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DAC's Made in the USA

I am shopping for my very first dac and the sheer number of product available is bewildering.Unlike many members, I have never owned an outboard dac for a 2 channel system, my budget is extremely limited and my technical knowledge of the product is low.
Further I am committed to purchase a dac made in the USA, or at least a friendly democratic country. 
You can see by my equipment list that I have nothing of any great quality or renown and much of this inventory is likely to be sold to partially pay for the dac. 
I am 80 years old, wear hearing aids and I am pretty satisfied with the sounds I presently hear and really wonder if I can enhance the sound quality of my CD collection (Jazz, blues and classical). 
Would appreciate it if I can get some real help, i.e., people who have actually used their recommendation/not read about it.  Also please remember my spending limitation, more is impossible.
Many thanks 

New (not used)
Made in the USA 
Ideally less than $1500 
Headphone jack is not necessary
Two channel analog output 
Optical and digital coaxial input 

Accuphase E-202, 
Adcom GFA 555, 
McCormack TLC-1, 
Pioneer SA-9500II,
McIntosh MA-6100
Sony DVP S9000ES (DVD, CD, SACD),ADS 910,Klipsch Forte II
stebut
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
Benchmark DAC3B
mlsstl
1,438 posts
 
You should also consider a Schiit DAC. They have several models under your price point, specifically the Bifrost ($700), Gungnir ($900) and the Gungnir Multibit ($1,300). The Bifrost and Gungnir Multibit are ladder DACS while the base Gungnir is a delta-sigma DAC.

The products are US made (including components) and the company is a direct-sales only operation.  They offer a 15 day money back trial period with a 5% restocking fee. 

The DACs are designed by Mike Moffat, one of the hi-fi legends in the audio world. He was responsible for the first-ever stand-alone DAC (Theta Digital) back in the 1980s) so there is a lot of experience behind the products.  
Post removed 
213runnin
914 posts
 
Hello, Made in the USA really winnows it down as most audio manufacturers have long ago moved their facilities to Asia. Also, that Sony dvp looks like a flagship unit from the early 2000’s. It does have digital outputs, which would be essential.

I’ve purchased a few dacs over the last few years from a company called Schiit Audio. They started up about 10 years ago now, and their founders are veterans in the audiophile industry and have come up with many innovations. I’ve purchased their Modi, Modi Multibit, Modius, Bifrost Multibit and the Gungnir Multibit. All of their products are Made in the USA, right there in California, out of domestically sourced parts. Except that the little resistors and transistors, etc, are from off shore.

The Gungnir Multibit is my current dac in the main 2 channel system, and it presents very life like imaging. In fact, you may need better than average speakers to recreate the subtle nuances that can be present. The Gungir goes for $1299, has a 15 day trial(there is a restocking fee if you return it) and has a 5 year warranty.

But I’d also suggest the recently updated Bifrost Multibit. Fans in the audiophile community says since the update it rivals the more expensive Gungnir Multibit. It uses the same dac chips now, but the analog output stage isn’t fully discrete as the Gungnir is. But guys marvel at how good it sounds now, and at almost half the price, at $699. Same 15 day trial and 5 year warranty.

I really don’t think you can go wrong either way.  They sell directly from their website, as they are an internet direct company.  Schiit.com



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