[jackman]

How does the little Schiit compare to other dacs you own?  I've read positive reviews and might pick one up for the office.   Thanks

[OzarkTom]

This thread is valuable to anyone looking for a well performing DAC at a reasonable price point.  I own 3 DAC's, the Parasound Z-Dac reatails for $475 so it doesn't fall under the OP list, nor my BDA-1.  But this little darling does.


The Schiit MODI at $100 it is a champ, powered over USB, obviously USB only but great for a computer based system and you don't need to purchase an after market power cord for your digital front end (sarcasm).

It looks like Schiit has done it again.

[DaveC113]

I've been very happy with my Schiit Bifrost. It's right at $450 w/ USB. The MODI looks neat, just wish it has a 5V input so you could add a power supply, although IFI has a solution for that at 2x the price of the MODI...

http://www.ifi-audio.com/en/iUSB.html

[K Shep]

How does the little Schiit compare to other dacs you own?  I've read positive reviews and might pick one up for the office.   Thanks

It looks like Schiit has done it again.

Are both of you giving me Schiit?

[K Shep]

How does the little Schiit compare to other dacs you own?

I level match when I compare gear and the Modi holds it's own with the Z-Dac.  The Bryston is the best DAC I've heard (my opinion).  I originally owned an Ayre QB-9 and I compared the BDA-1 next to the Ayre and well I currently own the Bryston. 

For $100 I bought the Modi just to hear what the little unit would sound like, asynch over powered USB.  I love the little Schiit! 

[geowak]

I've been very happy with my Schiit Bifrost. It's right at $450 w/ USB. The MODI looks neat, just wish it has a 5V input so you could add a power supply, although IFI has a solution for that at 2x the price of the MODI...

http://www.ifi-audio.com/en/iUSB.html

Yes I agree, the Bifrost is a great DAC for the money. Sounds fabulous, build quality is above average and it can be upgraded.
I had mentioned earlier that for sound it's at least 80% as good as my Benchmark USB DAC1 for much, much less money. I am not surprised the MODI is a big hit for budget minded audiophiles. It's a true "no brainer" choice.

[aragon63]

 I ordered  this one from Amazon ( $ 295 ) .......  M2Tech hiFace DAC





Asynchronous data transfer mode on USB 2.0, very low phase noise oscillators and a latest-generation converter capable of operating at up to 384kHz and 32-bits. M2Tech has chosen an input interface XMOS U-series  & for the conversion, a Burr-Brown PCM5102A chip was implanted on the other side of the circuit.Standard cd 2v output . Very dynamic sound with clean midrange.

[DS-21]

FYI, the Meridian was a notorious underperformer that anyone with an ear ran quickly away from.  You can find them for incredible discounts on the used market if any of them are still working.  So your "ACTUAL test" was in fact a rigged affair constructed to fool the unwary and uninformed, apparently it succeeded in at least one example.

Revisionist history is cute, but pointless when the record is out there to expose the revisions as false.

Here are the closing comments in JA's technical notes, with emphasis added:

"It is fashionable in some audiophile circles to deride measurements as not having any connection with sound quality. But when you get a player such as the Meridian 508.24, which measures so close to the theoretical ideal in so many ways, it's hard to resist the temptation to point to its superb sound quality and say, "There!" At minimum, the 508.24's measured performance reveals that Bob Stuart and his talented digital design team at Meridian have done a fabulous job." Source.

As for current used values, yes everyone should expect a very old disk player to be very cheap on the second-hand market. The more interesting comparison (if you're interested, I could care less) would be to compare 508.24 used prices to those of its contemporaries in the "high end" player market such as the Sony XA7ES, Levinson 39, the Pioneer Elite and Wadia players that were similarly priced when new, etc.

The bottom line is that in a "cheap and cheerful" system, a separate DAC is a total waste of money, unless it offers some serious non-sonic benefits, such as remote volume control or the like. For instance, I bought the Meridian Explorer for my nearfield system solely because it has two outputs. So I can keep my nearfield speaker amp on the volume-controlled output, and keep my headphone amp on the line output. No more need to swap wires. That was worth $300 to me. Were I building to a "cheap and cheerful" budget, adding that DAC (or any other) would've been a massive misallocation of resources, though.

[Letitroll98]

You are aware it's now the middle of June, right?  No offence intended, but I've really sort of moved on.   I do however wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors.

[dwk]

Just in case anyone is in the market for a sub $450 DAC, the Emotiva XDA-2 is currently on for $340 during their summer sale.  Has remote volume and 6 inputs including 24/192 async usb, so can make for a very nice/flexible control center for a C&C system, particularly if you pair it with powered speakers. I have it paired up with the Equator D5's which I got for the original $300 price and the combo is a nice desktop system with multiple inputs.

[Noseyears]

Stoner acoustics have been creating dirt cheap usb powered dacs, like the UD100 and the UD110 (which was just announced) they are known as the poor mans Odac.

Not a sophisticated design, but good sound.

[grsimmon]

Music Direct is currently selling the $800 Marantz NA7004 unit (DAC + Network player) for half price @ $400.  Apologies if this has already been mentioned.

[StereoNut]

I realize the topic says "Under $450.00" but I want to take that down a few notches further.  I am on the verge of buying the latest version Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2.

http://www.audioquest.com/usb_digital_analog_converter/dragonfly-dac

Is there anything better for similar $$$ out there to consider or just go for the "fly"?

SN

P.S. - I haven't read through every page of this thread.  If my answer is to be found on a few earlier posts, please direct me there!  Thanks!

[roscoeiii]

I'd look at the new iFi iDSD too. Really compelling. Includes chargeable battery and can be used with an iPhone or Android phone with the appropriate adaptor. Very cool.

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/12/ifis-battery-powered-nano-idsd-dacheadphone-amp/

[raysracing]

I'd look at the new iFi iDSD too. Really compelling. Includes chargeable battery and can be used with an iPhone or Android phone with the appropriate adaptor. Very cool.

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/12/ifis-battery-powered-nano-idsd-dacheadphone-amp/

Any reasons why it won't make a good stand alone DAC for red book and FLAC/ALAC type files?

[SlyFuu]

Here's a new one from Hifimediy. I'd be interested to see how it compares to the iFi DSD dac/amp.

http://hifimediy.com/DACs/ready-made-dacs/hifime-uh1

[Flyin_V]

Anyone heard the Maverick D2 w/ 4 inputs ($300), tube or ss output stages. Uses the AD1955 DAC.

http://www.mav-audio.com/base/product/tubemagic_d2

[DMAN224]

I didn't see the M Dac. From audiolab might have missed it, I've been using it for 3yrs. And I haven't had the itch to change great Dac for the money. It's also a pretty good pre amp. Dan

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Has any one tried either of these DAC's from here-

https://hifimediy.com/news/dacs/new-spdif-optical-coaxial-sabre-dac.html


https://hifimediy.com/hifime-uh1

I am interested in them for a cheap and cheerful system that I have in my bedroom- Dayton DTA-100a amp, Monitor Audio S1 speakers and a Denon 1910 DVD player as a source.

Whoops!  I did not see the prior post by Sly

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Anyone heard the Maverick D2 w/ 4 inputs ($300), tube or ss output stages. Uses the AD1955 DAC.

http://www.mav-audio.com/base/product/tubemagic_d2

Check out the buzz on the Head-fi.org forum on the D2

http://www.head-fi.org/t/608393/maverick-audio-tubemagic-d2-dedicated-dac-review-faq-info-thread