Dac: Old vs New

@tonyjack I’m actually selling my dac (Anedio D2) for a very good price. PM me if you want more details. Be warned that it makes a pop when turning off or turning on, you can avoid this by turning dac on before amp, and turning amp off before turning dac off. Or you can leave dac on 24/7

It’s a fantastic dac (also a pre-amp and headphone amp combo) and normally I wouldn’t sell but I bought a BMC amp and its potential is not fully realized unless I also buy a BMC dac to connect both product through the "Current-Injection" method.

If the Topping comparison was anything to go by, I don’t think there’s a new dac out there that can touch my Anedio D2 for under $500.

This dac was very special at the time it was released. John grandberg (project86) said it rival some Invictus dac at $8,000 or something. My memory is a little hazy but you can find more details when you search up d1/d2 reviews. 

I had a PS Audio DL3 Cullen lvl 3 and still remember that I really enjoyed it when I had it. I would say at the current $500 mark, new DACs will not be as enjoyable as it. You might get better measurements but there's no free lunch when it comes to budget components. I'd suggest saving a little bit more and getting something a little over the $1k range like a used Yggdrasil or Pontus II. Those should provide some technical improvements without losing musicality.

I'm using a Schiit Modius AKM 4493 chipped dac and it sounds great..  It cost $179.99 from Schiit B stock.  I've been using it for two years. It has micro USB, coaxial, optical, and AES inputs, and both SE and balanced outputs.  I also use an IFi Zen Dac Signature version one (USB input only - retail $249.99) which also has SE and balanced outputs. IMHO, it's another great sounding dac for the money.  I also use a vintage (2008) Audio By Van Alstine Insight multibit dac with a Schiit EITR USB to S/PDIF converter and it sounds quite good with my Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet. I paid about $300 used (retail was $900 about $1200 in current U.S. dollars.)

For some reason,  the AVA Insight dac will only work with the EITR with a micro USB HD 10 Amazon Fire.  The Insight will not work with any of the USB-C Amazon Fire dacs that I use.

For about 15 years I have been using the PS Audio Digital Link III in my main high-end system.  I have always found its sound quality to be excellent - warm and analog sounding.  However, due to some major equipment failure I ended up upgrading most of my system.  All the new equipment was delivering significantly better sound quality and resolution. I determined the weak link in my upgraded system was my old PS Audio DAC.  So, through some serendipity I ended up with a Denafrips Pontus II. 

To answer tonyjack's question directly, yes the much newer DAC sounds SIGNIFICANTLY better than the old PS Audio DAC.

Here are the details:  I wasn’t prepared for how much difference this new, to me, DAC would make.  It’s so different I’m struggling a bit with what I’m hearing.  What hit right away is a wider and deeper sound stage and especially a significantly taller one.  Probably the most notable improvement over the PS Audio Digital Link III is the imaging - much more precise and stable.  Highs are more extended but sweet.  Bass is faster but not quite as extended.  I’ve always been a bit bothered that cymbals never quite sounded like cymbals, too crashy. Now they totally sound real.  OMG, piano is so much more lifelike.  The catch, this Denafrips Pontus II is not as warm sounding as my PS Audio which surprises me some as all the reviews talk about the Pontus being a touch on the warm side of neutral.  PS Audio is like a warm blanket, maybe less accurate but more relaxed - perhaps too much so?  I fiddled and fiddled with my subwoofer to add a bit of mid-bass warmth to the Pontus, which the PS Audio DAC has in spades.

This new DAC lets me hear much deeper into the recording/music.  It’s definitely better with complex music or passages.  It better keeps the elements separated instead of mushing them together.  It also makes terrible recordings sound bearable.  I’m hearing details I never noticed before.  But it’s for sure a little leaner sounding than the PS Audio.  It’s not so much the lowest bass but the mid bass that the PS Audio emphasizes more.  I suspect the PS Audio is less accurate but I got very used to that warmer sound signature.  As I said, I’m trying to adjust my frame of reference.  As I said, wasn’t expecting it to be this different.  So, like many things audio, there is a notable difference when changing from an older PS Audio Digital Link III DAC.  Whether the difference is an overall improvement or just different will depend on your room, your system and your tastes and priorities in music and music reproduction.  With my successful sub-woofer tweaks I have decided to keep the Pontus II, the improvement in sound stage and more realistic reproduction of details, especially percussion and voices, is too good to pass on.  But the PS Audio DAC was very impressive in comparison and I prefer its rounder top end and mid bass warmth.

@$500.00 you are wasting your time.