Best practices when conducting a DAC comparison

.... I do not want to rush this. Thank you for the detailed response and guidance. Since you recently went through this, the list of all the steps you took is terrific and very helpful.....

@david_ten

You’re welcome, David.

I agree with you (and @toddverrone). I didn’t want to "rush" anything either. Thing is, at least in my case (and this is usually the case with any new component), the manufacturer may provide an "audition window of time" whereby you can return the piece if not satisfied. In the case of the Yggy this is 15 days. Would I have preferred 30 or more, sure! Point is I only "rushed" in order to maximize the return opportunity. Once you know for certain you are keeping your unit, at that point absolutely, take all the time you need/want to compare it to other pieces. Presumably you would be living with your gear for many years at least, so there is certainly plenty of time to "check" (and even re-check) it during that time.

Best of luck David. You are rather thorough, knowledgeable, etc. so I have good reason to believe you will make the right decision in any case.

The Denafrips Terminator was delivered early yesterday morning and went in system yesterday afternoon.

I've ordered the Gen 5 USB board from Schiit and will be doing the install myself.

The Denafrips Terminator was delivered early yesterday morning and went in system yesterday afternoon.

I’ve ordered the Gen 5 USB board from Schiit and will be doing the install myself.

I don’t understand. I thought the Schiit Gen 5 is an upgrade for any Bifrost, Gungnir, or Yggdrasil with the Gen 1, 2, or 3 USB inputs.

Your Denafrips Terminator (I assume this one http://www.denafrips.com/terminator.html at face value looks like a monster DAC and it should be at more than twice the cost of the Yggy. The website indicates it uses an Amanero USB Interface, which does appear to be of similar physical size to the Gen 5, but can you just swap the USB cards out?

@gdhal  I'm not sure I understand your question. Yes, the Gen 5 board upgrade applies to all three Schiit DACs you list.

My Yggdrasil is about 2 years old and has the Gen 3 board in it. I've been holding off on the upgrade until I had another DAC on hand.

@david_ten 

I initially thought, because of the way I interpreted your 11-07-2017 8:24am post, that you were wanting to install or use the Gen 5 board with or within your Denafrips Terminator. I also assumed (because you wrote that you have the "Schiit Yggdrasil (my current primary DAC)" that *is already* Gen 5, not knowing your current Schiit Yggy has the Gen 3. This is/was my misunderstanding. Thanks for the clarification.