Best Bang for your Buck DAC ?

Schitt Bifrost 2. XLR and totally modular, so updatable in the future. Multibit sounds great and has a remote that allows you to change phase from your chair (something I am finding quite useful, shame so many recordings are in the wrong absolute phase).

I have the the first version (with Multibit, but not Unison USB) and it is definitely better than my Red DragonFly.

@ngiordano at your price point I'd recommend the following options in addition to what others have suggested. Some are over $1000 but you may be able to find them below $1000 used. They all sound different from each other, so it will come down to personal preference.

• Soekris 1421 or 2541 (R2R design)
• RME ADI-2 (AKM-based, DSP)
• Prism Sound Callia (CS4398-based)
• Neko Audio D100 Mk2 (transformer-coupled passive output)
• miniDSP SHD Studio (AKM-based, DSP + Dirac)
• Benchmark DAC2 or DAC3 (ESS-based)

The Soekris 2541 has balanced XLR outputs.

op

$800-1000 is a good cost range to spend for getting very very nice sound from a dac

it is good spot to be on the ’value curve’ for those seeking to maximize performance for $ outlay imho

going up from there further sound improvement certainly exists but becomes rather subtle and nuanced, and would best be appreciated on fairly expensive systems playing its output

don’t forget to get a good streamer too, don’t just run the digital feed out of a computer

George
I know you love Soekris but the only forum member I know of that auditioned one vs the RME returned Soekris to Mod House.

Well you need to read these reviews also, (and there are more) and it's not the top Soekris model, which gives these well respected dacs a real giddy up👌
  
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/soekris-dac1421-dac

https://audioaddictsforum.com/thread/1643/soekris-1421-dac-review?page=1

Cheers George

Love my RME , sounds great.....  its at that perfect price point where you get a lot for the money, great sound, etc....to better it will cost double. Nothing out there has its feature set.    Detail retrieval is excellent,  it has great bass, dead quiet, dynamic....works with any digital product.   Plug my iPhone into its,USB and it instantly recognizes it as a 768k/32 bit device.... same with my tablets, and PC.    Truly plug and play.

I view digital gear as " consumables" for lack of a better word.   Digital is  constantly evolving ,  I don't think I have the system to warrant a $4000 or $6000 DAC.... who knows, maybe something like the Bricasti DAC or dcs would elevate  my system to the next level. But  I doubt I have the associated gear to flesh out the differences.   Would be fun to try something high end in my modest system.