Which would you pick between the two DAC.

I also want to add that I'm waiting until the dust settles on the latest Sonore offerings. There is an upgrade ahead of the Yggy in the near future. May be Sonore, or SOtM, or dCS or Antipodes. Mentioning this because it demonstrates my faith in the performance of the Schiit Yggdrasil.

There is one DAC I'd recommend around 1k, but it is a newcomer and I'm not sure I'd advise one starting out on their DAC journey to consider it. If you are willing to push your budget, once you can get to around 2.5K there are a few options that punch high enough to give the 'big boy and girl DACs' a run for the money and keep them honest.

Let me know if you are open to complicating your decision and choices, if so, I will offer up a few more choices to consider.

Again, Thank you so much everyone for your value info.  

david_ten, Okay, if $2,500 will make a huge sound improvement from $1,800 (Ayre Codex) or $1,200(Wadia 132) then I am willing to do it.  But I am not sure because of my system is not good enough to be able to hear huge difference in $2,500 DAC.

@eddy1

If it were me in your shoes, I would only push the spend if I was planning on upgrading my other components in the near future. If you are on that path, then spending more will pay dividends now and down the line. Let’s call this the patient yet more future proofed approach. This will give you good results but it will give you much better results sometime in the future, though it will require a much higher outlay over that time period (speakers, amps, etc.)

I look at the component as a mini-system in of itself.

Even though the Yggy comes in under 2.5K when I consider the supporting elements that mini-system is actually a $6.5K component (cables in, platform, footers, Sonore/Uptone, etc). More if I assign a percentage of the power conditioning, upstream power cable, etc. This does not include what I consider my digital source component (PC, Server, Router, Switch, mini power supplies, and the supporting cabling, etc).

I’m mentioning the above because I advise you to consider a $1K budget for a new DAC (used/new).

The 1.5K in left-over budget, in my opinion, would be better applied to a networked approach (which eliminates your PC as the direct source), better cabling, and a product to clean up the signal into the DAC (input dependent). Let’s call this the best bang for your current buck /system approach. This will provide you with really good results, and is beneficial in that is broadens your approach to and understanding of computer based audio.

Excellent advice, David, re: get that PC/MAC out of the audio chain as a priority over $$$ DACs.

Dave

Thank you, David and Dave.