DAC for Schiit Asgard (sub $300) - Page 2

The difference in price is so small,I'll probably go with the Bifrost. but...still on the fence,between the two.

I've e-mail Maverick a number of times,and got instant responses..excellent customer service..

I'll be hooking up the Lyr with a optical cable.

Another Newbie question:

I'd like to hook up the Dac withe same type of connection{optical }...,or does it even matter?,using usb/optical for the DAC?

Doesn't the USB connections,usually introduce some sort of "Hiss" /interference?..or am I miss reading into that?

Thanks,for your patience..,

Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGrumpyOldMan 

I'd pick the Bifrost if budget was not an issue, but since his price range is $250 and he wants USB, that would be way over unlike the D2. They both sound great to me when hooked up to a pretty nice setup, and other Head-Fier would probably consider it superior-sounding.

 

Objectively it's a perfect match design-wise to the Lyr, is technical better (32-bit DAC, bit-perfect processing etc) and upgradeable (a long-term investment?), and not that much more without USB (which I don't need) so that's what I got with my Valhalla.

 

On the other hand, I also don't really ever listen over 24/96, like the tube sound (not that it's exactly night-and-day compared to the SS out), and the D2 is just big enough to stack the Schiits on top, so if my budget was $250, the D2 would be my alternative. So are probably some of the other desktop DAC suggestions here, but I can't comment on those since I haven't heard them.

 

ADD.: I had a look at the devilsound DACs, nice compact design for a somewhat portable solution, but $300 for that?! And even more for the "HD" version?  And they lost me when they went on about cryogenic treatment When for the same price, you can have a properly powered desktop DAC with a decent analog output stage, and a complete set of switchable inputs... unless you really need a portable solution and are 100% sure you will never connect a dock, portable player, bluray player, game console etc. -ever- anytime in the future.

But of course you're slamming a product that you've never heard isn't that right Mr. Grumpy?

The main difference between the devilsound and the HD is the 96k capability, plus they are throwing in a $100 Wireworld Starlight USB cable in addition to the same solid silver RCA wiring and Eichman plugs on the analog side. Steve Guttenberg has heard both and said that the HD beats the Bifrost hands down.

I have the 2.0 and have demo'd the 2.1 and the cryo does seem to make a difference. One really cool thing is that it comes with very high-quality cabling, and if you actually take the time to read about the product you can see that they have gone to great lengths to re-generate clean power from the USB bus:

"In the devilsound DAC, clean power is regenerated from USB power using a small, fast DC-DC converter chip, the MAX8614. The MAX is used to regenerate positive and negative 6 V, which is then filtered (to remove any switching noise) and down-regulated. This provides extremely clean and stable positive and negative 5 V power rails.

The positive 5 V rail is further down-regulated to supply power to other chips on the board, which require lower voltages."

I think the HD should be about $50 cheaper, but it is a new product. The new price on the devilsound however is a bargain. The devilsound is also by far the cheapest implementation of Gordon Ramkin's highly-acclaimed Streamlength code available.

reviews of both models: http://www.halidedesign.com/news/

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyline315 

Thanks for the info.  I wish someone would compare the original ds dac to the bifrost...

 

 Audioengine D1, if budget is an issue .  I am pretty happy with the D1 as usb/Dac from my IMac, then RCA analog out from the D1 to the Lyr. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

But of course you're slamming a product that you've never heard isn't that right Mr. Grumpy?

 

<snip technical details>

Nope, and if you re-read my post at no point did I comment on the sound quality... which I'm sure is great (not being sarcastic here) and you should be a satisfied owner considering the vehemence and detailing of its virtues in your reply.  I didn't even really "slam" it, that would be quite more unmistakable and reserved for a truly bad product I would have had personal experience with.

I referred to it as having a nice compact design, great portability (*) but my main point was that it's an expensive one-(great)trick pony that offers far less functionality/connectivity and lower sampling rates than products still offering overall similar SQ, for -less- money. (And I -did- spend some considerable time on that subject recently which may account for my grumpiness  -_-;)

Money which seems to be important to the OP considering that the reason for this thread is the not-that-huge price difference between his budget and the Bifrost's cost. Money that he could use for far more tangible benefits (not even audio-related) rather than spend all of it for the largely -perceived- SQ differences between -any- DAC (especially in light of the rest of his audio chain and balancing the DAC relative to it)

(*) even though it seems like a strange beast: on the one hand its distinguishing feature is being small enough as a take-along audiophile solution for a laptop but then it terminates in RCA plugs which implies the use of a fullsize amp, definitely not portable... I guess there are a a couple of portable amps with RCA in, otherwise a RCA to mini-plug adapter would do, but be a bit... off in light of the whole cryo silver special sauce cabling.

I agree that the Bifrost is definitely more versatile than the devilsound, and from all accounts its SQ punches way above its price class. It's also a great aesthetic match for the Schiit amps. I used to own the Maverick D2 and while it's a great, versatile unit for the money I wouldn't stack anything on top of it since it has a headamp and a preamp that needs to vent, and IMO the DAC isn't quite in the same class as the Bifrost (reportedly) and (IME) the devilsound. But if you can use the built-in preamp and headamp the D2 is definitely hard to beat for the money with its myriad of features.

Well, if you haven't ordered the Asgard yet, I'd suggest the Audio-GD NFB-5, as it has both Dac and headphone amp, including USB....

And, as all Audio-GD products, it's really well done...and it would fit within you budget no problem...

http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB5/NFB5EN.htm

Denys

Well,

It's a great choice, as I own one too. So far, I think that the Bifrost really is your best choice, cause you may regret buying a cheaper one. You'll end up selling it, losing money and finally buy the one you really want.....I've done it so many times.....

But if I did not convince you, you may look for a used DacMagic.....it could be interesting, although it's an old technology....

Denys

I use mine in my bedroom for TV in order not to disturb my girlfriend. Sometimes, I also use it with my Ipod. Very pleased with it.... I am sure you won't regret your choice......and if you wait a couple of month, you'll come back on this thread and thank everyone who insisted for you to buy the Bifrost....

Denys

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

I agree that the Bifrost is definitely more versatile than the devilsound, and from all accounts its SQ punches way above its price class. It's also a great aesthetic match for the Schiit amps. I used to own the Maverick D2 and while it's a great, versatile unit for the money I wouldn't stack anything on top of it since it has a headamp and a preamp that needs to vent, and IMO the DAC isn't quite in the same class as the Bifrost (reportedly) and (IME) the devilsound. But if you can use the built-in preamp and headamp the D2 is definitely hard to beat for the money with its myriad of features.

Yep, it's not the be-all, end-all for me either, but bang for the buck it's hard to beat. It doesn't seem to get that warm, not even the tube section, compared to the Bifrost. I put feet inbetween anyway because the Valhalla DOES heat up like a little volcano, and I read so does the Asgard.

Of course, the best match is still the Bifrost :)

TGOM,

I'm getting Lyr tomorrow,and will order the Bifrost end of the week..

May I ask...where did you get those feet for the Valhalla,think I'm going to need them?

Mike