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Schiit Bifrost plus ESI Juli or Bifrost USB

Hi all,

I recently posted in the Digital section a question about budget USB DACs for an office system. One of the suggestions was the Schiit Bifrost.

Doing some reading about the Bifrost indicates that Schiit considers S/PDIF a superior interface to USB, no surprise I guess. They have a USB input module for the Bifrost which is pretty good, but all the reviews pretty much say it sounds better with S/PDIF input.

Also reading lots of praise for the ESI Juli@ as a sound card. So here's the question: what's the better approach, a great sound card like the Juli@ and a non-usb DAC, or a usb-DAC with a well engineered usb interface?

I know there are some really good usb DACs out there like the Ayre but I'm thinking more in the sub 1K range DACs.

What do you think?
bmdduck

Showing 4 responses by bmdduck

bmdduck OP
99 posts
 
My initial thought was budget up to around $500. The Schiit w/o USB + Juli@ is around $550 I think, so close enough.

I think one of the advantages is there are more DAC choices if you don't require a well-designed USB input. You could also pick one of the many USB to S/PDIF converters, but their performance is all over the map and they add cost and complexity. It seems like the Juli@ is a simpler way to solve the computer to DAC route and performs very well as a transport.
bmdduck OP
99 posts
 
Mesch,

Thanks for your thoughts. I think you answered the question I meant to ask. An inexpensive DAC (in the price range I mentioned) isn't going to have a really well implemented USB interface. It's probably better to go with a USB/SPDIF converter or soundcard with a good SPDIF output.

Just curious, what converter do you use?

bmdduck
bmdduck OP
99 posts
 
Mesch

I have a Squeezebox Touch in my main system so most of my music is ripped with DBPoweramp into FLAC files and stored on my PC and also a NAS drive. I use the Squeezebox server software to stream music to the Touch.

I was thinking of getting JRiver for the PC to play my own music and I would also like to use services like Pandora and internet radio from the PC. Any suggestions there would be welcome.
bmdduck OP
99 posts
 
Thanks guys for the advice. I think I'll start with a DAC then see how much better the Juli@ is then my "stock" soundcard. I may add a disk spinner to the mix in the office and not being limited to USB will be good.
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