MIKEBALTO

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $300.00 from used, on Audiogon.co

Summary:
I bought this after using a Pioneer 563 SACD/DV Audio player. SACD sound was fantastic but there were few SACDs available, and I had 300 standard CDs! The MSB Link Dac 3 with upsampling card made all the well recorded standard CDs sound almost as good as SACDs ! The sound inproved noticeably after switching to a better digital cable ( Black Mountain Cable Peak, MSRP $600). Still better with MFSL and other gold CDs, but very good with most standard CDs. Many early CDs sound harsh, becuse they ARE harsh. This unit is a good way to get back to the real sound of audio, LPs, when you have music only available on CDs. My system: Spica SC-50 speakers, NHT subwoofer, Outlaw Audio 1050 Receiver, Piuoneer DVD player. Kenwood KD-500 table, Mod Squad Phono Drive, Dynavector MC cartridge.

Strengths:
Very well built, heavy, profesional quality unit.

Weaknesses:
New ones with the add-on boards are expensive.

Similar Products Used:
Theta Coral 307, Monarchy Upsampler

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
After two years of faithful service it suddenly stopped working! Just went dumb. No sound coming out it. The lights are all on, the upsampling even changes lights when toggled at the back, but no sound. Poor durabilty. This DAC is also highly system dependent. Used it with Pioneer DV 525, there is no noticeable improvement. I used it with Rotel RCD 971 and boom! Suddenly all the air around instruments, improved imaging and bass punch is there. Audition first before buying.

Strengths:
Godd imaging, bass.

Weaknesses:
Durability problem and highly system dependent.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have the Full Nelson version and it was very nice. A toss-up though between it and my Classe CDP .5. The transport I'm using, a Pioneer PD-65, sounded better! BUT when I added the Monarchy DIP (Super Drive) there was a big improvement. THEN when I added the P1000 Power Base.....HUGE IMPROVEMENT. Everything is better and a huge leap up from the Classe and Pioneer. If you have an MSB Link Dac I, II, or III go out and get the P1000 power base. It's like night and day.

Strengths:
combined with the P1000 powerbase and Monarchy DIP it is AWESOME.

Weaknesses:
Doesn't sound great without the P1000 powerbase.

Similar Products Used:
Monarchy Link DAC I w/o upsampling

Price Paid:  $449.00

Summary:
I just but it for a short time , but it make me amazing on it . My qeuipment is B&W matrix 803 with and DIY EL34 AMP ,first of all , My audio player is one Pioneer 733a DVD player . The audio sounds not bad , but it seems there are some " lost " in it . When I plug in MSB LINK DACIII , what a amazing word !The imporvment are more clear now. especaill the low costs US 449 . It worths every one want to imporve your CD audio.

Strengths:
rich and color sound with overtone.

Weaknesses:
power is poor , maybe I need to add one " power P1000 " for it .

Similar Products Used:
Rotel 771CD , Marantz CD19a

Price Paid:  $560.00 from eBay

Summary:
Top line: A really great DAC, especially in its fully tricked out form. But, be careful how you use it and in what type of system. This review is for a Link DAC III with the Full Nelson upgrade, MSB network and upsampling modules, powered by the P1000 Power Base. In other words, the whole enchilada. The MSB Network introduces an AES/EBU balanaced input. The "Full Nelson" upgrade includes upsampling and improved caps, resistors, opamps, and filtering. The P1000 Power Base brings a separate power supply (in a similar sized box that I place under the Link DAC) with an upgraded toroidal transformer. My initial experience with the stock Link DAC III was mixed. It certainly made noticeable improvements in depth of soundstage but almost no improvements in placement or air. Detail was improved, but the punch on the bass was only marginally improved and the high end might have gotten just a tad "lifted". This may account for some reviewers' account of the system seeming "bright". When the fully tricked out Link DAC arrived a few months later, the difference was night and day. Detail was much improved, attack and bass punch were noticeably improved, and soundstage placement was much better. The final placement of a Monarchy Audio 24/96 DIP with S/PDIF input and AES/EBU output into the Link DAC (automatically activating the MSB Network) created a stunning digital front-end. The mids and highs are now very accurate and just very slightly on the warm side. All of the high end stridency is now gone. I am very happy with this front end and am no longer in the market for anything else, including a new turntable. But it took the whole package until I was really happy. Related reviews: Canare Digiflex Gold S/PDIF cable: http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_116407_1584crx.aspx Monarchy Audio 24/96 DIP: http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_116989_1586crx.aspx

Strengths:
The Link DAC III with all upgrades, PowerBase, and a Monarchy Audio 24/96 DIP creates an incredible digital front-end. At $995 retail, no longer a bargain basement giant-killer, but well worth every dollar spent. (But I did get a great deal on eBay.)

Weaknesses:
When all the upgrades are in place, and in combination with a Monarchy Audio 24/96 DIP, nothing that I can detect. But it's also a $1250 DAC (plus a little more for cables) by the time you get there.

Similar Products Used:
The only prior DAC I have used is a stock Link DAC III (which I still own and use in a second system).