Flecko

I tried it but with a different dac. It sounded worse with the ifi usb. If the dac does not sound good without such a device, it never will.

There is even another advantage of JR19. It can convert PCM to DSD in real time using their "audiophile" resampling algorithm. In my case this is an improvement. More details, cleaner sound and better dynamics. For me, JR19 is the best sounding software player in this configuration. A DSD capable DAC could have a real advantage over a standard PCM DAC, thanks to JR. I cannot recommend ifi USB power (tried it) and suggest to save the 200$. I would rather buy a good PS (seasonic) for the pc and/or a high quality mainboard. But dont waste to much money on that stuff.

It could be expected but it is not necessarily true. The next best thing instead of making a direct comparison, is to make an indirect comparison. Take your DAC (and maybe your amplifier) to the dealers and compare it to the Ayre, Mytek and Benchmark DAC, one after the other. This will help you a lot.

Do not buy anything without the possibility to try it in your own system. If you have enough money or a good dealer, try to make a comparson at home with the gear you are interested in. You cannot rely on recommendations from people you do not know or magazines or else. You will not be happy without testing it your self. The painfull process of deciding on the basis of what you have read will imediately be over in that instance you hear it yourself! The truth is: The more expensive device is not always better. The more complex and elaborated device is not always better. The device with better measurements does not always sounds better. A device with a certain technology doesn't sound always good or bad. A device is not better because someone wrote about it and telling it is. If you do not have the possibility to test the devices you want to buy, buy something you can test! Only You Can Decide!