Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2

71.205.80.52

Posted on April 24, 2015 at 21:18:55

dandaroy
Audiophile

Posts: 503
Location: Denver, CO
Joined: June 24, 2003

Been listening to streaming music from Spotify Premium with this. Sounds pretty good except there is a slight rough edge when compared to my AN tube cdp which sounds organic and completely free of digital glare. I would like to know if there are USB DACs in the $500 range that would be an improvement in this regard. Another thing I may have to realize that Spotify is not CD resolution (320 kbps) and maybe some of the hardness is source related. Do you think upgrading the DAC will improving listening experience or am I expecting too much. Like I said listening fatigue sets in after a moderate listening session whereas with my cdp I get none or if I get some, it is due to the music being played or played too loud.

Note: I like listening from my CD collection. I use the computer primarily for streaming from Spotify and occasionally Pandora. I am not interested in digitizing my collection to use with the DAC exclusively.
-------
I. Dandaroy

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Schiit Bifrost Uber

G Squared

10:08:58 04/26/15

2

RE: Schiit Bifrost Uber

dandaroy

11:27:29 04/26/15

RE: Schiit Bifrost Uber

msa

11:20:46 04/27/15

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Schiit Bifrost Uber

G Squared

10:08:58 04/26/15

2

RE: Schiit Bifrost Uber

dandaroy

11:27:29 04/26/15

RE: Schiit Bifrost Uber

msa

11:20:46 04/27/15

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2

Sprezza Tura

21:49:52 04/24/15

11

Any Product at more than twice the price should Stomp.

oldmkvi

19:55:54 04/25/15

RE: Any Product at more than twice the price should Stomp.

Sprezza Tura

20:26:21 04/25/15

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2

dandaroy

07:15:28 04/25/15

8

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2

Sprezza Tura

09:08:28 04/25/15

7

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2

dandaroy

10:58:52 04/25/15

6

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2

Sprezza Tura

17:59:09 04/25/15

5

RE:"the Micro is more sophisticated sounding."

rick_m

08:48:14 04/26/15

Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt)

dandaroy

18:31:05 04/25/15

3

RE: Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt)

Sprezza Tura

08:39:30 04/26/15

2

RE: Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt)

RhythmDevil

12:46:09 04/26/15

RE: Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt)

Sprezza Tura

14:02:12 04/26/15

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2, posted on April 24, 2015 at 21:49:52
Sprezza Tura Audiophile Posts: 4585 Location: New York City Joined: August 24, 2012	The $499 iFi Micro iDSD is the best $500 I have heard, bar none. To my ears it utterly stomps the AQ Dragonfly.

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2, posted on April 25, 2015 at 07:15:28
dandaroy Audiophile Posts: 503 Location: Denver, CO Joined: June 24, 2003	I was thinking of getting a tube dac. What DACs in this range are you comparing the ifi to? I noticed I would be paying for headphone amp which I do not need. ------- I. Dandaroy

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2, posted on April 25, 2015 at 09:08:28

Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012

I would strongly forgo a tube dac at that price point..you will regret it.

Cheap and tubes do not go together.

Don't worry about the headphone amp, you get a fully analog volume control which allows for a fixed or variable output, filter choices, DSD, if you care, and hub or battery power.

I have had over a dozen sub $500 DACs in my systems..Musical Fidelity, HRT, AQ, CIA..etc..all of them very good, but the iFI beats them all on sonics.

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2, posted on April 25, 2015 at 10:58:52
dandaroy Audiophile Posts: 503 Location: Denver, CO Joined: June 24, 2003	Thanks for the info. What is so special about the micro iDSD compared to micro iDAC or the nano iDSD besides the price? ------- I. Dandaroy

RE: Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2, posted on April 25, 2015 at 17:59:09
Sprezza Tura Audiophile Posts: 4585 Location: New York City Joined: August 24, 2012	The Micro iDSD is clearly better than the Nano. I have used them side by side..the Micro is more sophisticated sounding. The only thing I know about the iDAC for sure is that does not have DSD capability, and I think the iDSD has some other design updates, but I am not positive about that.

Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt), posted on April 25, 2015 at 18:31:05
dandaroy Audiophile Posts: 503 Location: Denver, CO Joined: June 24, 2003	------- I. Dandaroy

Any Product at more than twice the price should Stomp., posted on April 25, 2015 at 19:55:54
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10581 Joined: April 12, 2002	Dragonfly is fine for it's price.

RE: Any Product at more than twice the price should Stomp., posted on April 25, 2015 at 20:26:21
Sprezza Tura Audiophile Posts: 4585 Location: New York City Joined: August 24, 2012	"Any Product at more than twice the price should Stomp." In today's digital this is not always the case with all the snake oil marketing, pseudo features, and buzzword mania.

RE: Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt), posted on April 26, 2015 at 08:39:30
Sprezza Tura Audiophile Posts: 4585 Location: New York City Joined: August 24, 2012	No, but everyone who has heard it loves it. I could be wrong but I think it is stuck at 24/96, making it really non-competitive.

RE:"the Micro is more sophisticated sounding.", posted on April 26, 2015 at 08:48:14
rick_m Audiophile Posts: 6230 Location: Oregon Joined: August 11, 2005	And the units for that are? R.

Schiit Bifrost Uber, posted on April 26, 2015 at 10:08:58
G Squared Audiophile Posts: 8475 Location: Washington, DC Metro Area Joined: November 16, 2004 Contributor Since: May 23, 2023	Even the files downloaded from Itunes sound good. Gsquared

RE: Schiit Bifrost Uber, posted on April 26, 2015 at 11:27:29
dandaroy Audiophile Posts: 503 Location: Denver, CO Joined: June 24, 2003	Is the Schiit going to be a bit analytical for me? If you look at my system you will notice that I like some warmth. I have no experience with Bitfrost, but I could certainly try it from Amazon. I am just trying to narrow down my choices so that I do not have to try and return stuff if I do not like it. It gets tiring after a while. ------- I. Dandaroy

RE: Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt), posted on April 26, 2015 at 12:46:09

RhythmDevil
Audiophile

Posts: 226
Joined: November 23, 2014

I have one. As you say, it sounds great.

Yes, it is limited to 24/96. I disagree that this makes it "non-competitive"; out of the many GB of ripped files in my systems, almost all are Redbook, and all but a couple of the "HD" rips are 24/96. Lack of 24/192 capability was a total non-factor for me when purchasing, and I suspect that is true of many people, even amoungst we inmates.

But then again people say my Ayre QB-9 is "non-competitive" because it only accepts USB input. It is to laugh!

Cerebrate!

RE: Do you have any experience with Halide HD DAC? (nt), posted on April 26, 2015 at 14:02:12

Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012

Well, as far as non competitive..I really mean on paper since there are a slew of other units that do do 192 and even higher for less..

For most 24/96 will be all they ever need. I happen to have a huge 192 library.

Actually, as far as the QB9, I see it's one input as a strength, you know full well it is optimized for one specific application. The Ayre is a peace of mind purchase, as it sounds great and is hassle free, and as good as I have heard.

RE: Schiit Bifrost Uber, posted on April 27, 2015 at 11:20:46
msa Audiophile Posts: 677 Location: Northeast Joined: November 1, 2002	IMO the Schiit dacs are neutral, well-balanced and the best that I have had in my system

Computer Audio Asylum

Upgrade from AQ Dragonfly v1.2

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