[Guy 13]

Hi all.
For some time, I wanted to know how good was the built-in DAC of my Rega Apollo CDP,
so I took advantage of a gift from a friend in Montreal, it's an ARCAM-eLink DAC.

My first idea was to buy a Schiit - Bifrost, but at 400 USD + transport and duty tax
it's not with-in my budget and my budget is 00.00 USD.

Here are the items I've used to do the evaluation.
Rega Apollo, ARCAM -rLink,
Audioquest Forest optical cable 10',
Acoustic-Tech coaxial cable 6'',
InterC Signal Cable silver 50cm,
up-graded variable stabilized power supply (10,00uF filtering)
Decware SE84C+, ElectroHarmonix el84 & 6922, RCA 5U4 NOS.
Speaker cables Signal Cable OFC - 14ga. X 10 feet.
Speakers are Omega 7F OBDP (Open baffle dipole)
subwoofer 2 X 12'' Eminence Acoustinator
(Now discountinued) driven by GR Research SA-1 (Now discountinued)
in H frame configuration.

My listening room is 13' X 14' X 10' high the back is 2' wider than the front.
No special acoustic treatment, but thick carpet, three curtains, sofa...
CD by Chet Atkins and some various type of vocal.

My wife did the switching from A to B inputs with the input selector toggle switch on the Decware.

First she did not tell me which one she choose, then she told me.
Honestly to my 68 years old ears, as hard as I could, I could tell the difference between the
built-in DAC of the Rega Apollo and the ARCAM-rLink.
I also tried the optical and coaxial cable and the same thing, no difference in sound quality.

I was looking for an improvement in the bass or mids or the highs, but nothing.
The sound stage was exactly the same, even the sound level was the same,
did not have to adjust the Decware volume control to compensate from one to the other.

My conclusion is:
If I want to hear an improvement of any kind,
I will have to spend probably as much as what I paid for the Rega Apollo.
(I paid a few years ago 695USD)

Since I have no budget and that I am very satisfied with the sound I get now,
I will keep my system unchanged and enjoy it.
 
Guy 13

[JLM]

Thanks Guy for the write up. 
 
Not surprised that one (older quality built-in) was no better than the other (newer, cheaper) but wondering about not being able to hear a difference.  Are you sure you your lovely assistant was actually switching sources? 

Earlier this year I switched DAC/preamps from a $500 Emotiva DC-1 to a $1200 DSPeaker Dual Core and did hear an improvement (less rough, more inner detail and more musical).

When you come up with the money I'd recommend jumping up to the BiFrost Multi-Bit or waiting to see if MQA takes off.

[Guy 13]

Thanks Guy for the write up. 
 
Not surprised that one (older quality built-in) was no better than the other (newer, cheaper) but wondering about not being able to hear a difference.  Are you sure you your lovely assistant was actually switching sources? 

Earlier this year I switched DAC/preamps from a $500 Emotiva DC-1 to a $1200 DSPeaker Dual Core and did hear an improvement (less rough, more inner detail and more musical).

When you come up with the money I'd recommend jumping up to the BiFrost Multi-Bit or waiting to see if MQA takes off.

Hi JLM,
hoooo yes I am sure my not young anymore
but still lovely Vietnamese wife was doing the switching,
I saw her and I even did it myself, of course when doing it,
I was not at the listening position, but when my wife did it I was at the right place.
I also disconnected one after the other all the cables, therefore,
I am 100% sure.
The Schiit BiFrost Multibit is quite expensive,
I was wondering if I could instead buy a OPPO 95 or 105
it's like killing two birds with one stone:
DVD and CD player in the same unit. (With DAC built-in ?).
However, all that is for later, much later
if my Rega Apollo fail and is not repairable,
that might accelarate the switching and-or up-grade process. 

Guy 13