2. digital
  3. 132453-95535

Is my Cal Audio Sigma II too old?

It seems like I have had my Cal Audio Sigma II DACs for 12 years or more. Is this too old? Have DACs come that much further since it was made? I always liked the warmth of this tube based DAC and currently have a Telefunken smooth plate in it and still enjoy the sound. Regardless of its age, it still sounds less harsh than the DAC built into the Sonos Connect I use for my digital listening. This is connected to a NAS drive with redbook cd flac files. I don’t really have the 2 grand at the moment for a Benchmark 3 or a Mytek Brooklyn but I’m not sure I need or want all that additional functionality. I just use it to decode the digital signal. Would a more modest DAC outshine this older unit?

The rest of the system consists of a McIntosh C712 preamp, McIntosh MC2102 tubed power amp and Magnepan 1.7i speakers.
128x128mzm6bb
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
mzm6bb
I’m actually thinking the Schitt Bifrost MultiDac

Still very good for pcm "redbook cd flac files" if you can’t stretch to the Yaggdrasil.

Schiit make very good stuff at great prices, without "glitzing" them up with expensive chassis and charging a fortune for something that doesn’t improve the sound.

Remember Mike Moffat owner of Schiit, used to be head designer for Theta Digital when they were on top of digital replay, so he should know his Schiit.

Cheers George
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
For Redbook CD, you may also want to consider one of the R2R DACs being discussed in a few other threads. The Denafrips Ares is under $700 with free shipping. Meets the no frills no glitz criteria referenced above with lots of positive feedback.
2psyop's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
2psyop
1,598 posts
 
FWIW I have a Schiit Bifrost Uber and I really like Schiit gear. Having said that, I have bought a Bluesound Node 2 this year and I play digital files from my HDD via my wireless router to the Node 2, mostly ripped CDs. The DAC inside the Node 2 sounds as good as the Schiit DAC on at least half of my files and better on the other half. With MQA files via Tidal streaming the internal Node 2 DAC is noticeable better than my Schiit DAC. I have tried both DACs. The kicker is that the Node 2 cost me $499.
mzm6bb's avatar
mzm6bb OP
5 posts
 
I really appreciate all of the feedback!  I don't post on here lightly as I know how many are annoyed at those who can't even perform a simple Google search.  For now, I've listed my Sigma II for sale and plan on acquiring a Schitt BiFrost MutiDac.  The reviews seem generally positive and it fits my limited budget and the source material I listen to.  I was floored when I dug out my sales receipt for the Sigma II and realized I've owned this DAC for 17 years.  I'm 44 years old and this was my 2nd outboard after one of those cheap Audio Alchemy $150 jobs back in the late 90s.  I think the BiFrost will get me by for the next couple of years until I have no more nanny payments and then maybe I can afford something along the lines of the Yggdrasill.  Now I just need to figure a reasonable upgrade to the C712.  I so wish someone offered a reasonably priced basic tube preamp with nice tone controls.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I so wish someone offered a reasonably priced basic tube preamp with nice tone controls.
Again Schiit's your schiit. 
While you get the Bitfrost tryout the Loki some here say it's a very good  tone control: http://www.schiit.com/products/loki

And a simple pre the Mani http://www.schiit.com/products/saga

Or for more versatility pre the Freya,  http://www.schiit.com/products/freya 

Cheers George
More to discover