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CD Player or DAC Tough Decision Coming Up

Yeah, the Schiit is in first place for me right now but the whole clicking thing is putting me off a bit. I'm thinking that might drive me to drink (more).
 
The ones I'm actually interested in are too expensive. It's hard to ignore all of the great reviews of the Schiit Gungniir Multibit. The most recent TEAC has not received the same kind of reviews from any of the main publications. I had a TEAC CD player that I liked but didn't love compared to some others like the LM's or Rega's.
 
Art K. said:
The ones I'm actually interested in are too expensive. It's hard to ignore all of the great reviews of the Schiit Gungniir Multibit. The most recent TEAC has not received the same kind of reviews from any of the main publications. I had a TEAC CD player that I liked but didn't love compared to some others like the LM's or Rega's.
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Hi buddy, no more logorrheic reviews, now we measure them..
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?forums/digital-audio-converters-dacs.10/
and Shcitt is :no:
 
What I am looking for first and foremost is a DAC that sounds great and is not glitchy. Benchmark is too much money. I justy can't make that work. Reliable!
 
I know but I'm reading some opinions that the TEAC doesn't have any drive and sounds mediocre at best. Trying to get more feedback. It's the right price but I don't want to make a purchase that I regret. Do you have any of the great reviews to share. Would love to read them.
 
617dave.promo_.jpg

Theres always the chord dave.
 
botrytis said:
it is about 1 yr out of production now. So, most reviews are old now. Still there is a few NOS ones out there.


http://inearspace.com/2014/11/29/teac-ud-501-dsd-dac-review-bringing-down-the-rein/

http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=149776.0

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2013/05/initial-impressions-teac-ud-501-usb-dac.html
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I think that DAC may be too old. I'm not sure how it stacks up to today's for a bit more money. The latest version of it gets pretty bad reviews and I'm not thinking it's because the it's worse but because everyone else has moved on a faster clip than TEAC. That is why I was looking for more current reviews. Or at least someone who has compared it to other recent stalwarts like the Schiit.
 
Unfortunately measurements are the only thing that tell you smth after your ears..
I really can't stand reviews with no measurements at all, sometimes from people who have never listen to a real cd player, too much components differ from your home set up, and in the worst scenario reviewers are not honest..
As for the Topping, it costs 120$ or even less in Massdrop, so not much to lose there, for the cost a cable you have a real Dac.
I'd say get the D30 and the Schitt and then get back with your detailed reviews..:lurk:
 
Well since this thread is about my purchase I'm going to stay the course. I'm only interested in what folks have heard with various DAC's. Not what someone else has measured. So far what I have read about the sound of the Topping's from anyone besides the usual AK cheapskate crowd has not been flattering. Perhaps I'm missing something and I would be happy to go back and look at that.

Just as an aside. Like many of the folks here who do read subjective reviews I pay special attention to the ones written by folks who I have enough historical background to trust their ears as having similar tastes to mine.
 
My only experience within your list is with the Gungnir MB. I've been using it for about 18 months with a Marantz CD6004 as a transport connected via coax. The presentation is detailed without fatigue. I have only noticed the clicking when first loading a disc or at the very end after the music stopped. It will also click when switched to a different input, but I can honestly say I never really notice it any more. While the CD6004 is no slouch for what it is, the combination with the Gungnir MB provide a whole greater than the sum of the parts. Good luck with your search.
 
Art K. said:
Well since this thread is about my purchase I'm going to stay the course. I'm only interested in what folks have heard with various DAC's. Not what someone else has measured. So far what I have read about the sound of the Topping's from anyone besides the usual AK cheapskate crowd has not been flattering. Perhaps I'm missing something and I would be happy to go back and look at that.

Just as an aside. Like many of the folks here who do read subjective reviews I pay special attention to the ones written by folks who I have enough historical background to trust their ears as having similar tastes to mine.
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No one but you can decide what fits your tastes, but with regard to the clicking I've had my Gungnir since early 2013 and have loved it from the start. It was originally a delta-sigma model with gen.1 usb, but I've upgraded it to multi-bit and get 2 USB, the clicking never really bothered me, and the sq continues to amaze.
 
botrytis said:
Like I said, I have the TEAC UD-501and compared it to others, even from Schiit and I picked the TEAC. I did not like the Schiit up sampling and the TEAC you can turn it on and off.
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You mean you can’t turn it off and on?
 
Your ears have to be the final judge, but if a DAC fails to measure properly it fails, period. I like Schiit but even their TOTL DAC has serious problems and barely eeks out 16 bits of resolution:

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ents-and-review-of-schiit-yggdrasil-dac.2358/

I wouldn't bother doing subjective listening tests on equipment that has obvious objective flaws. Start with getting as close to the objective ideal as possible and whittle down your choices with subjective opinions from there.
 
I clearly understand your perspective "EngineerNate", mine is exactly the opposite. The only measuring device worth anything to me are the two on either side of my head. I trust my ears first.
 
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