Quite a few Bricasti M21 DACs for sale cheap

tvad

I prefer to compare components in my system because it offers a familiar baseline.

Agreed. It'll be the best option. But most cases ($10K dac?) it is hard to do. There are many videos of certain gears and listen to them to guess the sound. I've been doing that for a long time and my guess is correct almost always. Better than nothing for sure. Alex/WTA

If I am not mistaken, the M21 also has a third DAC - which is a one-bit converter for DSD streams. This additional DAC is ideal for utilizing the DSD output of SACDs as well as for converting high-resolution audio files downloaded from sources such as HD Tracks.

But most cases ($10K dac?) it is hard to do.

I have thankfully found there is usually a way to audition DACs, regardless of price. There is usually a cost. Maybe shipping both ways. A deposit. It’s worth it to me.

If I am not mistaken, the M21 also has a third DAC - which is a one-bit converter for DSD streams. This additional DAC is ideal for utilizing the DSD output of SACDs as well as for converting high-resolution audio files downloaded from sources such as HD Tracks.

That’s correct, @jmeyers. I haven’t listened to the DSD DAC. It offers the possibility of pairing with a Bricasti M19 CD/SACD transport (presently only possible on an M21), and of course playing downloaded DSD files as you mentioned. I do have a couple. I will it give a try soon.

EDIT: Yes, @audphile1, both the M3 and M1 have the 1 bit DSD DAC.

I think even the M3 has a one bit DSD converter which is selected by switching to NDSD option. That’s native DSD. You can toggle between it and the PCM. Or may be it’s implemented differently in M21. 

I hear good things about using either Roon or HQPlayer to convert all music to DSD, then feed it through the one bit converter on the Bricasti DACs. I find that almost always sounds great even when using regular Delta Sigma designs, so should work excellent with the one bit as well.