 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
74.69.172.122
I've researched this topic exhaustively, and it's like trying to nail jello to the wall. I'm shopping for a humble $400 DAC to upgrade my HRT Microstreamer. Computer system plays through my main system. When I set up this PC front end two years ago, I was just trying to tidy up the listening room so I wouldn't have CDs all over the place. It turned out to provide a very satisfying level of listening pleasure. (You can see my system in my profile.)
I want to upgrade the DAC for better performance, and I don't have much to spend or the will to spend more. (I'm not proud.) I listen to 60% jazz, then classical, blues, rock, etc. Looking for tonal richness, smoothness (but not saccharine) but with good transients, bloom and depth, pacing. I don't want something I have to upgrade constantly. Headphone output is a plus, but not a deal breaker. Choices are:
Ifi IDac2
HRT Music Streamer HD
Toshiba UD-301
Schiit Bifrost (delta-sigma)
Can anyone shed any experience on these choices? Does anyone absolutely hate or love one of the choices? Are they all the same, and it's like trying to decide which one of the Golden Girls has the best legs?
TIA
Tom
Follow Ups:
Upgraded from a MusicStreamer II to an iDac2. I liked the Musicstreamer, but got bitten by the upgrade bug--it comes with the iPurifier, so have both in. The sound is somewhat smoother and clearer. I wouldn't say there is a dramatic difference, but as I listen I don't have the same urge to upgrade--it seems this hits all the points adequately, I don't feel anything is lacking. I use this on my desktop system with 3-inch single driver speakers, tube preamp, which, while excellent for near-field listening, might not reveal all the differences on offer.
Nt
Has anyone heard the Ifi Idac2?
And that's a good deal because of the possibility of an upgrade to Multi-bit for only a couple or few hundred more.
Only thing that I might be an alternative in that price category is pictured above, but it's on eBay and from China(Horrors!).
On the plus side, it's already a multi-bit DAC.
Link below:
If this is an inappropriate post anyone, let me know and I will try to delete it. The guy that originally brought to my attention the Schiit Bifrost DAC (Seattle, WA area) now either wants to either just sell his std unit and buy a new one or upgrade current unit to Multibit. Send me a personal email and I can ask him if he wants to respond. The only thing in this for me is I'm trying to do a member that has limited funds a favor and a personal friend that I know may want to sell his unit rather than go thru the dynamics of upgrade and prefers to maybe buy new. So please don't pee on me if this is a bad posting. Just say you really shouldn't do that.
Edits: 02/20/16
But also take a look at Meridian Direct DAC..... down from 699 its about 350 now. Pretty decent DAC.
navman
for your reply. The Meridian looks interesting, but I don't think they supply a driver for Windows Vista. Why would a sensible person still be using Vista you ask? It's a long story, part paranoia and part laziness.
and $400 ain't much....
But the SCHIIT stuff is about as good as you can do for 'name brand' stuff and then there is the 'direct from the People's Rebublic' route.
But if you are going with the Bifrost, either wait until you have $600 and go multi-bit or make sure if you get the $400 version that you can upgrade for $250 later, there is that much difference.
Multi-bit in a DAC is GOOD, Delta Sigma not so much.
It is mostly unanimous that the Multibit is superior but I'm wondering if people are comparing it to the Uber or the newer 4490 Bifrost.Didn't the 4490 and Multibit come out about the same time so I'm thinking most are upgrading from the Uber to the Multibit and seeing an obvious improvement. However, a long thread on head-fi discussing the 4490 Bifrost and comparing it to the Uber and the Multibit seems to have the consensus that the 4490 is a great improvement to the Uber and very nearly as good as the Multibit with some preferring it to the Multibit.
If it is true the 4490 and Multibit are very similar and the 4490 would be the value king. I'm not questioning the value of Multibit but some have the opinion that it's full value may not be realized as much with the Bifrost as it would be for the Gungnir.
I was just curious which one you were comparing.
Edits: 02/26/16 02/26/16
nt
Post a Followup:
| FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
