Looking for a new DAC...

P

psyopwak

Active Member
Looking around for a new or used external DAC. Can anyone offer some
experiences with one you have, and why you like it?

1. Looking to link it to a Marantz DVD/CD player and a Squeezebox 3 in a 2nd audio system.
2. Don't want to spend more than four hundred dollars ($400.00) new or used.
3. Top contenders at the time are;

a) PS Audio Digital Link III
b) The Cambridge Audio DACMAGIC with upgraded PS
c) Schiit Bifrost DAC
d) The Maverick TubeMagic D2
 
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psyopwak said:
Looking around for a new or used external DAC. Can anyone offer some
experiences with one you have, and why you like it?

1. Looking to link it to a Marantz DVD/CD player and a Squeezebox 3 in a 2nd audio system.
2. Don't want to spend more than four hundred dollars ($400.00) new or used.
3. Top contenders at the time are;

a) PS Audio Digital Link III
b) The Cambridge Audio DACMAGIC with upgraded PS
c) Schiit Bitfrost DAC
d) The Maverick TubeMagic D2
Click to expand...

Your choices are good. The DACMAGIC is a top contender in the bunch but please check out the Grant Fidelity DAC 11 if your considering the Maverick. Jump on over to the GF threads to validate my comment. Highly recommended.
 
Interesting, I'm considering the same thing with the same $ amount and same 4 prospects. I hope others will chime in with their feedback. :D
 
You didn't mention vinyl?

If you do spin the records, I'd also consider the Maverick D1. I run my table into an outboard stage, then to the D1, then out the tube analog into the receiver. Adds some grunt and that good toobiness to the vinyl ... kind of a bonus feature that some might overlook ... just turn the selector switch to go between that and the HTPC or whatever. :thmbsp:

It's still available last I heard. Not sure if they plan to discontinue it now with the D2 in distribution. Not sure exactly why they left the analog in off the new model, but there it is ... or isn't in this case.
 
Correct. The Grant Fidelity TubeDAC11 is an amazing pc of equipment......It has 2 analog in plugs so you can add that tube goodness to say a TT or older CDP and even a tape deck.
It also works excellent as a preamp.....Its only downside is it has no remote control ability.
Two analog ins, a USB in, a toslink in and a coax in.....DAC out, Tube out and SS out. Very versatile and performs at much more than its price.
 
Thanks for all the comments..

I had not considered the Grant Fidelity product, but I will look at it now!!
I have a Line Magnetic Audio tube amp that I like very much and it's made in China. (I wish it was made in USA)
 
Audio-gd NFB3.1 or 3.2 (3.1 if you intend using optical or coax SPDIF inputs, or 3.2 if you think you might one day wish to connect it to your PC via USB. Absolutely brilliant DAC for the money :)
 
Peachtree DaciT has gotten nice reviews. I own two Peachtree products and have been happy with them.
 
Let me know what you get Psyopwak. It looks like the Schiit is the only 32 bit converter, the PS audio and Audio-GD have FET output, and the Grant Fidelity the only one with a headphone out (not sure if this matters to you).
 
I have the PS Audio DL III in one of my systems and it has been a good DAC. It seems like a good deal now for $400 to $450. I paid $799 for mine.
 
I've had a PS Audio DLIII for maybe two or three years and it's been great. I can understand that people do like the sound of the Maverick or its brother the Grant Fidelity model, but I really don't want my DAC to add tube goodness to sound. I want it to play smooth and accurate. The DLIII does that well.
 
My buddy and I are going in on the Schiit Bitfrost DAC. One of us will be keeping it after we use/exchange it. If we both like it, we will buy another.

Seems like once it burns it, it is very accurate and smooth. That is what I am looking for.

The Grant Fidelity will be next on the list if we don't like the Bitfrost.
 
I have ordered one of these.. (the review was very well written)
http://www.hionhifi.com/schiit-audio-bifrost/

And plan to set it up like this... (with a I-20 and toslink out to the bifrost)
http://www.head-fi.org/products/schiit-audio-bifrost-dac/reviews

Also I am planning to burn it in for awhile and compare/contrast it to my Benchmark USB DAC1, which is older now. I never use the USB connection. So all connections will be Toslink, thus not using a HD/computer as a direct source.

I will also try different setups to see what kind of HQ sound I can get using a;

CD transport as a source #1
MOG streaming over IPHONE as source #2
SqueezeBox classic (SB3) as source #3
Itunes library of AIFF files ripped from CDs via SB3 as source #4

I will keep this posted updated with my thoughts...
 
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Good choices

These are indeed good choices. In my previous systems I had all of them excluding Bifrost. I believe PS Audio indeed stands out as the winner here with excellent bass and midrange. I think Maverick is the least appealing piece in this list and from what I remember could not handle high res files (please check as I may be wrong).

Also as to add to your list, please consider Matrix Mini. It is very cheap for its great performance, features, headphone amp, and remote control capabilities. I had it until recently and had hard time finding solid replacement in a $1k price bracket.

Re Schiit, I am not sure if it fits your requirements. This DAC received warm reception from users looking for good USB input implementation and in your case you won't need it for your Marantz and Squeezebox.
 
thanks for the comments/advice armenbadalov..

I chose the Bifrost because the designers/engineers, Jason Stoddard and Mike Moffat (both) have a good analog/ digital background and seemed interested in making a no extra frills DAC that sounds great for the money. Also keeping the upgrade as an option later, appealed to me.

If I want to try USB later, I can get the card installed. But I think the 32 bit AKM chip, as they incorporated into their design has been reported to sound very smooth, open and detailed across the TOSLINK connection.

The last reason is that it's made in the USA, where I live. The last amp I bought was made in China (see below review that I do like it) But I had to buy the next product from the USA
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http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=430570
 
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