2. digital
  3. 123545-2581

up to $2,500 to spend............

At crossroads....need input...

Lets say....if one has a budget of $2,500 to spend. Thinking of other digital playback options besides SACD or CD Player route.

Though not a newbie...I am not tech inclined and prefer a system that is simple. I have all the cabling neccessary for dedicated cdps...ie...rca interconnects...a nice powercord. Don't need super convenience of accessing music/songs at a mere touch of the Ipad etc etc. I really am ok with getting up to change Cds (remote a must though). I am fine with just sacd or cd (95 percent of my collection is redbook cd)...having to do without  spotify or tidal is fine...at least for next 5 years. 

I am after a certain SQ though. Rich and full bodied sound...I listen to jazz vocal and acoustic instrumental almost exclusively. Smooth non etched top end. Detail is nice but I am ok with sacrificing some detail for an overall smooth non fatiguing listening experience.

Am I able to get into other options in digital playback with the above budget or should I stick with the good olde SACD/CD player?

Thanks!


pc123v
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

If going for the best Redbook (PCM) replay, I suggest a well reviewed dac that uses Mulitibit Ladder dacs inside, not Delta Sigma type converters. Unfortunately Ladder Multibit dac won’t do sacd or high-rez which is no great loss and are to me BS anyway

As Schitt's Mike Moffet explains here in an off hand manner.

21 Bits, No Guessing: Mission-Critical D/A Technology
When doctors are trying to diagnose whether you have gas or cancer from MRI results, or when the military is trying to ensure a missile hits an ammo dump and not a nunnery next door, they don’t use “24 bit” or “32 bit” delta-sigma D/A converters. Instead, they rely on precision, multibit ladder DACs, like the Analog Devices AD5791. This allows them the bit-perfect precision they need for critical applications, rather than the guesswork of a delta-sigma. We chose this same critical technology for Yggdrasil. Following these unique D/A converters are sophisticated discrete JFET buffers and summers.


mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,992 posts
 
+1 on the Modwright(s)
michaela
314 posts
 
+2 on a Modwright Oppo 105D, it really is an absolute bargain used for $2,500.00, I am very impressed with mine and I haven't really started tube rolling in it yet.
skvinson
6 posts
 
One issue with the Bifrost and Gungnir is the USB port - I bypassed it by using a v-link192 to improve performance.


I am getting a Multibit Bifrost. Currently, I have a Wyred4Sound Recovery unit, that 'cleans up' the signal via USB. From what you say about the Bifrost, I'm still going to have a problem when I feed that 'cleaned up' signal into the Bifrost's USB port. It sounds like it would be better to go USB out from my MacBook Pro to a V-Link, then into the Bifrost's coax input. Thoughts???

Also, I see V-Link 192's and V-Link's for sale. I only listened to FLAC-ripped CDs and Tidal. Is there a benefit to the 192 version?

And, both V-Link models are Discontinued. Is there an 'in production' equivalent?

Thanks!
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,312 posts
 
skvinson - fwiw, I run a Gungnir that has NO USB input.  Am using a double headed USB cable to separate power and signal going from MacBook Air to a V-Link 192; then from the 192's RCA out via digital coax cable to the SPDIF in on the Gungnir.  There was a V-Link (predecessor to the 192) for sale on A'gon for $110.  That unit also has optical out which the 192 does not.  OR you can consider a Gustard U12 USB/SPDIF converter.  There had been a good deal of discussion about the Gustard on Head-Fi with some reporting it to be better than the V-Link 192.  Hope that helps.  Good luck.  
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