a couple new toys...
One of the pieces on my list to add to this system has been acquired as well as a changing of the guard, I mean DAC. The Toshiba HD-XA1 has also been sold, to make room for a new CD player, without a fan built in. Lastly, the PS3 has been swapped for a PS4 in the A/V system.
The
Musical Fidelity X-10V3 tube buffer has long been on my wish list to try out and I'm glad I did, as it adds to the enjoyment of listening ever so slightly. I have it hooked up via the tape loop of my A300, so I can add or remove it from the signal path with the press of a single button and it allows all of my inputs to utilize the X-10V3, including the phono stage. I'd like to get an upgraded power supply for this thing, which the I've heard the "X Series" components benefit from. It sounds great as is though.
The next change was the DAC...I sold the modified Benchmark DAC1 USB and replaced it with a
Schiit Bifrost that had been upgraded to the
Uber analog output stage and the
Gen 2 USB board. As I see it, there are 2 more levels that I can upgrade to at the moment from Schiit, which is awesome to know, but I'm very happy with the sound of the Uber op stage right now. I just like the idea of being able to take it to the next level eventually. Oh yeah, it matches my other gear too, trying to stay with the silver theme.
The Benchmark didn't sound bad at all, but the synergy with my other gear just wasn't there. It was a little "brighter" or "hotter" sounding than I would have liked and kept my listening sessions shorter than usual. Once I hooked up the Bifrost Uber, it hit me once again that synergy between components
DOES exist and that I had found a better match for my gear. Although I did not conduct an A/B test between the two dacs, I feel comfortable saying that the Bifrost hits
way above it's price point with the Uber and Gen 2 USB mods. Who knows what the future hold for this dac, it could get even better with the 4490 or Multibit output stages. For now though, I'll just sit back and enjoy the music.