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  3. 127466-80275

Looking for a DAC < $1500

Need two coax inputs to hook up my CDP and Bluesound Node2. Not too many out there with two coax inputs but found a couple on A'gon and trying to decide; Bryston BDA-2, Primare Systems DAC 30, and for just a little more, a McIntosh D100. If your money, which would you pick. Or should I just go with something new from Marantz reference line that plays CD (or SACD) and has a coax input. The goal is to take the digital glare from my CD player - a real midfi unit, and the Bluesound's internal DAC. Thanks.
128x128kalali
bobsjr4's avatar
bobsjr4
21 posts
 
I have to vote with the Schiit crowd.  I purchased the Gumby Multibit and it completely changed my mind about the drawbacks of digital.  Playing a Mac charger Miles Davis cd versus the same on SACD through an Exemplar modified Oppo sacd, I now wish I hadn't wasted the money on sacds.  Only wish I had gone all out for the Yggy.

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,381 posts
 
Another Schiit Gungnir Multibit owner/lover here. 

Feed it from a microRendu and you'll really be shocked at how good a digital rig under $2000 can sound. Cheers,
Spencer
kalali's avatar
kalali OP
1,977 posts
 

I decided to drop my budget just a notch, at least for now, and tried a couple of more moderately priced DACs with two coax inputs - a friend's BDA-1 and a DACmagic Plus, and decided to hold on to the DACmagic. I don't know if its the built in upsampling or just system synergy but both the Node 2 and my old CDP sounded a little "warmer" with fuller low/mid bass through this DAC. I'll try my search next year after we've recovered from the Holidays.

mesch
3,529 posts
 
Great you have a DAC to use while in the hunt. Many great older DACs come up for sale used. The field opens up when asynchronous USB is not a requirement.
bigguy4488
4 posts
 
Agree with ivanj on 12-23.   I've had a new Oppo 105 for four months, and it's level of performance (for $500) is unheard of - bests my old Cambridge Audio 840C in many ways, including glare.   Oppo uses the well reviewed ESS Sabre ES9018 converter, around since 2012.  The Absolute Sound 12/14 review of the Oppo 105 states that the engineer modifying the unit "could not improve on the clock or the DAC" so he left them alone.  For home audio, I just can't justify going with an outboard DAC now.   But, I'd love to hear from any fanatic out there that has done A/B comparisons to the Oppo 105, using newer DAC/chip designs.

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