Benchmark DAC 3B Vs. Schiit Gungnir Multibit and a question.

@decooney I totally understand your statements on the DAC3B. It would be interesting for me to see how other non-Sabre DACs would do in my system. I am getting a cheaper Sabre DAC on Wed, the Matrix Mini-i 3 Pro. I got it for my headphone system but I will try it out on my office system first. I have a feeling it will be very similar tot he DAC3B now with the Convolution file that I have in my digital audio chain. Both DACs are spec’d similarly. I bought Matrix for both sound and feature set since it is perfect for my headphone needs (wireless and easy to move to other rooms).

I am going to turn my attention to getting either a second AHB2 amp or the CODA #8 because my speakers can use more juice. After that maybe buy a R2R DAC just for fun. In other words, a DAC has dropped to the bottom of audio ToDo list after the sound I am getting today.

The "Coda" truly deserves to be fed by a really good sounding DAC and great preamp.

I live 10 minutes from Coda, grew up in ESS, Threshold, Pass and Coda land, all started in the same place around here. Always start at the source, and then let the Coda sing if you go that route to feed it well. Good luck.

Well, I got it and am making some preliminary tests.
Out of the box it sounds great.
I just put on a CD that I’ve always liked the sound of, and it sounds cleaner, more detailed.  Literally the first CD I tried, but I think it bodes well for everything else.
Not the slightest tinge of over brightness.  I have a modded CJ tube preamplifier which, I think, matches very well.
More to come as I try out other things.

piano

let us know how it compares to your gumby

cj will help cure a lot of digital ills - which cj?

have fun!

I’ve done a lot of listening in the last few hours.  The impression I have is that it is much more accurate and detailed than the Gumby.  However, it is somewhat unforgiving of some CDs even though it’s really outstanding on others.
Have to do  a lot more listening to determine if I want to keep it.  It certainly is convincing me that I don’t want to stay with the Gumby though.
The preamp model is the PV 11 modified by CJ with Teflon caps.