new choice to play the ever increasing number of Multichannel DSD downloads showing up on the web!



Network Attached DAC (NADAC) from Merging Technologies at CES 2015 - Shown at Bottom of Audio Rack
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...merging-technologies-home-audio-market-22967/
https://www.facebook.com/MergingTec...95.1073741831.606330662740477/889930944380446

 

[bmoura]

An update on the NADAC. Their new web site's home page is up. Pricing will start at $7,500 for the 2 Channel DAC, no pricing yet on the 8 Channel and 16 Channel versions.
Makes the exaSound e28 sound like a deal at $3,299 !



http://nadac.merging.com/
http://www.audiostream.com/content/merging-technologies-nadac

 

[steelydave]

Probably will take a stack of money about as high as the rack in the first picture.

 

[bmoura]

Probably will take a stack of money about as high as the rack in the first picture.

The pricing is surprising since their HAPI product which includes 8 Channels of AD & DA conversion is just a bit more than the 2 Channel NADAC price. I'm curious to hear why that is.

 

[bmoura]

It's official. The Network Attached Digital to Analog Converter (NADAC) from Merging Technologies will debut at High End Munich and The Show in Newport Beach later this month. It will come in both 2 channel and 8 channel editions. More info is at the NADAC web site which is now live.

"Merging Technologies was encouraged to produce NADAC because of the high praise their professional D/A converters have received from leading recording engineers. It uses the same technology and is built to the same exacting standards.

Many of those recording companies are in the forefront of providing a large catalogue of true Hi-Res Audio downloads. These are typically in DSD or DXD and many of them will feature the multichannel DSD files previously used for SACD releases. Merging is forming a dynamic partnership with a growing number of these content providers, to jointly promote the benefits of the listening to the music as the artists intended. Special deals for NADAC purchasers will be announced as they are made available."

http://nadac.merging.com/

 

[bmoura]

The NADAC will be playing some DSD 64, 128 and 256 music at The Show Newport Beach at the Hotel Irvine next weekend in Room 441 in the Positive Feedback room. Along with the new Mark II edition of the exaSound e28 Eight Channel DAC. I'm looking forward to hearing the NADAC in action.

"Here's an invitation to all THE Show Newport Beach 2015 showgoers to stop by and visit the Positive Feedback's Hospitality Suite in Irvine Hotel's room 441. Lots of great things happening there, from Thursday - Sunday.

We'll be featuring the Western Hemisphere premiere of the brilliant new Merging Technologies NADAC 8-channel DSD DAC (running in stereo mode), with four days' worth of DSD music only! Also featured will be the new exaSound e28 Mk. II DSD DAC. Single, Double, and Quad DSD will be in constant action...we have tons of DSD recordings to share with our friends!

The rest of our DSD playback system will feature the darTZeel LCH-208 Danalogue integrated amp with DSD DAC, the Evolution Acoustics MMMicro One loudspeakers, cabling by Wave Kinetics and Kubala-Sosna, with racks and isolation by Stillpoints. Top-notch stuff all the way 'round the block!"

https://www.facebook.com/PositiveFe...205628.284799286065/10153197323341066/?type=1

 

[bmoura]

Another chance to hear the 8-Channel NADAC DAC in advance of The Show in Newport Beach that starts on Thursday and Friday playing Multichannel Music:

"This coming Tuesday, May 26, The Audio Salon will host a special Multichannel Music Event. Peter McGrath of Wilson Audio Specialties will play a selection of his multichannel recordings on a system that features both the Alexia and Duette Series 2 loudspeakers. He will discuss the philosophy behind this style of recording and demonstrate why he believes it is an evolutionary step in the recreation of live events.

