DAC recommendations for CDs in 2-channel system

that Border Patrol DAC (eg. on the LTA site) has made me drool. there was a used on the classifieds recently that got snatched up.

I am the one who bought the Border Patrol dac. To my ears, in comparison to my Yamamoto YDA-01 dac, the BP is more holographic with more meat on the bones. In addition, it does more to get my toes tapping and my head bobbing. This dac is right up my alley, well suited to my listening style and preferences. If you are the type that likes to close your eyes and completely relax while listening, the BP dac might also be a worthy consideration, but you might also want to audition other dacs. The BP dac perhaps is not the last word in detail. There is not the blackness and air between images that one might hear in systems that are geared toward extreme high resolution. Turning off the EZ80 tube rectifier tube, which can be done by pressing the front button, well get you in the direction of blackness, air and endless decay, but the magic is not quite the same. For me, the BP dac in EZ80 mode is quite engaging. Mesmerized is how I feel, YMMV. I have already had a few listening sessions of 5-6 hours in the short time that I have owned it. I have a strong feeling that it is a keeper.

I have no love for the Oppo.  If you like your digital to sound like digital that’s the one for you.

My suggestion is get rid of the transport period.  Load all your cds into a Blue sound Vault 2.  It sounds better than my Oppo 105D.  Plus now you have all your music accessible from your iPhone or iPad.  Then if you want to really bump up the performance, add a Chord Hugo.  The Bluesound has a digital out so no problem.

The Hugo is really small so space will be no problem, plus you basically get a free headphone amp with an awesome dac.  No fancy power cord is needed so you get to save some dollars there.

Btw, the Bluesound is very compact as well measuring approximately 8X8X4 inches with 2 TB storage.

This will be my primary playback source for my new summer home.  

Approximate pricing, Vault 2 new 1299.00, Hugo used 1100.00.  

Scoran, sorry so late in getting back to you. I understand your hesitation after reading the technical review.  I own a Schiit Bifrost w/o the usb input, purchased used. I use a M2tech Hiface USB/SPDIF converter with it. Seems to sound OK to me in a second system. So many DACs to choose from. I currently use a Bryston BDA-1 in my main system, it has several inputs and dual outputs which I need.

I think if I were looking for a DAC to pair with a transport I would look into the Border Patrol that has coax input only.

Good luck in your search. 

@ thaluza,

Change the fuse and tube with a Mullard square getter and this awesome Dac will even be more magical...

Wig

Huh, those measurements of the Bifrost MB are pretty eye opening. I’ve listened to it during headphone meets and found it to sound a little steely and didn’t quite like it. I’ve also listened to the BorderPatrol DAC connected to a disc transport at an audio show and found it to sound quite good - organic and natural.

S’phile measurements of jitter through the USB interface seems to confirm the somewhat subpar engineering. Schiit’s latest Gen 5 incarnation claims to ’fix’ USB, for what it’s worth.

I wouldn’t worry about the ’debate’ between resistor ladder and sigma-delta DACs. There are examples of good and bad sounding designs utilizing both types of technologies.