2. digital
  3. 132046-13640

Please Recommend Transport + DAC for $5K total

My current Jolida cdp is growing pretty long in the tooth. I could just replace it with another cdp, but it seems more prudent to go with separate transport and DAC, at this point. Would prefer gear made in N. America. Total expenditure not to exceed 5K. I'm considering Sim Audio Moon 260CD or Bryston BDP-3 as a transport. The thing is, I prefer the option of demoing at home and I haven't (so far) found any vendors offering that option with the Sim Audio piece. As for a DAC, same thing: it has to be something I can try out at home, like a Schiit Yggy or Benchmark DAC2HGC. Can anyone suggest other possibilities, given these parameters? My system: Wells Audio Majestic Integrated, Silverline 17.5 monitors, JD100 cdp. Speaker wire: Audio Art SE. Power cables: Audio Art Statement. IC's: Audioquest Cheetah.  Thanks! 
stuartk
stuartk OP
3,455 posts
 
chadlesko; I guess I could give up the "made in N. America" demand and  go with something like a Cyrus, Cambridge or Oppo for a transport, which would allow me to spend more on a DAC. They are all available to demo from online merchants. 
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
Schiit Yggdrasil without question. I too had the same concerns about buying without listening. But after reading web site after web site of pro and consumer reviews, in addition to other do diligence, I took the leap of faith. Boy am I glad I did. Frankly I’d recommend a Yggy if your budget were 10K. They do give a 15 day trial, albeit with a 5% penalty should you decide to return it. But the 15 days begins from when you sign the fedex receipt. As for a transport, anything really that can send the Yggy digital via coax, usb, aes/ebu or optical.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
There are many fine DACs in that price range. Suggest listening to as many as possible before deciding.

Dave
rja's avatar
rja
2,384 posts
 
Bought CEC TL3N transport, very nice unit at Approx. $2000.
Made in Japan so may not fit your criteria

I’ve seen used Exogal with power supply around $1500 on the Gon.
(Must pair Exogal with optional power supply for optimum sound quality)
Many reviews available. From the folks that brought you Wadia.
stuartk OP
3,455 posts
 
gdhal: I've encountered a variety of opinions re: Yggdrasil. One common observation is that 15 days is an inadequate trial period, due to a very long burn-in time. What was your experience in this regard?

rja: yes: the Exogal looks like a very nice piece. Not sure how I'd demo
 one, though. 

dlcockrum: what you suggest is always good advice but somewhat difficult to execute. I learned "the hard way," early on, that in-store demos are unreliable indicators of how a system might sound in different surroundings. 
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