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Which DAC? SFD-1 MKII/Bel Canto DAC1/MF A3.24

Hello all,

I am looking @ the following DAC options since they are all around the same price. I dont want to spend alot on a DAC. I am would like some opinions on which I should go for.

1. Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 MKII $650
2. Bel Canto DAC1
3. Musical Fidelity A3.24

I am leaning towards the SFD because I am a big Sonic Frontiers fan. What do you guys think?

Totem Rainmakers
Class CA-100
Sonic Frontiers SFl-1
kowrath
clio09
3,360 posts
 
Kowrath,

Still a great deal at $700 - $800. I'd stay on top of Vlad about the $499 price, he just offered me a sweet deal on his PP1 preamp ($1200 MSRP) so he is definitely negotiable.
celo
183 posts
 
@lush I have the itch of getting the SFD-1 MKii. Currently, I am using the Museatex Bitstream (unmodded) which I am very happy with. When I saw your response, I wanted to ask if you had a chance to compare the SFD-1 MKii to the Bitstream. I am curious if the SF DAC can sound more analog than the Bitstream?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

1. Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 MKII
2. Bel Canto DAC1
3. Musical Fidelity A3.24


These are all Redbook CD (pcm) only dacs.
I’d place them in that order that you’ve got, had them all at one time or another, owned or for mod work.

SFD-MkII R2R Multibit, UA D20400A dac and PMD100 hdcd, very nice, but if the dac ever gives problems it becomes a door stop then.

BC DAC1 another good R2R Multibit dac with PCM1704 dacs, but sadly no hdcd, and it had a little noise, if it had hdcd and no noise it "could" equal the SFD.

The MF A3.24, was "nice" measured well, but boring, and it’s a Delta Sigma dac, no matter what mods I tried, I could get it to "jump" like good Mutibit dacs can, one thing in it’s favour which Delta Sigma dacs tend to do, is it was kinder to bad recordings.

Cheers George
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