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Advice on DAC upgrade


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 I’m currently using the fubar usb dac which I bought years ago. The fubar only can handle 16bit 44.1khz.  I’m in the market to upgrade my dac  so I can play Hi-Res files.  I’m looking for a dac that’s warm sounding with a nice soundstage. Any thoughts on the pro-ject Pre Box S2 Digital? Or should I go with something like the PSA Stellar Gain Cell DAC? I know the pro-ject can fully unfold MQA and the PSA cannot. Any recommendations would be  appreciated. 

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The key components of a modern DAC are:

 

1. Power delivery.

2. A/D circuit.

3. Analog circuit.

 

Small DACs are inferior because they don't have good power networks and their analog circuitry usually is lackluster. DACs to consider in this price range:

 

LKS MH DA004: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/LKS-Audio-MH-DA004-Dual-ES9038PRO-Amanero-USB-Digital-Audio-DAC-Decoder-AC110V-Or-AC220V/32799226649.html?spm=2114.search0104.8.3.62546f9fj4NM33&priceBeautifyAB=0

 

Fully balanced 9038 architecture -- newest, highest performance DAC chips on the market, highly regulated power supply, real analog output stage. Won't support MQA.

 

Gustard X22: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/GUSTARD-DAC-X22-ES9038PRO-I2S-XMOS-HiFi-DAC-PCM384K-DSD512-DOP-Decoder/32844275291.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.2.2bf4ed5f8UkxBP&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10130_5722815_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_10546_10340_5722915_10548_10341_10545_5722615_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_5722715_10059_306_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_2,ppcSwitch_4&algo_expid=fac6062d-e8f2-4fe0-b8e8-5014792fca4d-0&algo_pvid=fac6062d-e8f2-4fe0-b8e8-5014792fca4d&priceBeautifyAB=0

 

Cheaper 9038 option compared to the LKS, not balanced, but has an excellent power supply and a high-end Accusilicon clock on the DAC. Won't support MQA.

 

Gustard A20H: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/GUSTARD-A20H-DAC-decoder-and-amplifier-all-in-one-double-AK4497-XMOS-full-balance-amp-All/32811247974.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.23.22825dfdjyrC4F&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10130_5722815_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_10546_10340_5722915_10548_10341_10545_5722615_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_5722715_10059_306_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_2,ppcSwitch_4&algo_expid=b7a1dc11-b2a1-4bc5-aa2a-31f45371b3f0-3&algo_pvid=b7a1dc11-b2a1-4bc5-aa2a-31f45371b3f0&priceBeautifyAB=0

 

Even cheaper option, balanced 4497 which isn't as new as the 9038 but is warmer. Good power supply and analog circuitry as usual, also has a decent headphone amp. Won't support MQA.

 

Holo Spring: https://kitsunehifi.com/product/springdacbase/

 

Unique dual resistor ladder with ladder-based DSD decoding. Good power supply and analog circuitry. No MQA.

 

Sadly there is a large gap in the MQA segment DACs between high end and baby toys. A few of the toy DACs are actually nice sounding but due to their lack of serious power supplies and analog circuitry they will never be able be reproduce strong dynamic performance something which is crucial to achieving high end sound.

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Greg, there's this phenomenon that many of us have experienced:  You think you know what you want (warm, relaxed, soft, analytic, energetic, forward, ect) until you hear a DAC in your chain that is the opposite.  Lo and behold, you thought you wanted XYZ, but you really like ABC.

 

As much good advice as I received on this site, I ultimately had to try for myself to discover what I liked the best.  It's a fun exercise/journey actually, and can be done for pretty cheap if you buy used and resell.  Or buy something not terribly expensive and new, then resell.  I did both!

 

This requires that you are familiar with how to list and sell equipment.  I've had great luck on head-fi.org.  You wouldn't believe how big DACs are in the headphone world and they are traded/sold constantly.  Everything from a Topping D30 to a Metrum Pavane or Holo Spring Level 3 can be had there.  Getting set up in the buy/sell world of used equipment is VERY easy.  Monitoring the listings now, is another thing.  You have to act fast sometimes.  I have some tips for this as well. 

 

Using paypal to send money for "goods and services" covers you as a buyer.  So the risks are low that you get ripped off.  Also there are feedback blurbs about sellers on these types of sites so you can transact with more confidence. 

 

This was the route I took - Audiogon and of course Superphonica are also other great places to buy (or sell) a DAC.  

 

 

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26 minutes ago, Greg1717 said:

@DrTone what DACs would you recommend?

 

As I said above. the Ayre Codex, used to keep it in your original budget.  The only stuff I consider better is more expensive as well.

Roon Rock->Auralic Aria G2->Schiit Yggdrasil A2->McIntosh C47->McIntosh MC301 Monos->Wilson Audio Sabrinas

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On 6/27/2018 at 3:04 PM, Dr Tone said:

Don't decide what DAC to buy by it's measurements alone.  Here is a thread comparing some very affordable DACs if you want to go that route.

 

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/cheap-dac-off-topping-d30-sdac-mimby-jds-el-dac-ifi-nano-bl.6313/

Not by it's measurements alone, but if it doesn't measure well, I would pass on it.  SBAF is mostly a Schiit fan club.   In that thread the ifi broke before they were done.  Schiit got high marks, of course.  The topping D30 (it measures very well) was said to be awful.  Read down a few posts and there is a nasty photo which indicates how much hatred SBAF has for Audio Science Review.  Looks like prejudice to me.

 

So, not by measurements alone, but I consider SBAF to be an unreliable source too.

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9 hours ago, Nordkapp said:

Metrum Audio makes nice sounding R2R DACS in your price range

 

a solid rec!  I'm still elated with my Amethyst.  But they are exclusively NOS (not that it's a bad thing - I'm definitely in the NOS camp now).  Relaxed and less etched without fatigue, while retaining excellent clarity and detail.  Sort of warm in that sense, sure.

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SBAF also likes the Airist DAC that's on massdrop.  

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-airist-audio-r-2r-dac

 

A bit more than the modi multibit (Schiit) - and that says a lot given they are definitely Schiit lovers there.  

 

8 hours ago, Ron Scubadiver said:

SBAF is mostly a Schiit fan club.

 

As much as I didn't want to believe it - I can't deny it.  I'm a "Rando" over there, just joined.  Will probably get banned for this post!  :) 

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2 hours ago, Blake said:

 

And i consider Amir and some of his members at ASR to be an unreliable source.  Amir is not to be trusted and he has an agenda. I would take input from Torq, Atomic Bob and the crew on SBAF over Amir's BS any day of day of the week.  

 

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/modi-2u-and-d30-dac-deconstructing-amirs-hack-job-part-ii.6449/

 

What's his agenda?  How is instrumented testing an agenda?  Stereophile does it too and frequently they JA will say he is disappointed by how some expensive stuff does poorly.  SBAF is nothing but a Schiit fan club.

 

Of course there are a few members around here who are a trap in the sense their advice is prejudiced to the point that it is worthless.

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