If you're going to disregard one head fiers opinion over another's, then don't ask for recommendations. If you want opinions that fit your plans, you're much better off auditioning them yourself; if you can't, you still shouldn't tell someone they are wrong based on the impressions of others
I'm sorry! You misunderstood me. Sound is a subjective thing. What I was really hoping was that I'd find someone who has had experience using several of hte DAC's I am considering, or similar products, who could compare and contrast their pros-and-cons for me. If you think I'm dismissing folks who like the Schiit Modi, you are wrong. . .I'm actually still considering changing my mind and choosing to get the Modi instead of the one from HiFiMeDIY. I'm just not sure, at this point! Sure, plenty of people SAY that the Modi gives "hardly any noticable improvement" and such, but. . .it's what
their ears and brains seem to pick-up on from that particular piece of equipment, with their particular headphones or speakers. Obviously I'm not sure if they're right. . .the fact is, that in-general the Schiit Modi seems to be the
one of the highest regarded under-100-dollar DAC out there right now. So why do some people hate it so much, while other people love it so much? Meanwhile, not nearly as many people buy and use HiFiMeDIY products, so I'm both eager to try them out, as well as reluctant to possibly waste my money on them. Thus, what I'm hoping is that folks on here, such as yourself, will enlighten me as to not just their opinions on these different pieces of equipment, but on the
reasons behind those opinions, ya dig?
I never meant to seem dismissive or anything, and I apologize if I did! I value everyone's opinion. The main reason I was giving SPECIAL consideration to MisterMudd's opinion up there is quite simple, really: He has used both the Fiio X3 2nd Gen as a DAC,
which is what I myself currently use, as well as the same HiFiMeDIY that I am considering getting. He seems to think that the HiFiMeDIY UAE23+ has noticably better soundstage and detail-resolution. The former is something more subjective, but if he means what I think he does (more open and "live music" sounding), then that means that the UAE23+ would give a noticable improvement that I, personally, would enjoy over and above what I'm currently using. And detail-resolution is something mostly objective, not subjective. . .if he hears more details in the music with significantly more clarity using the UAE23+ as opposed to the X3 2nd Gen, well, that, again, means it would be an improvement upon what I already have.
So at this point what I'm REALLY hoping is to find someone, somewhere, who has used both the Schiit Modi, as well as any of HiFiMeDIY's DAC's using the ES9023 chip. I already know now that HiFiMeDIY>Fiio for my purposes, so now what I need to find out is whether the Modi is < or > the HiFiMeDIY, and if I can also find someone with opinions on the SMSL and the newer models of external sound-cards from ASUS and Creative as compared to HiFiMeDIY, that'd be a huge plus
Oh and of course, man, if I could audition theses products myself, I would! But where I am, all these products are only available to order online, so I don't have the money or resources with which to compare and contrast them myself, with my own ears, all in one big listening-session