Newsletter #56 - February 2026

This manaDAC is genuinely in a league of its own, in my view, offering what could be described as the most analogue DAC experience available.

It’s just so easy to listen to music, endlessly

Max Richter’s recomposed Four Seasons is stunningly amazing with this presentation

…you just want to settle in for a bit of high-quality listening, the manaDAC has it all done for you

It took just a few seconds to appreciate the improvements once the ONI-100 was in circuit

Again, much of the brightness and glare had subsided, so the music sounded more organic and natural

Cymbals were better defined and resolved, leading to less glare. The drum track started and stopped with greater alacrity, giving them more impact. Overall, this was now a far more involving listen.

The killer, and unexpected benefits for me, were the increase in musical warmth and reduction in glare.

In my view these headphones offer exceptional performance for the price with high levels of detail with a sumptuous balanced presentation that is easy on the ear

The most surprising revelation was that a Meze Audio dongle DAC was in the box.  It is excellent….

The Mojo 2 is an excellent partner with these 99 Classics…

This is a light, super clean less-is-more track with exceptional space and a light touch.  The 99s deliver this track with rhythm, pace, and the high-end experience is breezy

A thoroughly enjoyable sound and ease of use make them excellent value for the money.

….I spent nearly all my time sitting in a nearfield position, I felt I was right in the mix, and the detailing was fabulous

The definition of the phrase ‘punching well above its price point’!

…I asked if the magic sauce from the MENUETs or the EPIKORE rub off on a £300 pair of DALIs? It does, in style.

…revealed enough detail to engage the listener…

Investing in this cable upgrade with suitable headphones is a significant step in improving your audiophile journey.

If you’ve invested 4000 Euros in a pair of Meze Audio Elites, an additional 400 Euros seems to be a fairly easy no brainer for this level of uplift.

…the presentation with the Atlas cable is clearly wider and more open for sure, this is a remarkable, simple, tangible upgrade

…in the bass and sure enough, the bass has excellent punch which feels a fraction deeper and more controlled.

The Rotel DX-5 is a highly accomplished lifestyle unit.

…asking price isn’t for the budget conscious, instead it’s aimed at the more serious listener wanting quality that won’t break the bank

I was greeted by a rich and detailed sound.

The depth and detailing of the sound were excellent using the Mellow Tone Audio valve phono stage.