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Looking for my first DAC

I have mostly equipment from the eighties with the exception of an OPPO BDP-93.  My Preamp is an ARC SP9-MKII and it's feeding some Acoustat model X's.  I'm leaning toward a Schiit Bifrost Multibit Gen 5, with their 15 day trial period, so I can at listen to it and return if I don't like it.  I have no way of listening to anything without a long drive and most probably a hotel stay, so I'm looking for your vast experience on the DAC's. Price range under $1000. 

Thoughts??

JD
curiousjim
213runnin
914 posts
 
Hi 213runnin,
you are right that I don’t want to go over $1000. For my first DAC, but there is a Gungnir Multibit on eBay for $900 that I have an eye on, but are you saying it’s...


Curious Jim, I’m saying the detail retrieval of this he Gungnir is excellent and better than the Bimby.  But to get the whole benefit of it the rest of your system needs to be better than entry level.  I’m not familiar with the gear you listed.






whitestix
761 posts
 
The Schiit Gungnir is a good value, but possible a better route would be to have the Oppo upgraded. StereoDave upgraded my Oppo 103 and the SQ improvement was astonishing for $375.  That is the route I would suggest if you other have no need for a DAC (eg, to stream from your computer.)  http://www.stereodaves.com/modifications.php
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
3,112 posts
 
I have an EAD DSP 7000 Mk3 on the market right now. This DAC is superb, it can decode HDCD and would match your system well. I think that even though it is an older design, it can compete well against even far more expensive DAC’s today. See my A’gon ad.
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim OP
5,928 posts
 
Hi whitestix,

 I have two problems with your idea.  The first is that I have the 93 and not the 103. With its age I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. The second is if I do the update, I’m stuck with it whether I like it or not. Whereas if I don’t like the Pro-Ject, I can return it to Crutchfield and try something else.  Oh and I have another spinner to play with. It’s a old Sony I’ve used for years.

Thanks for your ideas and I will checkout Stevedaves.com.

JD
bellemusique's avatar
bellemusique
75 posts
 
All DACs under 4000$ sound simmilar to me. The one has better voices, the other better resolution, but they all lack the essential - emotions. So, take a mortage and buy some expensive tube DAC like EAR Yoshino or simmilar (european) stuff. You'll save your money actually by purchasing expensive gear. That's my humble opinion. Othervise, you'll start with one at 1000$ price tag, sell it for another and loose 500 bucks in transaction, then you'll replace the second one by third one etc. Your Acoustats need good tube dac.  
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