Berkeley Dac 2 or PS audio DSD or Schiit Yggs?

Stock Gustard X20U ($869 delivered) has beaten the $2300 Yggy three different times (and this is playing PCM versus PCM!!!!).  The Gustard with $425 worth of mods takes it to another whole level.  The Yggy cannot do DSD!  Upsampling PCM to high speed DSD using HQplayer results in serious, serious sound (rivaling analog)....way better than listening without the upsampling.   Not possible at all with less good sounding Yggy.  The Yggy is so yesterday.

I've listened to Shiits and Berkeley's.  I ended up with an AR DAC 8. 

The Shiit was closest to the DAC 8.  I heard the Berkeley's a couple of times and I personally find them a bit cool in tone, so not to my personal preference. The Shiit and AR are warm with tons of air and detail. 

Best,


Erik

Depends if you need DSD. If you don't the AudioGD Master7 is better then those you have named. I have heard the others and the Master7 is simply the best. I like it better then a DC stack. It will do up to 24/192
Alan

I have enjoyed a PS Audio DirectStream DAC for about 18 months now and it still puts a grin on my face!

Yes, it does do DSD, but the sound quality from "regular old fashioned" 44.1/16bit PCM is just awesome!

Another thing I really like about the PS Audio products is that they publish firmware updates which are easy to download and apply, which improve the performance of their products.

I see that they have introduced a "DirectStream Junior", which they say is about 85% of the "DirectStream".