Just Sold an Amp So Now I Want a DAC

R

RDSChicago

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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.
 
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.
 
Mike said:
Lumin D2. Does it all, including MQA, Tidal integration, etc.
Click to expand...

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

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.
 
Looks like it’s coming down to Yggy vs. D2. Thoughts of those who’ve heard both and can compare and contrast?
 
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.
 
mdp632 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Well, since I’m primarily streaming Tidal I won’t really have a source. Preamp is Pass XP20.
 
RDSChicago said:
Well, since I’m primarily streaming Tidal I won’t really have a source. Preamp is Pass XP20.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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?
 
aKnyght said:
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?
Click to expand...

I too would like to hear about the D2 vs DSJ
 
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.
 
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.
 
Mr Peabody said:
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.
Click to expand...

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).
 
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
 
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