For Redbook CD, you may also want to consider one of the R2R DACs being discussed in a few other threads. The Denafrips Ares is under $700 with free shipping. Meets the no frills no glitz criteria referenced above with lots of positive feedback.
Is my Cal Audio Sigma II too old?
It seems like I have had my Cal Audio Sigma II DACs for 12 years or more. Is this too old? Have DACs come that much further since it was made? I always liked the warmth of this tube based DAC and currently have a Telefunken smooth plate in it and still enjoy the sound. Regardless of its age, it still sounds less harsh than the DAC built into the Sonos Connect I use for my digital listening. This is connected to a NAS drive with redbook cd flac files. I don’t really have the 2 grand at the moment for a Benchmark 3 or a Mytek Brooklyn but I’m not sure I need or want all that additional functionality. I just use it to decode the digital signal. Would a more modest DAC outshine this older unit?
The rest of the system consists of a McIntosh C712 preamp, McIntosh MC2102 tubed power amp and Magnepan 1.7i speakers.
The rest of the system consists of a McIntosh C712 preamp, McIntosh MC2102 tubed power amp and Magnepan 1.7i speakers.
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FWIW I have a Schiit Bifrost Uber and I really like Schiit gear. Having said that, I have bought a Bluesound Node 2 this year and I play digital files from my HDD via my wireless router to the Node 2, mostly ripped CDs. The DAC inside the Node 2 sounds as good as the Schiit DAC on at least half of my files and better on the other half. With MQA files via Tidal streaming the internal Node 2 DAC is noticeable better than my Schiit DAC. I have tried both DACs. The kicker is that the Node 2 cost me $499. |
I really appreciate all of the feedback! I don't post on here lightly as I know how many are annoyed at those who can't even perform a simple Google search. For now, I've listed my Sigma II for sale and plan on acquiring a Schitt BiFrost MutiDac. The reviews seem generally positive and it fits my limited budget and the source material I listen to. I was floored when I dug out my sales receipt for the Sigma II and realized I've owned this DAC for 17 years. I'm 44 years old and this was my 2nd outboard after one of those cheap Audio Alchemy $150 jobs back in the late 90s. I think the BiFrost will get me by for the next couple of years until I have no more nanny payments and then maybe I can afford something along the lines of the Yggdrasill. Now I just need to figure a reasonable upgrade to the C712. I so wish someone offered a reasonably priced basic tube preamp with nice tone controls. |
I so wish someone offered a reasonably priced basic tube preamp with nice tone controls.Again Schiit's your schiit. While you get the Bitfrost tryout the Loki some here say it's a very good tone control: http://www.schiit.com/products/loki And a simple pre the Mani http://www.schiit.com/products/saga Or for more versatility pre the Freya, http://www.schiit.com/products/freya Cheers George |
I ended up getting a Schiit Bifrost multibit DAC and liked it so much that a week later I ordered a Freya line stage with the Loki mini for tone controls. The Freya was very harsh at first but settling in nicely now. I've just ordered some new Tung Sol 6SN7s which should hopefully improve it even more. I think this will keep me happy for awhile. Now I just need them to release the big brother to the Loki so I can run balanced cables as the Loki sits in between the DAC and the line stage. As it stands right now, I have no tone controls for my turntable or phono stage since I was using the phono stage built into the Mac preamp. The build quality of the Schiit products is pretty good considering the price point. I realize a lot of features are excluded to keep the prices down but it would be nice to be able to dim the LED lights and have a light on the volume knob to see its position. Other than that, the only dislike is the loud clicking of the attenuated volume control. |
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