[ishmaelk]

I agree with @qsk78 for the most part. It's true that a DAP won't compete with the Composer. But if you don't feel like making that investment now, I'd just go with the Hiby and see if you're ok with that. Before I bought the Composer, I was trying to get the best dac for my money (like everyone), and I kept pushing the budget until I bought the Composer.
Then I looked back. And I found that the difference with my previous reference, the dac in the Oppo 105 EU, was minimal. Really really minimal to my ears, that is. Do I prefer the Composer? I do. I think it's terrific, and endgame for me, for sure.
Would I spend the money again, knowing that the difference with the Oppo 105 is minimal to my ears? Probably not.

 

[No Deal]

I had not intended to buy a DAC. I thought the Soloist and the Hiby would be good enough but the more I read the more I came to the conclusion that it might make sense to get the DAC. It's all about the implementation. @qsk78's post was confirmation. The big problem is that the dollars for the Soloist/Composer combination are approaching Phonitor XE territory and having not heard either one of them makes it is a tough decision.

 

[raphaelchan]

I had not intended to buy a DAC. I thought the Soloist and the Hiby would be good enough but the more I read the more I came to the conclusion that it might make sense to get the DAC. It's all about the implementation. @qsk78's post was confirmation. The big problem is that the dollars for the Soloist/Composer combination are approaching Phonitor XE territory and having not heard either one of them makes it is a tough decision.

I have the composer and soloist combo. they are my end game purchases

 

[No Deal]

I have the composer and soloist combo. they are my end game purchases

Mine shipped today. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[ishmaelk]

Mine shipped today. Thanks for the feedback.

I think you'll love it.

 

[Melting735]

When you guys play DSD files, does your composer show DSD or PCM?
I play DSD via JRiver, but my composer always show PCM.

 

[ishmaelk]

When you guys play DSD files, does your composer show DSD or PCM?
I play DSD via JRiver, but my composer always show PCM.

Whenever I've played dsd files or upsampled to dsd, the Composer showed it on the display.

 

[Melting735]

Whenever I've played dsd files or upsampled to dsd, the Composer showed it on the display.

what software do you use?

 

[ishmaelk]

what software do you use?

I use Audirvana. Not a big fan, and I'm certainly not going to upgrade to their latest version, but that's what I use until I find something affordable for mac.

 

[Melting735]

I use Audirvana. Not a big fan, and I'm certainly not going to upgrade to their latest version, but that's what I use until I find something affordable for mac.

I think it might be the setting of my Jriver. I need to dig more tonight. Thanks!

 

[chefboyarlee]

Currently I have the hifiman he1000se and soloist 3xp. I stupidly sold the denafrips Ares 2 which was a great combo. Has anyone compared the denafrips and the composer 3xp? I would repurchase the Ares 2 but the ocd in me would love the matching stack. The musicality of the r2r dac was amazing.

 

[arancano]

I have both a Composer 3X Performance and a Denafrips Ares II. The latter is in my main system because it has in my opinion the better soundstage and air around the instruments.

 

[ishmaelk]

Does anybody know if the Composer does any type of upsampling? In the description in Burson's website they say "We don’t use DSP to over-sample or reprocess the original digital signal". So, I'm assuming the Composer doesn't upsample. Am I wrong?

 

[qsk78]

Well, it shows 44K when I play 44.1kHz track, at least.


Normally it shows exactly the same bit rate as the original file.

 

[ishmaelk]

Well, it shows 44K when I play 44.1kHz track, at least.


Normally it shows exactly the same bit rate as the original file.

That only shows the input bitrate. But many dacs will show you the input and then process and upsample it by default to 24/192 or something like that.