To Echohifi- I think we agree about components, cables and that sort of thing. They do make a difference. I experiment as time and money permit. And while I am symphathetic to the argument that wire is wire, when I tried a $100 Shunyata power cord to my amp and heard the results, well, theory had to put its tail between its legs and slink away.
Would I spend $500 or $1,000 for a power cord or an interconnect? Not until I win the lottery. But moderately priced cables, cords and a power conditioner have brought real benefits that I enjoy nearly every day.
When it comes to equipment such as DACs, and the fellow with the AudioEngine speakers (hope I got that right) asking if the upgrade makes sense - well, if the speakers can convey the differences between, say, low sampling rate MP3 files and AIFF or hi-rez files (or CDs), then they are good enough to let you hear the effect of a new DAC. The question of value is yours to answer.
My current DAC is a PS Audio DL III with phase 4 mods by Cullen Circuits, and I've enjoyed it greatly. But I suspect the Bifrost will be different and potentially better because (A) it is built according to a different philosophy, and (B) it's simply newer. As someone else pointed out, digital gear is changing and advancing at an astonishing rate.
For me, the owner of a Lyr, the Bifrost is a worthwhile experiment. Jason said mine should ship Monday, so hopefully by Wednesday I'll know for sure.
