Bricasti Vs McIntosh

I own a “middle of the line” Bricasti M 1 Series II DAC w/ a volume control & it is an excellent piece of equipment w/ as good build quality as there probably is & great sound quality. Very detailed, tight, clean & dynamic but not at all hard or fatiguing. Made in MA w/ high quality parts. They machine in house just about every chassis part used, wind their own transformers & the their high quality PCB ‘s are designed in house & built next door in a special high end company that mostly does work for fancy medical equipment. If you can audition it, do so. 

If your system is all-digital, you value Ethernet streaming (DLNA/UPnP), and you want maximum transparency with ultra-low noise and an analog ladder volume at the DAC’s output, the Bricasti M12 is the better fit. Especially into fully balanced power amps in a minimalist chain. - but that's a one-dimensional perspective imo.

If I had to pick one unit for most systems, I’d choose the McIntosh C55. It’s the more versatile control center for mixed analog and digital setups (including vinyl), with handy ergonomics like the analog EQ, processor loop, multiple outputs, HDMI ARC for TV audio, and a reasonably strong onboard DAC. Personally it feels like an easy long-term anchor for a wider range of systems.

But, like I said, if you’re a digital-only, streamer-centric listener chasing maximum neutrality, the Bricasti M12 would be the better choice.

@keithjacksontucson 

Bricasti M21 DAC

1) The Bricasti M21 offers a unique triple D/A conversion architecture with three independently selectable DAC signal paths: a 24-bit delta-sigma, a 20-bit ladder DAC, and a true 1-bit DSD converter for DSD content. This design provides users the flexibility to choose the sound character best suited for their music.

2) Bricasti keeps its products current by providing upgrades such as The Bricasti MDx digital processor.  It is a new proprietary digital platform, years in development that transforms and refines our full line of D/A converters.

3) The Bricasti M21 also functions as a network streamer via wired Ethernet, recognized as a DNLA device for seamless, lossless data transmission over long distances.