I was looking for an R2R DAC a few years back when the first version of Pegasus was launched. However, while searching for reviews and impressions, I came across several people who shared in forums that they received faulty units. What’s worse was they’ll get a few replies from Musician and then got ghosted and deserted. A few who managed to reach the point where they sent back their units, were told to declare value at ¥20 but their units somehow went missing in freight. It’s common practice to stick a label on the box stating that it’s a “Faulty unit, returned for warranty service & repair” and declare value at ¥20 but when it’s lost, they got back what they declared. Final straw for me was when a trusted reviewer also got a faulty unit and experienced the same ghosting after a few email exchanges. He had to get it repaired before he was able to do his review. So, the big question on this brand for me would be, have they gotten their service acts together? Anyway, I am happy with my Gustard R26 and now have other DACs in my racks to keep me happy.
Thank you man what you have written Is more valuable than anything in the review for the common folks, they can't think that with some time they can put everything under the rag... Or maybe they do because they are doing It and think that we are stupid i don't know what Is worse
@@geraltdhowl3218 I was impressed with their spec such as PCM 1536 but the service or totally lack of, really put me off. Many Chinese brands are becoming good at creating and making first class products but I won’t touch these products if their services sucks!
I would say that those reviews were when Musician Audio was a new company. They have had several years to work put the kinks, and from my experience, have done so. I own a Pegasus and have not had any issues with it. Further, upon buying it, the distributor for Musician (Aoshida Audio) reached out to me explaining my warranty and how to contact them with questions and/or product issues.
Indeed - when I was choosing a DAC these warnings were out there. I decided to go for a dealer here in Europe with all the legal protection here - not dealing directly with people on another continent - which can be challenging for both sides. That said, the Pegasus I is a very good DAC - but let's be honest - they all are.
You're relationship with the music is very compelling - deep, and in close reference to what a component can bring. Definitely helps one understand exactly where one dac will work better over another! 🙏
The capacitance increase, better internal wiring and AC socket aren't massive upgrades to warrant going from Pegasus 1 to 2. If you need a meaningful upgrade, then start hunting for a Taurus at a nice discount.
Hi Sandu, Love your reviews. I wanted your personal recommendation between Pegasus II and Aune S9C Pro for my stereo. I currently use Topping E50 DAC (has the same ESS 9068 chip though) going into my Roksan Caspian Amplifier powering Polk 700 floorstanders and Apple TV4K is my streamer.
If you check any of my latest written reviews, you'll see the associated equipment mentioned at the very end of the article. Here's an example (scroll down): soundnews.net/reviews/amplifiers/headphone-amps/burson-soloist-voyager-review-per-aspera-ad-astra/
Well, since I've heard from multiple sources (including a commenter in this thread) that Musician's customer service is somewhere between really awful and nonexistent and Denafrips has really good CS from Alvin Chee at Vinshine, as well as a very public face for the brand, I'd go with the Ares 12th-1 if you're deciding between those two. I'm very happy with mine.
Hi i wanna ask you? I want buy amp/dac for pc gaming and music iam using Hifiman sundara and i thinking about Eversolo DAC z8 Aune s9c pro BT and maybe FiiO k9 pro it will be my first so expansive purchase until now i was using Behringer umc22 greetings
Pegasus one was made when the company just started - they must have set the price really sharp then. Since the price didn't go up - with all this inflation going on - I haven't checked all the components of both versions, but corners most likely were cut somewhere.
My guess is that during 4 yrs period some parts became obsolete so further production wouldn't be possible. By adding Pegasus 2 into portfolio they are managing to focus on their product again but with new BOM, which could mean they were able to improve parts supply chain effectiveness. This could lower overall costs.
No, not another R2R, nooo! 😃 Again meaty, smooth, musical, delicious. No, we want good measuring bright ones, who the hell listens to music for pleasure? Unsubscribed!!😃
@@Soundnews Glad to relieve the darkness, even just for a moment. I will never join any "religious" mob, be it pro or anti something that I don't feel my own. I test with the humble limits of my ears and intellect and I make decisions for myself.
I didn't try the Ares 12th so I can't comment on that one, but the R26 is a slightly better sounding unit and it's bundled with a lot more features. If the price difference isn't making a hole in your pocket, then I'll go with the R26.
