DAC & BT Choices or Amp/Tube/Balanced System Upgrade?

Posted by jmunky3 (A) on July 21, 2016 at 22:45:12

Forgot a couple items, so added 2 more items to gear list.

I've spent last 3 or 4 months researching/learning about DACs and chips, etc. from scratch. Every time I think I might have sorted out which 1 to settle on, I find more info and reviews on another DAC or 2 that reviewers claim is better. So I'm kind of running in circles now. From my understanding, alot of the bits are wasted and are used for marketing purposes, so that part isn't too much of concern as long as its 16 bits min. Accepts multiple resolution and conversion, has N.O.S. switch or mod, is R2R or min sigma-delta multibit. Would prefer if it has 2 RCA Outputs and 1 Balanced Output and 1-2 SPIDF RCA Inputs. But obviously the sound characteristics, low jitter and reliability are main points.

Sound wise, looking for most musical and best soundstage for used/new DAC under $700 USD. Tube/valve would be nice but not required. It will be used somewhat for regular CD player format, but mainly I'll be Streaming Music via Apt-X to high grade BT Receiver, some have built in DAC, some have Digital Output, which I might pair with a W4S BT/Streaming unit.

I have a list going, any input and suggestions to the sound characteristics I'm after would be appreciated.

Benchmark DAC 1
W4S DAC 1/2
Malbru MB Tube DAC (Multiple chips available)
Space Tech Labs Tube DAC
Jolida Glass FX Tube DAC III
Audio GD NFB/NOS 19 DAC
Emotiva Stealth DC 1 DAC
Essence Audio HDACC DAC
LessLoss 2004 DAC
Meridian Direct DAC
Eastern Electric Minimax Plus DAC
Schiit Bifrost
Teac UD-501
MHDT Labs Atlantis Tube DAC
Mass Fidelity "Relay" HiFi Bluetooth DAC

So, best fit out of those DACs of suggestions on any that exceed those for my desired traits?

Here's the BT Receivers I'm considering

Audio Engine B1 Premium
Auris bluME True HF BT Audio Rec
Arcam MiniBlink BT
Mass Fidelity "Relay" HiFi Bluetooth DAC
Bose Bluetooth
Yamaha YBA-4
EtekCity NFC

Plus maybe W4S bLINK BT Streamer/ReClocker

Final question for me though is, would my soundstage, imaging and musical sound desires be better served buying a DAC and BT Reciever, or wiring Smartphone (has surprisingly quality sound on its own) directly to RCA Input of Stereo and spending my capital on a better Preamp (with or without Tubes), Integrated Amp, Tube Buffer and or switching to Balanced System?

Thanks for your time

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Topic - DAC & BT Choices or Amp/Tube/Balanced System Upgrade? - jmunky3 22:45:12 07/21/16 (2)

RE: DAC & BT Choices or Amp/Tube/Balanced System Upgrade? - Roseval 03:31:31 07/25/16 (1)

RE: DAC & BT Choices or Amp/Tube/Balanced System Upgrade? - jmunky3 17:35:18 08/07/16 (0)

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