Just Sold an Amp So Now I Want a DAC

**RDSChicago** · February 18, 2018, 01:58 AM

I do 99% of my listening through Tidal. I want to spend around $2,000. The Yggdrasil is mighty tempting. Since my listening is mostly Tidal, would it be foolish to buy a non-MQA DAC?

I'm not opposed to getting a better used DAC in the same price range. DSD isn't important to me. I just want to enjoy the music. What about a somewhat vintage DAC which uses PCM1704's? I've heard great things about those DACs. Audio-GD has the Master 7 or 11 singularity which might fit the bill.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

**Jack** · February 18, 2018, 02:25 AM

Rob

My opinion only if that is your price range.

1) Yggdrasil
2) Aqua La Voce SII
3) Musical Paradise MP-D2 Mk II
4) DirectStream Jr.
5) Line Magnetic 502
6) Border Patrol SE

In no particular order. Three tube and three SS.

**sharkmouth** · February 18, 2018, 03:38 AM

At the mo if I was in it for 2k I'd drop it on the yggy

**Mike** · February 18, 2018, 08:45 AM

Lumin D2. Does it all, including MQA, Tidal integration, etc.

**aKnyght** · February 18, 2018, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Lumin D2. Does it all, including MQA, Tidal integration, etc.

the D2 has network connectivity and is a also roon endpoint -- so yes, absolutely does it all.

the ps audio direct stream jr was mentioned earlier and is similar in this respect, but it is $4k new... wonder how the DSJ compares to the D2?

**RDSChicago** · February 18, 2018, 09:25 AM

Was thinking about a D2. Have there been any comparisons to the D1 with SBooster out there?

Originally Posted by Mike

Lumin D2. Does it all, including MQA, Tidal integration, etc.

**Mike** · February 18, 2018, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by RDSChicago

Was thinking about a D2. Have there been any comparisons to the D1 with SBooster out there?

I have one customer who went from the D1 to D2 and said it was “better in every way.” I heard the D2 at HKVal’s. It sounded superb. Really surprised the heck out of me. Hopefully he will chime in.

**RDSChicago** · February 18, 2018, 12:01 PM

Looks like it’s coming down to Yggy vs. D2. Thoughts of those who’ve heard both and can compare and contrast?

**mdp632** · February 18, 2018, 12:18 PM

I can’t speak of personal experience of those two products. However, an external DACs such as Yiggy performance is varied by the external transport connected to it.

Whereas , the D2 is a stand alone unit plug and play. Don’t have to worry about the transport and the performance of it.

**RDSChicago** · February 18, 2018, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by mdp632

I can’t speak of personal experience of those two products. However, an external DACs such as Yiggy performance is varied by the external transport connected to it.

Whereas , the D2 is a stand alone unit plug and play. Don’t have to worry about the transport and the performance of it.

Well, since I’m primarily streaming Tidal I won’t really have a source. Preamp is Pass XP20.

**mdp632** · February 18, 2018, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by RDSChicago

Well, since I’m primarily streaming Tidal I won’t really have a source. Preamp is Pass XP20.

So, would you be using a laptop/computer directly connected to USB port ? If so , I’d say the Lumin because as long as you can run an Ethernet to it. You can control via Ipad and don’t have to worry about a laptop in your audio system. Additionally you can use the analog out from D2 directly to your pass pre amp. Avoiding USB altogether.

**mep** · February 18, 2018, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Lumin D2. Does it all, including MQA, Tidal integration, etc.

What kind of PS is inside the Lumin D2?

**RDSChicago** · February 18, 2018, 12:35 PM

I can use Ethernet or USB. I’m an Apple-centric guy at home. Question: if my router is far from my DAC can I use an Airport Express or an Apple TV near the DAC and plug into the Ethernet port on the DAC? If so is there any sound quality degradation without hard-wiring the cable directly to the router?

**NickB** · February 18, 2018, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Lumin D2. Does it all, including MQA, Tidal integration, etc.

+1 on this idea. Recently replaced my DAC and streamer with the A1 and couldn’t be happier.

