Buy a Chord HUGO. FULL STOP!
Its not inexpensive but it is terrific. Reference level dac, smaller than an 8 track tape (or a paper back book for you youngsters) very light weight, 14 hour battery life, will drive 3 sets of head phones simultaneously, rca's out, bluetooth, spdif rca/toslink and 2 usb inputs....its a swiss army knife of a dac/headamp. I bought for portability but Ive got it in my main rig right now and its mesmerizing.....The dac section alone may set the audio world on its ear.
On another forum I have already predicted it will receive many product of the year awards. This thing is crazy good. Go listen for yourself but call ahead to make sure your local Chord dealer has one for demo, dealers can't keep them in stock. It has a natural rhythm and flow....simply stunning.
This product and others like it are exactly what our hobby needs badly: products that are TRUE advancements. Chord has hit a grand slam with this one and I've never owned any other Chord products. Other dacs that have passed through my system through the years: Mytek, Wadia 581i, Playback Designs MPD3, Audio Research DAC8, McIntosh MDA1000.....all are great but the HUGO belongs in this group as a DAC. try for yourself, YMMV, no affilations with the industry.
Its not inexpensive but it is terrific. Reference level dac, smaller than an 8 track tape (or a paper back book for you youngsters) very light weight, 14 hour battery life, will drive 3 sets of head phones simultaneously, rca's out, bluetooth, spdif rca/toslink and 2 usb inputs....its a swiss army knife of a dac/headamp. I bought for portability but Ive got it in my main rig right now and its mesmerizing.....The dac section alone may set the audio world on its ear.
On another forum I have already predicted it will receive many product of the year awards. This thing is crazy good. Go listen for yourself but call ahead to make sure your local Chord dealer has one for demo, dealers can't keep them in stock. It has a natural rhythm and flow....simply stunning.
This product and others like it are exactly what our hobby needs badly: products that are TRUE advancements. Chord has hit a grand slam with this one and I've never owned any other Chord products. Other dacs that have passed through my system through the years: Mytek, Wadia 581i, Playback Designs MPD3, Audio Research DAC8, McIntosh MDA1000.....all are great but the HUGO belongs in this group as a DAC. try for yourself, YMMV, no affilations with the industry.