Digital Drive

Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

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RE: Comparing DAC's

Posted by Todd Krieger on July 2, 2017 at 04:46:17:
The problem with DACs and digital audio playback in general is that most people haven't heard a really good one..... To better know what to listen for......
Also, I personally need to live for at least a month with a DAC to determine whether I really like it. I've often rejected a DAC after just a few days. (Often after being "wow'ed" by it on initial listen.) The better ones I can live with for a few weeks, but I still ultimately reject them. I've owned only three digital sources that I could live with for at least six months time. The Prism DA-2 (maybe the 2nd best DAC I've heard, but expensive), Schiit Bifrost (Uber or later), and Philips 935 changer with its output stage replaced by a good high-end circuit. (The DAC on the 935 is to die for, but only after replacing the output stage.)
The first item, if you know anybody who has a Wadia 7/9 combination, that is the reference to judge all digital audio playback against. Most stuff put out since the year 2000 hasn't impressed me all that much.
The second item, do you start feeling like shutting it down after just half an hour to an hour? Do you have the urge to play vinyl or open reel?
I don't find quick A/B comparisons particularly useful for digital audio..... Analog audio, yes. But not digital audio.
That said, the only decent DAC readily available is the Schiit Bifrost.... Most people would have a hard time bettering that piece, for up to five times its price.