**Phishphan** · February 19, 2018, 05:46 PM

Don’t over look the bryston BDA3. It’s a great DAC

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**vortrex** · May 3, 2018, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by aKnyght

the D2 has network connectivity and is a also roon endpoint -- so yes, absolutely does it all.

the ps audio direct stream jr was mentioned earlier and is similar in this respect, but it is $4k new... wonder how the DSJ compares to the D2?

I too would like to hear about the D2 vs DSJ

**Mr Peabody** · May 3, 2018, 09:44 PM

I'm in the same boat. Schiit uses multibit technology in the DAC. I've only briefly heard the Gungnir and it did sound good.

Another Dac on my radar is Hegel. The H20 is about $1500.00, I haven't heard on yet but the reviews of all Hegel is glowing.

I made a post but no replies, I do wonder how much the digital makes a difference from using a squirter into a CAC vs an all-in-one. A "squirter" is a term I learned is used to describe products like the Heos Link or Bluesound Node, where you use them for the digital out.

As example, since it's part of the thread, would the digital stream from a Node be the same as from the digital out of a D2? Then the difference might be only the DAC.

**Jack** · May 4, 2018, 12:40 AM

No comparison in the build and parts quality of a Node 2 and any Lumin. In my tests the Aries Mini easily bested the Node 2 in sound quality and functionality software wise.

**wklie** · May 4, 2018, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

would the digital stream from a Node be the same as from the digital out of a D2? Then the difference might be only the DAC.

Even if the digital bits are the same from two transports, the sound output will not be the same from the same DAC due to jitter (for SPDIF) or noise (for USB audio).

**Kuoppis** · May 4, 2018, 06:54 PM

In have an Ayre Codex in my summerhouse system, which would otherwise fit the bill, but it does not do MQA.

The only MQA DAC at 2K I am aware of is the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ (updated version of the Brooklyn).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**Kingrex** · May 23, 2018, 09:30 AM

The source feeding your DAC is far more important than the DAC. If your going ringers a DAC via a laptop, your going to get only fair results. IMO, your better off getting something like a Lumin that is a complete unit, DAC and endpoint. You might even benefit from the $700 Applepi. Ethernet connected is going to be a lot better. You will get way better performance from this unit if you power it with an HD Plex linear PS. that's about $1,400 complete. Power supply, endpoint, streamer etc. Go this type of route. don't try and purchase a nice DAC thinking a noisy apple computer will do it justice. All the manufacturer are lying if they tell you their USB will somehow make it great.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...spberry-pi-dac

**Randy Myers** · May 23, 2018, 10:02 AM

Yes, the source is important, but not to the exclusion of the DAC. Also, to use the best playback software setup at it's highest ability actually requires a Windows machine.

I have tried 14 different DACs over the past three years trying to find the nirvana of digital (that I could afford). The T+A DAC8 DSD with a custom made Windows "music server" running Roon in conjunction with HQPlayer feeding through a Wyred 4 Sound Recovery definitely has proven to fit the bill nicely for me. Of course, as with anything else in this crazy hobby, YMMV and personal preferences, abilities, fears, etc., certainly come into play.

**Kingrex** · May 23, 2018, 10:26 AM

I hope my point wasn't taken as excluding the value of the DAC. The value of the DAC is very important. I'm on my third DAC at this time. I'm on about an $8,000 DAC. I've not moved into the realm of MSB or lampizator. I am also on my third music server. This last move with my music server under the tutelage of Alrainbow was absolutely transforming. It was so far and above my expectations it really floored me. The shift towards everything improving with the musical playback by improving my server far exceeded any shift I got by upgrading my DAC's.

In my humble opinion, most DAC in the $6,000 to $10,000 range are going to have minut differences in performance. This is way out of the price range of what the original poster is looking for. My server is also way out of his price range. We're talking a good server is $6,000 to $8,000.

My only point was sources such as servers or endpoints are still undervalued in perception when people consider digital. They still gravitate towards the DAC thinking it's what makes the music. I look at the server as far more important. I see a laptop as a scratched up record with greasy hand prints all over it. Or CD that has skips and all sorts of inferior playback do to it scratching and sliding around on the floor of your car for a year. Don't get me wrong, they both matter. My two cents is save the money on jumping from DAC to DAC and get your Source cleaned up first. From there you will have a much better appreciation of any of the differences between DAC that you audition.

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