New Red Book DAC <$2k SRP?

James Romeyn · « **on:** 6 Apr 2016, 12:35 am »

This is for a 2-ch only video system, to replace a $500 Musical Fidelity DAC.

Sum total list of required features (all other features irrelevant):

New
Red Book
One coax input
One optical input
One L/R pair fixed level balanced analog outputs (unbalanced degrades integrated amp performance)

"Round up the usual suspects:"
$2k NAD M51
$2k Benchmark
$1500 Wyred4Sound

poseidonsvoice · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 01:26 am »

Schiit Yggdrasil:

http://schiit.com/products/yggdrasil

Here is a decent review as well: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/670-schiit-audio-yggdrasil-multibit-dac-review/

Best,
Anand.

Ps. I trust you can stretch your budget to $2300 bro...and don't forget used Auralic Vega's which pop up on the market every now and then.

*Scotty* · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 01:52 am »

Will this be fed from a cable system or over air signal? I have had trouble with newer DACS achieving a lock on the incoming signal from both cable and over-the-air signals probably due to jitter on the incoming signal and the narrower window they have for accepting a jitter compromised signal.
Even an older Cambridge 740 C has drop-outs occasionally although it works most of the time.
Blu-ray and DVD playback have zero problems with lock.
You might want to try out the DAC in your application before you buy it.
Scotty

James Romeyn · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 02:47 am »

Thanks for the sage advice above!

It's for a friend who wants new, not my own use. (After hearing the $3500 Canadian exaSound M28 playing native 5.0 DSD, the $3500 M22 w/even better specs tops my 2-ch list <the $10k Bricasti M1 by the ex-Levinson digital team.)

Edited OP as follows:
Sum total list of required features (all other features irrelevant):

Red Book
One coax input
One optical input
One L/R pair fixed level balanced analog outputs (unbalanced degrades integrated amp performance)

jtwrace · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 02:53 am »

$1895 available in May.

http://www.prismsound.com/hifi/products_subs/dac1/dac1_home.php

kgturner · « **Reply #5 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 04:07 am »

Line Magnetic LM-502CA $1800. Has both tube and SS output options.

Kevin T

ACHiPo · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 06:53 am »

Gustard X20: $799 without USB, or $869 for X20U with USB. Reviews say it bests Auralic Vega and Exogal Comet, which I can't vouch for as I haven't heard either in my system, but it does sound really good after a few hundred hours.

JLM · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 12:01 pm »

Chord Chordette Qute EX. Uses driverless FPGA in small solid aluminum case to reproduce exceptional Redbook, $1795 MSRP.

jtwrace · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 01:12 pm »

Quote from: ACHiPo on 6 Apr 2016, 06:53 am

Gustard X20: $799 without USB, or $869 for X20U with USB. Reviews say it bests Auralic Vega and Exogal Comet, which I can't vouch for as I haven't heard either in my system, but it does sound really good after a few hundred hours.

What is the real difference between the X20U and the X20 here? http://www.amazon.com/GUSTARD-DAC-X20-Ultimate-ES9018-Decoder/dp/B01DO3DK10/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459948019&sr=1-5&keywords=gustard+x20

Also, where is the best place to order from?

rklein · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 01:53 pm »

Jason:

Here is where I ordered mine from. Danny is very responsive. I should have mine in about a week.

http://www.worthyaudio.com/gustard/gustard-dac-x20u-with-usb

Regards,

Randy

jtwrace · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 02:01 pm »

What's the difference between these two?

http://www.amazon.com/GUSTARD-DAC-X20-Ultimate-ES9018-Decoder/dp/B01DO3DK10/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459948964&sr=1-5&keywords=gustard+x20

http://www.amazon.com/GUSTARD-DAC-X20-384KHz-Decoder-USB/dp/B015R112XA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459949242&sr=1-1&keywords=gustard+x20

mresseguie · « **Reply #11 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 02:48 pm »

I ordered my Gustard X20 from Worthy Audio as well.

I noticed the price has dropped down to as low as $769 on ~~Amazon~~. EDIT: My apologies. It was not Amazon; it was Shenzhenaudio.com. I just checked and the price is $799.98. There had been a $769 price somewhere....Alliexpress? Dunno.

jtwrace · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 02:52 pm »

Quote from: mresseguie on 6 Apr 2016, 02:48 pm

I ordered my Gustard X20 from Worthy Audio as well.

I noticed the price has dropped down to as low as $769 on Amazon.

Link?

mresseguie · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 03:31 pm »

I'm in the mountains of central Taiwan bumblingly inputting with oversized fingers on my iPhone. That link can wait until I return to my desktop computer in two days. Sorry.

I found it by Googling Gustard X20 and clicking on one of the offered links on the first page.

rklein · « **Reply #14 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 03:34 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 6 Apr 2016, 02:01 pm

What's the difference between these two?

http://www.amazon.com/GUSTARD-DAC-X20-Ultimate-ES9018-Decoder/dp/B01DO3DK10/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459948964&sr=1-5&keywords=gustard+x20

http://www.amazon.com/GUSTARD-DAC-X20-384KHz-Decoder-USB/dp/B015R112XA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459949242&sr=1-1&keywords=gustard+x20

It looks like the same DAC sold by two different vendors. I can't answer your question regarding the difference between the X20U and the X20 as I ordered the X20U. I do believe that this piece can be ordered without the USB implementation at a lower price.

James Romeyn · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 05:23 pm »

Thanks very much. Looks like the DAC market is hotter than ever.

Edited OP as follows:
Sum total list of required features (all other features irrelevant):

Red Book
One coax input
One optical input
One L/R pair fixed level balanced analog outputs (unbalanced degrades integrated amp performance)

walkern · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 08:04 pm »

The Gustard X20 and X20U differ slightly in price, because the X20U comes with a USB input, and the standard X20 does not.

stereocilia · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Apr 2016, 08:41 pm »

also check out the Aune s16. I just got mine and so far it's excellent.

JackD · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 Apr 2016, 12:41 am »

James

I have the W4S DAC-2 and to my ears and in my system the Nuprime DAC-10 bested it handily. Plus if ever needed in the future analog inputs and an excellent preamp section. As to the required inputs and outputs it has both. In terms of the inputs two each of the ones required.

jtwrace · « **Reply #19 on:** 7 Apr 2016, 01:05 am »

Anybody willing to ship their X20U to CO for measurements? I'll pay for shipping both ways.