@@Soundnews I saw your video a while back on the Gustard A26 and you liked that better than R26...does the A26 have better dynamics and how do the chipsets differ❓
Hi Sandu...if you personally want for yourself or let others know of an end game DAC...the Italian hand made Aqua Audio Formula DAC is superior to anything i've ever heard...i know because i was lucky enough to have a dealer come over to let me Demo in my setup...tried both la scala and thought na...then Formula and "oh my" it is truly an end game dac...seperation of the instruments and detail is unbelievable...🎶🎶
hi, can you help me deciding? i have hekse+s17pro and i'm targeting d400ex-su-10- and this pegasus II. i love dynamics but you wrote that su-10 the dynamic king couls hurt with some hardness and this is stoppng me buing it. i listen to classical music where the dynaimic it's all! i also listen bles jazz country, not metal a little rock and electronic, so i guess the su-10 hardness shouldn't annoy me a lot, but everyone advice me not spending too much in smsl but it's better going to best dac.... i'm confused. i want clean musical sound and listen the impact of the hammer on piano (i'm a pianist). the fatter r2r perhaps it's not enough transparent and close to real sound... mah. p.s i bought ef400 listen 1 minute and i hated it. now i'm going into s17 from my ifi gryphon with x bass and it's very nice combo.
I am a Japanese, long time classic listener, from Wagner to Philip Glass, Post Classical, and a user of HE1000se and S17pro. To put it bluntly, D400EX is just garbage. IMHO, SMSL D1se v1 or v2 + audio grade high-end fuse is better than SU-10. Of those three Pegasus is without a doubt the best. $800+ SMSL dacs are not worth the price. As for SU-X, I saw some reports of breakdown and subsequent trouble on return/refund.
I was looking for an R2R DAC a few years back when the first version of Pegasus was launched. However, while searching for reviews and impressions, I came across several people who shared in forums that they received faulty units. What’s worse was they’ll get a few replies from Musician and then got ghosted and deserted. A few who managed to reach the point where they sent back their units, were told to declare value at ¥20 but their units somehow went missing in freight. It’s common practice to stick a label on the box stating that it’s a “Faulty unit, returned for warranty service & repair” and declare value at ¥20 but when it’s lost, they got back what they declared. Final straw for me was when a trusted reviewer also got a faulty unit and experienced the same ghosting after a few email exchanges. He had to get it repaired before he was able to do his review. So, the big question on this brand for me would be, have they gotten their service acts together? Anyway, I am happy with my Gustard R26 and now have other DACs in my racks to keep me happy.
Thank you man what you have written Is more valuable than anything in the review for the common folks, they can't think that with some time they can put everything under the rag... Or maybe they do because they are doing It and think that we are stupid i don't know what Is worse
@@geraltdhowl3218 I was impressed with their spec such as PCM 1536 but the service or totally lack of, really put me off. Many Chinese brands are becoming good at creating and making first class products but I won’t touch these products if their services sucks!
I would say that those reviews were when Musician Audio was a new company. They have had several years to work put the kinks, and from my experience, have done so. I own a Pegasus and have not had any issues with it. Further, upon buying it, the distributor for Musician (Aoshida Audio) reached out to me explaining my warranty and how to contact them with questions and/or product issues.
Indeed - when I was choosing a DAC these warnings were out there. I decided to go for a dealer here in Europe with all the legal protection here - not dealing directly with people on another continent - which can be challenging for both sides. That said, the Pegasus I is a very good DAC - but let's be honest - they all are.
@@jackj3917 good for you to have a good unit. Any idea if Musician’s service is good now, rather than the seller?
You're relationship with the music is very compelling - deep, and in close reference to what a component can bring. Definitely helps one understand exactly where one dac will work better over another! 🙏
Thank you!
Great Review! Cant wait for your review on Holo Audio Cyan 2
Thanks for the review! Any chance for a coverage of the new Cyan 2 R2R from Holo Audio, since it is around the same price?
I'm not sure than is going to happen, they didn't like the honesty and criticism of my Holo Bliss KTE review...
Rockna rules
Indeed! Never ever beat that stack
Sandu you also reviewed the Pegasus 1, what are the differences with Pegasus 2? Worth the upgrade?
The capacitance increase, better internal wiring and AC socket aren't massive upgrades to warrant going from Pegasus 1 to 2. If you need a meaningful upgrade, then start hunting for a Taurus at a nice discount.
@@Soundnews thanks Sandu much appreciated
Hi Sandu, Love your reviews. I wanted your personal recommendation between Pegasus II and Aune S9C Pro for my stereo. I currently use Topping E50 DAC (has the same ESS 9068 chip though) going into my Roksan Caspian Amplifier powering Polk 700 floorstanders and Apple TV4K is my streamer.
Thanks for the review ! Would you say Musician Audio Taurus and Pegasus II have the same tonality ? (comparable midrange ?)
Yes, comparable tonality, with a minor exception that Pegasus II leans more towards warmth and liquidity. Taurus does it at a lesser degree.
Nice, but I will stick with my Lynx Hilo.
Looks nice a nice piece of gear. Congrats!
Hi Sandu, could you please mention which cables you are using, speaker, interconnect , power cable etc. Regards.
