Review: MERASON Frérot DAC, A New Swiss Contender

The MERASON Frérot DAC is the baby brother of the DAC-1, which has been well received in the audio market. Well, Pleased Audio Vida is now the U.S. importer for the Swiss-made MERASON DACs. Mark Sosa, the owner of Well Pleased, called me a few months ago and asked if I would be interested in reviewing the MERASON Frérot DAC since he knew that I had used and loved the similarly priced BorderPatrol DAC for years.

When the Frérot arrived, and I unpacked it, I was surprised that it is slightly smaller (7″ x 9″ x 2″) than the BorderPatrol DAC. As you would expect from a Swiss-made DAC, the build quality and finish are superb. The housing is powder-coated, the lower part is made of 3 mm thick aluminum, and the cover is made of galvanized steel.

Like the DAC-1, the Frérot uses BurrBrown 1794A chips. While two of these chips work in a mono mode in the DAC-1, a single 1794A is responsible for both channels in the Frérot. The signal processing is also carried out symmetrically in the Frérot. It uses discreet Class-A analog devices. The input selector knob on the front panel uses an Elma coding switch. The Frérot processes only PCM data up to 24 bit/192 kHz. It does not process any DSD files.

Smooth and Silky

Set up was easy! I simply disconnected my DAC and connected the Frérot in my reference system. Then, I let the little DAC play 24×7 for a few days.

The designers said their goal was to create a very analog-sounding DAC at a very reasonable price. With the Frérot, they have succeeded at this goal. As many of you may have read from my posts, I have been on a journey transitioning from vinyl to digital. On that journey, I discovered that digital can sound very analog-like. We should, however, remember that there are great differences in the sound of analog sources.

The Frérot DAC has an incredibly smooth and silky sound, which I find surprising from PCM files. It is also, as you would expect from the Swiss, a very precise and detailed sound. This is a great combination with the smooth and silky sound.

Since Mark invited me to compare the Frérot DAC to the BorderPatrol DAC, I think this might be a very interesting way to share the Frérot’s strengths with you. In many ways, the differences in these two DACs are like the differences in my two favorite moving-coil cartridges, the Benz-Micro Ebony TRS and the Miyabi Standard. I love the sound of both of these cartridges, but each of them does different things very well. I always found myself thinking that whichever one I was listening to at the moment was the best.

Going Head to Head

The Frérot DAC shares many of the qualities that I loved about the Benz cartridge, and the BorderPatrol shares many of the great qualities of the Miyabi. However, I’m not saying that either of these two DACs sound quite as good as either of these cartridges would sound with a good turntable. Who would expect them to, since either of these cartridges cost four times as much as the DAC, and then you still need a turntable and a tonearm?

Like the Benz, voices played using the Frérot sound natural, articulate, and beautiful. Individual instruments sound true to the sound of real instruments and they have good timbre and harmonics. Bass instruments played through the Ferot have a tight, fast, and very deep sound.

On the other hand, the Miyabi and the BorderPatrol have a more visceral sound with more drive and more colorful tones. The sound is not as smooth and detailed, however, and it is not nearly as precise. As I said in my previous paragraph, to get all of this sound in one unit, you will have to spend many times as much money.

How Does the Frérot Sound?

Of course, as audiophiles, most of us want to know more about how it sounds. Let me start by saying that the soundstage of the Frérot DAC was huge. It was exceptionally deep and instruments and vocals were precisely placed within it. The soundstage could also be described as holographic. If soundstaging is important to you, this little DAC gives you much more than would expect at this price range.

The quality of the bass is fast and tight and extended very deep when played through my DeVore gibbon Super Nines. The leading edge on bass instruments was very easy to hear and had good slam. The upper bass and lower midrange frequencies were precise, but they were not quite as organic as I would like.

Vocals, stringed-instruments, and pianos came through with great clarity. I could hear every note and breath. Horns and reed instruments sounded life-like, but they lacked some of the bite they should have had. I think many audiophiles will actually appreciate this. The top-end was well extended and passed my test by not drawing attention to itself. I never felt that it was lacking or aggressive. This is a nice accomplishment for a DAC at this price!

Definitely a Contender

The MERASON Frérot DAC gives music lovers a choice at a price point that may be very affordable for most audiophiles. It is definitely a contender worthy of your consideration if you are looking for a budget-priced option!

Retail Price: $1,250 US