For ‘what is worth’, I have finally managed to put down a few written thoughts about my own personal experience with my new Bit Diffusion MSB Cascade DAC.
It took me a while to write these user thoughts about my new MSB Cascade DAC, but the time has finally come. Again. I say again because I was very lucky to hear the first ‘prototype’ Cascade, at home in my system, for about ten days back in August 2024, and I have already posted on here what I thought of it then, which I can summarise in three words: ‘The Next Level’.
At the time of that demo I was a very happy user of another top DAC, the MSB Reference, which I was sure it was and would have been my forever, endgame DAC. The ‘prototype’ Cascade changed that belief, but, due to the fact that -1. it wasn’t even available for sale at the time -2. its price, then once the demo unit was gone after my ten (wonderful) days with it, I still happily returned to and kept enjoying very much my beloved Reference, despite often remembering very fondly the sound of the Cascade for the next year and a half.
But then eventually, about two months ago, a few ‘lucky’ circumstances allowed me to actually get hold of a new Cascade, and thus I let go of the Reference (which I will love forever btw). However, at the very same time of the purchase of the Cascade, I have also decided to revolutionise my cables loom and replace every single existing cable (4x power cords, power plant, XLRs, speaker cables) with wires from a new brand that I had slowly but inexorably been falling in love with, the Omega Audio Concepts from Italy.
So here come the Cascade, a brand new power plant, and a whole bunch of brand new cables. The only components that stayed the same were my MSB S202 (my beloved ‘silent beast’ lol), my ‘old’ but ever reliable Pink Faun streamer, and my adored Bayz Courante 2.0 omnidirectional speakers, my final and very best speakers I have heard in my long years of adventures in hifi.
Therefore, the moment I started the burning in process of the Cascade, I also have had to start the run-in of the cables and wait for EVERYTHING to settle in the system. Both the Cascade and the Omega cables are very open sounding and very clear (the Reference was “warmer” but also noticeably less “open” compared to the Cascade) so I had to adjust to a quite substantial difference in the way I was used to enjoy the sound of my system. It took two months, some ups and downs, including some very happy days interspersed with other days when I found myself struggling with some almost obsessive fine tuning, however, for about two weeks now, I believe almost everything has settled in, or it is at least very close to.
And what I have been hearing in my most recent listening sessions has been nothing short of extraordinary. The amount of clarity, detail, focus and presence over the Reference is impressive. This was already very noticeable with the ‘prototype’ Cascade, but the new Bit Diffusion Cascade took it to yet ‘another’ next level. Bass is now absolutely impeccable, tight, neat, powerful, yet never ever over the top as it could at times happen with the Reference. The amount of micro details is otherworldly. Instrument separation is to die for. Depth and soundstage are absolutely perfect, midrange is the purest. Transients, dynamics, visceral impact, everything is just superb, leaving me often wowing at the experience. Because yes, I can now say without the shadow of a doubt, being able to listen to music with a system of this level it is an actual experience in itself, a real privilege.
This marvel of a DAC (well paired with a system to match) plays and cruises through any type of music with the most amazing ease; and so it should, considering its price tag, because yes, of course the Cascade is also ‘painfully’ expensive, at least it was (and still is) for me, but I have no regrets, and all I can really say to summarise my experience, especially so every single time I look forward to and then sit into my listening chair in front of the system to get totally immersed into the music and sound, is that this, along with the Bayz, because of how much sheer amount of pleasure I do get out of it, has been the best money I have spent in my life, after that essential roof on my head.
To the Cascade, With Love
