I'd add the Metrum Adagio. Nice review (and Blue Moon award) in 6moons.
Ideas for my next DAC....?
Requirements:
1- USB and Ethernet capable
2- Plays all/most hi-res formats
3- Can serve as my pre-amp/volume control with no SQ degradation
Price range: 6-10k used or demo
Tbh I'm really just starting to collect ideas to compare to my current DAC, which I actually like quite a bit, but just - as always - wondering "what else is out there".
Since retiring my Audio Note DAC, I haven't had a chance to listen to anything other than the DSD, which makes me itchy. I loved the AN -- actually it sounded incredible -- but it's technology lost pace with the rest of my system (limited hi-res capability, no network connectivity option far as I'm aware, and I hadn't done USB so would have to send it in).
1- USB and Ethernet capable
2- Plays all/most hi-res formats
3- Can serve as my pre-amp/volume control with no SQ degradation
Price range: 6-10k used or demo
Tbh I'm really just starting to collect ideas to compare to my current DAC, which I actually like quite a bit, but just - as always - wondering "what else is out there".
Since retiring my Audio Note DAC, I haven't had a chance to listen to anything other than the DSD, which makes me itchy. I loved the AN -- actually it sounded incredible -- but it's technology lost pace with the rest of my system (limited hi-res capability, no network connectivity option far as I'm aware, and I hadn't done USB so would have to send it in).
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- 22 posts total
I used to have the Schiit Yggdrasil, then got to audition the Exemplar Audio modified OPPO. The modified OPPO has a tube utilizing 12AU7 tubes, which I love as I can do lots of tube rolling to dial in the sound, and an outboard linear power supply. The Exemplar just blew away the Yggdrasil. The Exemplar turned by system from 2D to 3D, with amazingly defined imaging. This seems to be a hallmark with Exemplar products as I heard the same when moving from my heavily modified vintage monoblocks to some Exemplar monoblocks too. The nice thing about the Modified Exemplar OPPO is you can simply hook a hard drive up to it and use it as a server. Though, I have a nicer server hooked up to it anyway. I got turned onto Exemplar (http://www.exemplaraudio.com/) years ago when looking for a preamp. Nothing I tried even came close to Exemplars. They seem to have incredible detail, amazing imagine, and a beauty to the sound that just makes me want to listen. I now meditate with my system on and it really helps. The components I recommend by them are: Tube Preamplifier, Tube or Solid State DAC, Tube Amplifiers, and by far the best headphone tube amp I have ever heard. I have no affiliation with Exemplar, just a grateful fan, as that company has really helped me enjoy my system to a new level. |
It is a rare animal that meets all of those requirements. The Yggdrasil meets none of the OP’s stated requirements and neither the Codex nor the Adagio recommended above meet the first requirement of having Ethernet input. This narrows the field quite a bit. The preference for being all hirez-format capable narrows the field even further, eliminating the Empirical Audio DAC, which meets requirements 1and 3 quite well. The PS Audio DirectStream with Bridge II option and the Simaudio Neo 380 with the optional balanced preamp section are two I can think of that meet all of the requirements, but they both convert everything to DSD (if that is a concern) and neither will sound anything like the Audio Note IMO. Dave |
- 22 posts total