help me with a DAC decision please

dpm2340

whitestix70 posts10-10-2016 8:35am I must ask why you sense a need to get a new DAC? Wadia gear is tip-top. I sure hope you have a chance to audition before you buy because is is very possible that any replacement for your Wadia will be a pricey side-ways move.

I’m 100% with whitestix there

Your going to find it hard (impossible) to beat your wadia 121 (delta sigma) based DAC with it’s own output level control, that can be set to match your system gain, don’t even bother, with another (delta Sigma) based dac.

BTW: your Wadia has the ESS ES9018S Saber (Delta Sigma) D/A converter so it may do DSD if you like it.

Unless your not liking the sound of Delta Sigma conversion with Red book which is in the Wadia, then this is another story, a "good" Multibit dac will sound better doing PCM Redbook.

From MoJo Sound
" When a PCM file is played on a Delta Sigma, DSD or Bit Stream converter, the DAC chip has to convert the PCM to DSD in real time. This is one of the major reasons people claim DSD sounds better than PCM, when in fact, it is just that the chip in most modern single-bit/Delta Sigma DACs do a poor job of decoding PCM."

Question is all you want is just a better sound from Redbook (PCM) and forget about DSD?

Cheers George

You can read Schiit  Yggy impression thread over in other forums.  I bought one after many months of searching and listening.  I am very happy with it!

I would suggest evaluating and purchasing the BenchMark Media DAC2 HGC.

I replaced the Wadia 521 with MSB Analog DAC.  The MSB is closest to the Wadia sound character but betters it on every front.  Furthermore the MSB plays high res. I did not like the new Wadia DAC i.e.  The 321. It does play Hi res bit does not sound like the Wadia you and I are familiar with . It is not a solid weighty sound. If you fall into the Wadia camp i.e. Before Fine Sounds took over you would be happy with MSB .  Hopefully you will find a used MSB Analog DAC to fit your budget.   Also look at the following Audiogon Thread.   From Wadia to ?   Sorry I do not know how to paste the link

FROM ABSOLUTE SOUNDS
Every digital volume control will truncate bit-length (and musical data) if it is used at its very lowest settings. To reduce this effect the Wadia’s maximum output level can be adjusted from 4.0V down to 2.0V or even 1.0V, so that at normal listening levels the volume control can be set near its maximum level. 

Very important you done this, have you set this max level  dpm2340 on your Wadia 121 yet, so you use it's digital domain volume control near full level for lound listening and go direct into your power amp.
As if you don't you could be "bit stripping" or as Absolute Sounds calls it (truncate bit-length)

Cheers George