Help me choose a DAC < $800 (Bryston BDA-1 or Rega DAC R) or?

RobertCO

RobertCO

Active Member
So I've been on a DAC upgrade binge ever since I discovered the Topping D30 sounded better than my HifiBerry DAC+ PRO. I also have an Emotiva XDA-2 that sounds better than both of the aforementioned DACs. I can't help but think moving up the chain to something (used) that has dual DACs and other things (like the filters on the Rega) would finally get things sounding like they should.

99% of my source is 44.1/16 FLACs ripped from CDs with EAC. My transport is a Raspberry PI with a HifiBerry DIGI+ Pro (which is supposed to have clock oscillators that improve jitter performance).

I've read really good reviews on the Bryston and the Rega, and both can be found used for under $800.

Anyone been thru this or have experience with these DACs? Any insights would be appreciated.
 
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A used PS Audio Digital Link III can be a good bargain. This DAC is like good vinyl - you can listen for hours with no listening fatigue, but still get exceptional detail retrieval. The same cannot be said of many bright, harsh DACs - even some expensive ones.
 
doctor fuse said:
A used PS Audio Digital Link III can be a good bargain. This DAC is like good vinyl - you can listen for hours with no listening fatigue, but still get exceptional detail retrieval. The same cannot be said of many bright, harsh DACs - even some expensive ones.
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Interesting, and made just 20 miles from where I live. How did I miss this one? :-)
 
In that budget range, I can suggest a Music Hall DAC 25.3 that I use with my RPi. I find that the analog stage largely determines its sound quality. Like most, it comes with op amps, but they are socket mounted and can easily be replaced by discrete FET replacements like that from Burson Audio resulting in superior transparency. Runs either single ended or balanced.

As an aside, I began with a HiFiBerry digital HAT as well. I find the $100 Allo DigiOne superior.

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@RobertCO I would go with one of the Benchmark DAC2 versions even if you have to spend a bit more than your stated budget for a used one.

Amazing DAC, it will be worth it.
 
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gvl said:
Or you could just get a Khadas Tone Board for $99: https://www.khadas.com/product-page/tone-board

Bare board but easy to make a case for it, some ideas here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ase-enclosure-for-the-khadas-tone-board.5054/

I have one. Amazing clarity, should be very close to Benchmark in bare performance alas with a much reduced feature set. Made me rethink all DACs I've gone through thus far.
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Mind blown. Thanks! Does is just connect to the RPI like any other HAT or ?
 
While not an absolute requirement, the attraction of using micro footprint devices like the RPI and a HAT is they can be placed behind or under my sub cabinet :-)0208190849_3.jpg
 
gvl said:
I don't have RPI experience but given it is Linux based and the board is a UAC2 device, a USB link should work just fine.
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I looked close at that board and there is a coax spdif labeled "IN/OUT", I wonder if I could still use my RPI + DIGI out to that. I am reluctant to use the RPI's USB ports as it's widely accepted the USB implementation is substandard.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!
 
It has auto switching USB and Coax SPDIF inputs with USB taking precedence. SPDIF out is only works when used with their VIM systems. I power mine with a Schiit Wyrd and use a coax connection to it.
 
Vintagear said:
@RobertCO I would go with one of the Benchmark DAC2 versions even if you have to spend a bit more than your stated budget for a used one.

Amazing DAC, it will be worth it.
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I read the stereophile review on this Benchmark DAC2 and it looks like a great suggestion. Question tho, if I were to move my budget up to that range, it would be very close to what I could get a used Mcintosh D100 for. I would have to think this DAC should blow the Mcintosh out of the water to be priced relatively closely on the used market?
 
I doubt either will blow out other from the water audibly. Benchmark is known to produce technically SOTA devices and their main target is recording studios, whereas McIntosh is more of a consumer oriented brand. Spec-wise Benchmark does blow out McIntosh out of the water, but at such low absolute values that it probably doesn't matter for all practical purposes.

Be aware that many find Benchmark too forward sounding and fatiguing. If you prefer comfortable warm "analog" sound it may not be your cup of tea, same can be said about the Khadas Tone Board.
 
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gvl said:
I doubt either will blow out other from the water audibly. Benchmark is known to produce technically SOTA devices and their main target is recording studios, whereas McIntosh is more of a consumer oriented brand. Spec-wise Benchmark does blow out McIntosh out of the water, but at such low absolute values that it probably doesn't matter for all practical purposes.

Be aware that many find Benchmark too forward sounding and fatiguing. If you prefer comfortable warm "analog" sound it may not be your cup of tea, same can be said about the Khadas Tone Board.
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That is super helpful to my search, thank you. Yes, I do prefer that analog sound, I mostly listen to classic rock and 70s R&B.

Been doing a lot of researching tonight and ran across this post, which is exactly my situation. I suppose I'll stick with the XDA-2 until I can afford the Chord Qutest. :-)

@Decibel_116 wrote:

"I own an XDA-2 Gen2 myself as well as Chord Qutest, Schiit Multibit, Project DAC-Box, Behringer, Emotiva BigEgo, and an Aragon D2A2 R-2R ladder DAC. The only one that sounds better than the XDA-2 is the Chord Qutest. Next in line would be the Aragon. YMMV of course."

 
Warm sound is usually a sign of high harmonic distortion content. Good measuring DACs with low THD numbers tend to be cooler if not dryer sounding. Chord DACs measure pretty well, so with high probability it can be said they aren't warm.
 
gvl said:
Warm sound is usually a sign of high harmonic distortion content. Good measuring DACs with low THD numbers tend to be cooler if not dryer sounding. Chord DACs measure pretty well, so with high probability it can be said they aren't warm.
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Fair enough, I get that. I got the impression from the video below that the filters could be set to match the style of music being played (or at least add/remove dryness/warmth as needed).

 
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