If you check any of my latest written reviews, you'll see the associated equipment mentioned at the very end of the article. Here's an example (scroll down): soundnews.net/reviews/amplifiers/headphone-amps/burson-soloist-voyager-review-per-aspera-ad-astra/
Sounds like this will be smoother sounding over the R26 correct?
How about a review on those monitor audio speakers??
Not sure that is going to happen. The top end isn't quite my cup of tea
@@Soundnews what is it that you dislike about it, rolled off?
This against the denafrips ares 12 th edition?
Well, since I've heard from multiple sources (including a commenter in this thread) that Musician's customer service is somewhere between really awful and nonexistent and Denafrips has really good CS from Alvin Chee at Vinshine, as well as a very public face for the brand, I'd go with the Ares 12th-1 if you're deciding between those two. I'm very happy with mine.
Hi i wanna ask you? I want buy amp/dac for pc gaming and music iam using Hifiman sundara and i thinking about Eversolo DAC z8 Aune s9c pro BT and maybe FiiO k9 pro it will be my first so expansive purchase until now i was using Behringer umc22 greetings
What happened to the Kef Ref 3 Meta? 😢
Sold, Raidho TD 2.2 will be replacing them soon.
Would you consider this dac if you could only use rca outputs? 🙏
Of course! It has an industry standard output of 2.2V via RCA, so yeah, it will behave like an usual DAC via RCA
@@Soundnews Thanks, I was wondering if it has the same sound signature with the rca output or am I giving up something?
So, is it worth to replace Pegasus I to Pegasus II?
Pegasus one was made when the company just started - they must have set the price really sharp then. Since the price didn't go up - with all this inflation going on - I haven't checked all the components of both versions, but corners most likely were cut somewhere.
My guess is that during 4 yrs period some parts became obsolete so further production wouldn't be possible. By adding Pegasus 2 into portfolio they are managing to focus on their product again but with new BOM, which could mean they were able to improve parts supply chain effectiveness. This could lower overall costs.
I wouldn't do that. The difference is there, but it's a small one. I would save for the Taurus instead at a nice discount.
@@SoundnewsOK. Thanks. This will open another savings account 😅
No, not another R2R, nooo! 😃 Again meaty, smooth, musical, delicious. No, we want good measuring bright ones, who the hell listens to music for pleasure? Unsubscribed!!😃
I'm returnimg home from a funeral abroad and your comment makes me feel (much) better. Hopefully you didn't join the ASR army
@@Soundnews Glad to relieve the darkness, even just for a moment. I will never join any "religious" mob, be it pro or anti something that I don't feel my own. I test with the humble limits of my ears and intellect and I make decisions for myself.
Hi Sandu , i hope you're fine How does it compare to DENAFRIPS Ares 12th -1 and GUSTARD R 26 ? which one do you recommend the most ?thanks
I didn't try the Ares 12th so I can't comment on that one, but the R26 is a slightly better sounding unit and it's bundled with a lot more features. If the price difference isn't making a hole in your pocket, then I'll go with the R26.
@@Soundnews
I saw your video a while back on the Gustard A26 and you liked that better than R26...does the A26 have better dynamics and how do the chipsets differ❓
I wonder how this would pair with a Topping A90 Discrete? Would it add some flavor?
Hi Sandu...if you personally want for yourself or let others know of an end game DAC...the Italian hand made Aqua Audio Formula DAC is superior to anything i've ever heard...i know because i was lucky enough to have a dealer come over to let me Demo in my setup...tried both la scala and thought na...then Formula and "oh my" it is truly an end game dac...seperation of the instruments and detail is unbelievable...🎶🎶
hi, can you help me deciding? i have hekse+s17pro and i'm targeting d400ex-su-10- and this pegasus II. i love dynamics but you wrote that su-10 the dynamic king couls hurt with some hardness and this is stoppng me buing it. i listen to classical music where the dynaimic it's all! i also listen bles jazz country, not metal a little rock and electronic, so i guess the su-10 hardness shouldn't annoy me a lot, but everyone advice me not spending too much in smsl but it's better going to best dac.... i'm confused. i want clean musical sound and listen the impact of the hammer on piano (i'm a pianist). the fatter r2r perhaps it's not enough transparent and close to real sound... mah. p.s i bought ef400 listen 1 minute and i hated it. now i'm going into s17 from my ifi gryphon with x bass and it's very nice combo.
I am a Japanese, long time classic listener, from Wagner to Philip Glass, Post Classical, and a user of HE1000se and S17pro. To put it bluntly, D400EX is just garbage. IMHO, SMSL D1se v1 or v2 + audio grade high-end fuse is better than SU-10. Of those three Pegasus is without a doubt the best. $800+ SMSL dacs are not worth the price. As for SU-X, I saw some reports of breakdown and subsequent trouble on return/refund.