Audio Flynn Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I have a AQ Dragonfly 1.2 for about two years and was looking at what is out there for a slight improvement. Options: Meridian Explorer AQ Dragonfly Red Headamp Pico UPSAMPLING USB DAC schiit modi multibit Just for streaming music. I live in the middle of know where so I buy everything based upon reviews and recommendations. Please give me your opinion on the options or recomend another for less than $ 400. Thanks; Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I have a dragonfly red and love it. I also have a schiit bifrost uber and like that very much as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiliconTi Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I have a Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 that I am very pleased with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted February 7, 2017 Author Share Posted February 7, 2017 I was leaning in the direction of the Dragonfly Red but wanted to be open minded. I have not read up on Cambridge in a while. Keep the ideas coming! Schiit and Pico are interesting but not enough reviews to make a consensus. I heard the Meridian Explorer as part of a super high end Meridian system at AXPONA Chicago show 2 years ago but the whole system was probably $ 20,000 or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenazFilan Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I have been very impressed with my Music Hall 25.3 DAC: it is a hybrid design and the tubes add a nice bit of warmth and analog sound to the digital signal. It is a bit above your budget at $595 but I got mine on sale for around $450. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indyhawg Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Another vote for the DAC Magic. I have no complaints with mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep3shot Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 On 2/7/2017 at 6:09 AM, KenazFilan said: I have been very impressed with my Music Hall 25.3 DAC: it is a hybrid design and the tubes add a nice bit of warmth and analog sound to the digital signal. It is a bit above your budget at $595 but I got mine on sale for around $450. I too have the Music Hall 25.3 DAC and really like it alot. In fact I have two. They can be found used quite reasonably priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam2434 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Is your USB DAC connected to a separate system for your computer, or is it connected to the system in your signature? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vondy Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I have the Emotiva Stealth DC-1. It's $500 but pro grade. No complaints and it gets a lot of great reviews from folks.https://emotiva.com/products/dacs/electronics/dacs/stealth-dc-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam2434 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 18 minutes ago, vondy said: I have the Emotiva Stealth DC-1. It's $500 but pro grade. No complaints and it gets a lot of great reviews from folks.https://emotiva.com/products/dacs/electronics/dacs/stealth-dc-1 I bought a DC-1 for my main system and liked it so much that I bought another one for a second system. When I bought the DC-1 for the main system, I also owned a MSB Nelson Link DAC III with P1000 power supply and a Music Hall DAC 25.2. After extensive A-B'ing, I found the DC-1 to be superior to the other 2, so I sold the MSB and Music Hall DACs. I have not felt the need to consider a DAC upgrade since owning the DC-1. The DC-1 can also drive an amp directly with no additional preamp in the system. I run the main system this way most of the time: DC-1 connected directly to a Rotel RB-1582 MkII via balanced interconnects. Very clean and transparent sound is how I would describe it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawson's Ridge Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Wadia di122 designed by McIntosh engineers in Binghamton NY. https://www.paragonsns.com/product/wadia-di122-digital-audio-decoder/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Maverick Audio Tube Magic. Had a base dragonfly. The Maverick was a step or two up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 11 minutes ago, Dawson's Ridge said: Wadia di122 designed by McIntosh engineers in Binghamton NY. https://www.paragonsns.com/product/wadia-di122-digital-audio-decoder/ Look at Paragon's pre-owned / special page and call Richard. He made me a better deal over the phone plus free shipping and no card fee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 My wife thinks I should spend a little more as to prevent the every other year upgrade bug. I have always read good things about Wadia On 2/11/2017 at 9:42 AM, adam2434 said: Is your USB DAC connected to a separate system for your computer, or is it connected to the system in your signature? I use a newer AMD A10 laptop with 8 gig of ram to listen to Spotify and am slowly ripping CDs to J River for NAS. I still fly quite a bit for another 7 years so I was looking for portability. With J River I am ripping in FLAC. Looking a t Chord Mojo. And making myself nuts doing research. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam2434 Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 43 minutes ago, Audio Flynn said: I use a newer AMD A10 laptop with 8 gig of ram to listen to Spotify and am slowly ripping CDs to J River for NAS. I still fly quite a bit for another 7 years so I was looking for portability. With J River I am ripping in FLAC. Looking a t Chord Mojo. And making myself nuts doing research. LOL Regarding portability, is the DAC for headphones or do you connect it to a full system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Spend a little more and get this dac based on the famed ES9018 Sabre chip. I use this one and really like it. Look under the hood of the DACs and see what your getting. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121187114115?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallpoul Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I recently bought the Sonica Dac by Oppo, really nice. check it out on the Oppo website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Maverick Audio Tubemagic D2. Red letter GE 5670 tube and upgraded discrete op-amps from Sparkos Labs. I dig it.Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 ESS has a new benchmark chipset the 9038pro... I have not heard it as yet, but beleive me the 9018 is no slouch... specially when used in pairs. There is a big audible difference between single 9018 circuits and those that use several chipsets per channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted February 13, 2017 Author Share Posted February 13, 2017 22 hours ago, adam2434 said: Regarding portability, is the DAC for headphones or do you connect it to a full system? Full system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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