midrange dac / dac with best performance to cost ratio


im not looking to spend more than $3k.

I'm looking at getting either a gugnir multibit or a yggridsdal. I am open to other types of dacs. However I don't know anything about them. Could someone please explain the difference between the two schiit dac's I mentioned? Do they use completely different technology compared to each other? I've been told that the gugnir is 'warmer' then the yggridsdal. Also for around the same price a Yggrisdal would cost me, I could get a Bryston dac-3. I'm wondering if that dac is any good either? It's also very local to me, and it comes with the awesome bryston 20 year warantee.  in case i wasn't clear I am canadian so importing anything schiit is going to cost me quite a bit more then getting something local like that bryston dac. anyway, im open to any and all suggestions, thank you in advance for any help.
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Showing 1 response by desktopguy

I've recommended the DAC below several times here. It's a brand much admired in the headphone/desktop audio community, a rather different setting that the audiophile community. But there is some overlap, and there's no reason at all this DAC can't take a proud place in a big living room audio system.

Intro: the biggest difference between the 2 Schiit DACs you mention and most other DACs is that these particular Schiit DACs are multibit, as contrasted to the far more common delta-sigma (oversampling w/noise shaping) designs. Either DAC technology can sound fantastic if well spec'd and built; but multibit designs as a group are characterized by a somewhat more organic, relaxed sound with less emphasis on hard-edged transients & leading edges of notes. The bass of multi-bit designs is sometimes characterized as "wetter" vs the dry bass of delta-sigma designs (I hear "wet" bass as somewhat more resonant, timbrally accurate, with a very pleasing ability to billow up big, then decay nicely).

My recommendation is the Audio GD DAC-19. It can still be purchased for ~$950, including shipping. There are no dealers; it has to be mail-order. I bought my DAC-19, as well as the non-oversampling version of it, the NOS 19, from Magna HiFi, extremely helpful & honest people (Jos is the best):

https://www.magnahifi.com/en/webshop/product/audio-gd-dac-19

I actually prefer the NOS 19 slightly to the DAC 19, but either one is a very refreshing dose of organic, relaxed, analog-like digital sound vs any delta-sigma design I've ever heard. The DAC-19 can also be subtly sound-shaped by combinations of jumpers (mfr supplied) to internal posts in various combinations.

I love these DACs...easily the best I ever heard. To be honest, I no longer even think about sound as digital vs non-digital. It's just music now.