The LAIV Concord DAC Evaluate. My New Reference.

The LAIV Concord DAC Evaluate. My New Reference.

By Steve Huff

My Video Evaluate has all of my emotions and ideas on the LAIV DAC in addition to exhibiting you guys what it appears to be like like within the system. 

Evidently during the last 2-3 years DAC tech has gotten so good and there are lots of on the market that sound superb for not a lot cash. I’m a giant believer in what a DAC can do in your digital music as I’ve heard properly over 50 DAC’s during the last 5 years and sone have stood out above the remainder, however only some. Of these DAC’s, my favorites have been the Chord Dave ($13k), Weiss DAC 501 ($9500), DCS Lina (13k), T+A DAC 200 ($7k) and the Denafrips Terminator PLUS Twelfth ($9k). Even the Weiss 204 was an enormous bang for the buck and I additionally extremely advocate it as properly (although the Concord is a nicer possibility).

These are some fairly excessive finish DAC’s at some fairly excessive finish costs however all of them convey one thing completely different, thrilling and all out refinement to the sound of your digital music.

Sure, I’ve even heard the favored Holo Could in addition to fairly a number of fashions from Denafrips, even having the stunning underneath $1000 Ares Twelfth-1 right here now, which I actually take pleasure in.

Lately I used to be requested if I want to assessment the primary product from an all new firm named LAIV, which is pronounced “LIVE”. This new product was their very first, and it was c referred to as the HARMONY DAC. The retail value of this DAC is available in at $2700, so not chump change however fairly a bit lower than my 5 determine favorites. I agreed to test it out and when the Laiv Concord arrived I knew completely nothing in any respect about it and I imply nothing. I simply knew it was a brand new DAC and had a reasonably snazzy design.

Once I began to unbox this DAC I used to be shocked to see among the most interesting HiFi packaging I’ve ever skilled. It was an expertise certainly simply opening this factor up. In my video assessment above I present you the unboxing however this small sized however very hefty and stable DAC is drop useless attractive. Within the field you will see goodies like a bank card model steel card along with your serial # and model information. There’s a distant management and OMG, I’ve by no means seen a distant so finely crafted. It’s stable steel, and delightful certainly. That is the way you do a distant (see it within the video assessment).

The DAC additionally has three spiked toes in brass/gold, undecided which. Some might choose silver for these spotlight however the brass colour form of provides it a cultured look. Totally different from the remainder. There’s a dial up high to vary inputs and to maneuver by way of the straightforward setup menu. To setup, simply transfer to your most popular enter and away you go. You can too set the DAC to over pattern the music, or you may inform it to NOT do that. I take advantage of each settings and can speak about when and why I take advantage of each in a while on this assessment.

VS DENAFRIPS? 

The LAIV Concord comes from Singapore, the identical place as Denafrips DAC’s. In reality, Weng Fai Hoh is the man at LAIV that despatched me the DAC and he’s good associates with Alvin from Denafrips. With that mentioned, the Concord has a special sound character from Denafrips. I’ll state for now that the Denafrips line has a heat leaning, full and fluid spatial vibe occurring. It’s very good certainly. As you go up the road in Denafrips we simply get extra refinement, a bigger soundstage and extra particulars rising from a deep black house.

The Concord digs deep for particulars but does so with a heft to the sound, a textured type of factor the place small hidden particulars emerge, issues that will have been missed with different DACs. The sound is wealthy, meaty, detailed, liquid and simply flows with a deep black inky background. This in flip permits the music to stream freely with all particulars heard. The bass is solidified and goes deep so long as your audio system and amp can deal with it. This DAC jogs my memory of a Chord Dave with extra meat, richness and bass punch. The Concord can also be very refined, which means zero digital hash or scrappiness. The LAIV is over $10k cheaper than the Chord Dave however that Dave is growing old gracefully. It’s fairly previous by tech requirements and it appears tech is catching as much as the mega dacs of only a few years in the past.

From what I’m listening to this DAC is of the very particular selection and my guess is I cannot be the one one to say these form of issues concerning the LAIV. Id say it competes and hangs with different DAC’s within the $9k-$11k vary, and that is saying one thing certainly. The Concord, once more, is $2700.

High Tier Construct High quality. Nearly as good as one of the best there’s. 

Nothing dodgy or subpar right here because the construct is supremely properly executed and simply as properly made because the $10k + DACs I’ve skilled. The elements high quality can also be high class and the way in which this DAC was designed tells me the designer knew what they needed to attain they usually did simply that. if I may be sincere right here, and I at all times wish to be, the construct high quality truly feels better than many $10k dacs. It’s outstanding.

The Concord is gorgeous and I’ve the silver and black fashions right here to check. I like the black but additionally adore the silver. Each are good however the black could also be my selection, by a hair.

My Closing Phrase

So with supreme elements and construct high quality, probably the most attractive distant I’ve ever seen with any HIFi piece, a small stunning dimension and advantageous consideration to element and thoughts blowing stunning sound, this DAC will grow to be my reference for 2024 and presumably past. I’ve been in search of a DAC that sounds elegant however doesn’t value $5k and up. The LAIV DAC is one which has introduced all I’ve wished for and for a lot lower than I had imagined. Ive by no means heard a DAC for this worth or much less that’s made as properly, appears to be like pretty much as good and sounds as good. The sound of this DAC is elegant and excessive finish.

In case you are seeking to spend as much as $10k for a DAC it could be a disgrace to NOT hear the Concord. One may spend the financial savings on a greater set of audio system, or presumably a brand new streamer. Heck, for round $8500 or much less one may buy the LAIV Concord together with a HiFi Rose RS130 streamer and have a real reference digital streaming rig. It’s what I take advantage of in my essential system immediately and I find it irresistible.

The meat of this assessment is within the video on the high of the web page. It has the visuals, the emotions and my full ideas on this DAC and why it’s so particular for the associated fee. It’s not low-cost however it’s properly definitely worth the asking worth, after which some. I can’t think about anybody being dissatisfied within the HARMONY DAC! 

The LAIV Concord is available in Silver or Black and may be purchased on the LAIV Web site HERE.