ninjikiran
1000+ Head-Fier
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Nice thing about these dacs is the USB card is replaceable meaning if you feel the USB is inferior on your statement DAC you can always get an upgrade if one comes down the line
When Schiit says spdif is better than USB, I think they are talking about ultimate performance, not using some rubbish spdif output on your computer/laptop.
Schiit has also never said that Optical is better than USB. When they say 'spdif', we know they are actually talking about coaxial, because coaxial has lower jitter and sounds better compared to optical.
If your only source is an iMac or laptop, then sure, you will probably find async USB better than the cheapo optical or coaxial output. But put your USB laptop up against a good transport or audiophile network streamer, then I believe spdif will come out on top.
Quote:
I am not surprised. Despite every claim about X>Y>Z standard every piece of gear I try (from $30 to $3000) yields a different result as to which is the best. I can draw no conclusion other than it's all in the implementation and execution of the chosen standard. There might be a theoretical answer but practical listening makes it seem more complicated to me.
Exactly. Implementation is going to trump "theory" every time in audio. I put "theory" in quotes because so often some small truth gets unjustifiably enlarged to an absolute, and in audio the truths tend to be quite small, not so widely applicable as to cover the entirety of what's going on in any given piece of equipment.
I've got a Bifrost on order and will be very interested to hear the S/PDIF optical, coaxial, and USB inputs. There are "small truths" in favor of each of these interfaces (optical eliminates all electrical sources of distortion through ground; coax has greater bandwidth than optical; async USB tends to have lower jitter than all but very expensive S/PDIF implementations), but none large enough to say that one absolutely will sound better than the others in my system. I will have to wait and listen to find out.
I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I have a question:
I have a pair of Denon D2000s that are low impedance. What would provide the biggest improvement in sound: a Schiit Asgard amp or a Schiit Bifrost DAC, assuming my source is a MacBook laptop.
I think the answer is the DAC but I'd appreciate the advice.
I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I have a question:
I have a pair of Denon D2000s that are low impedance. What would provide the biggest improvement in sound: a Schiit Asgard amp or a Schiit Bifrost DAC, assuming my source is a MacBook laptop.
I think the answer is the DAC but I'd appreciate the advice.
I have to say, Schiit has done a really good job with their product line for people like me - strictly digital listeners who want an amazing setup for under $1000.
I realize a lot of audiophiles around here don't hold onto equipment for a long time but I just don't see myself getting a pair of cans that require something more powerful than the Bifrost and the Valhella/Asgard.
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