Dominique Brulhart, visiting from Switzerland, will discuss the development of the Merging Technologies stereo and multichannel NADAC, its range of features and capabilities. The event will be held at our showroom in Santa Monica, CA at the Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave. Unit F1. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to (310) 863-0863. "

http://www.stereophile.com/content/multichannel-music-santa-monica

 

[bmoura]

In this new You Tube video, Merging Technologies explains their interest in Multichannel audio, why they are entering the home audio market with the NADAC DAC, their work in SACD and more recently music downloads and why the NADAC uses Ethernet input vs. the more common USB input. Interesting viewing.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p6fvS9KhZg

 

[bmoura]

The first review of the 8 Channel Network Attached Digital to Analog Converter (NADAC) is in and it's a rave review from David Robinson at Positive Feedback.
Robinson says the NADAC-8 tops all prior DACs he has heard - including Playback Designs.



http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/impressions-the-merging-technology-nadac-mc-8-dsd-dac/

 

[Jim the Oldbie]

The first review of the 8 Channel Network Attached Digital to Analog Converter (NADAC) is in and it's a rave review from David Robinson at Positive Feedback.
Robinson says the NADAC-8 tops all prior DACs he has heard - including Playback Designs.

http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/impressions-the-merging-technology-nadac-mc-8-dsd-dac/

From the "review":

"Accuracy, you see, involves the degree to which the reproduction performance of a component (actually, a playback chain) mirrors the source. That's extremely difficult to comment on unless you are either highly experienced with mic feeds and master tapes/the studio, or have direct experience with a given transfer. Otherwise, you should avoid using the term "accuracy" in your own comments, since it implies knowledge of the qualities of a source that you cannot, and do not, have."

And then there's remarks like these, each apparently requiring its own individual paragraph space for dramatic effect:

"I was right."

"My notes follow…so should you."

"What else can I say here? It's stellar."

"Yes, the Ethernet cable(s). I'm going to underline this pretty heavily, so pay attention."

"Yes, it's every bit of that good."

Not to mention that in 10 or 15 pages of this sort of thing, there is not a single reference to any tech performance specifications or test results. This for a piece of audio gear that costs as much as a decent, serviceable automobile.

Sorry, but this kind of "reporting" makes me throw up in my mouth a little. This article is a self-parody, written by a pretentious snob - a perfect example of what everyone hates about high-end audio.

-- Jim

 

[bmoura]

It's always encouraging to see new Multichannel audio equipment reach the home audio market.

While most of my listening to the NADAC at The Show Newport was in DSD Stereo vs. DSD Multichannel, what I heard was very impressive.
Clearly David Robinson agrees.

 

[Flumpy]

The team at Merging Technologies which make the Horus and HAPI DAC & ADC for recording studio and pro use - with resolution levels up to Quad DSD (4 times the SACD quality level) are now planning 2 Channel, 8 Channel and even 16 Channel Digital to Analog Converters (DACs) for the home audio market.

The first look at the new NADAC (Network Attached DAC) line of home audio products is happening this week at the CES 2015 show in Las Vegas. More details will be available on their web site after CES ends. Good to have a new choice to play the ever increasing number of Multichannel DSD downloads showing up on the web!

View attachment 16844

Network Attached DAC (NADAC) from Merging Technologies at CES 2015 - Shown at Bottom of Audio Rack
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...merging-technologies-home-audio-market-22967/
https://www.facebook.com/MergingTec...95.1073741831.606330662740477/889930944380446

This looks pretty awesome. What price range are we looking at here?

 

[bmoura]

This looks pretty awesome. What price range are we looking at here?

The NADAC from Merging Technologies goes for $10,500 (Stereo model) and $11,500 (Multichannel MC-8 model).
http://nadac.merging.com/

 

[bmoura]

You Tube video discussion of the value of Multichannel and 3-Channel recordings (starting at 10:30) and the new 8-Channel Merging Technologies MC-8 DAC with Dominique Brulhart from Merging Technologies and Kal Rubinson from Stereophile Magazine's "Music In The Round" column on Multichannel sound. Worth watching.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycufvB5paMQ