gollux Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 I recently upgraded my headphone amp to the Auralic Taurus mkII, and the change has got me thinking that I should upgrade the DAC next. I've been keeping an eye on classified listings, and it seems that there are a lot of good options in the $1,500-$2,000 range. Both the Auralic Vega and Schiit Yggrasil sometimes come up secondhand in that price range, and from reviews I've read both would suit me well. The Gieseler Grob also looks appealing, though it's harder to find comparisons with the other units. Any advice on the comparion between them? Is there anything else I should look at? My current headphones are the Focal Clears, which I'm quite happy with. My current DAC is the Gieseler Klein II, fed by an Uptone Regen. Because the Taurus mkII takes XLR input, I suppose a DAC with XLR output would be preferable, but based on my current usage I don't think it's strictly necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted December 31, 2019 Volunteer Share Posted December 31, 2019 If these things matter to you the Auralic measures well https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-auralic-vega-dac.3671/ the Yggdrasil measures like a steaming pile of Schiit https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-schiit-yggdrasil-v2-dac.3607/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 Relevant towards the upper end of your price range. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2019-high-end-audio-buyers-guide-dacs-1000-5000/ Take it with a grain of salt of course. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy8 Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 3 hours ago, gollux said: The Gieseler Grob also looks appealing, though it's harder to find comparisons with the other units. The Groß (Gross) DAC has been replaced by the Fein II which is even better. Reviews, impressions here 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollux Posted December 31, 2019 Author Share Posted December 31, 2019 29 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: The Groß (Gross) DAC has been replaced by the Fein II which is even better. Reviews, impressions here Thanks. I saw this list a couple weeks ago - it's very useful. I had been thinking of the Grob because it's available (second-hand) at a lower price than the Fein II, but perhaps I should take a look. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollux Posted December 31, 2019 Author Share Posted December 31, 2019 1 hour ago, Ittaku said: Relevant towards the upper end of your price range. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2019-high-end-audio-buyers-guide-dacs-1000-5000/ Take it with a grain of salt of course. Awesome, thanks. It is hard to know what to think, though - since (per the post above) the Yggdrasil tests badly using objective measures, it's hard to know what to think of lists that include it highly. But I guess the Yggdrasil does get a lot of love, so perhaps the tests aren't definitive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollux Posted December 31, 2019 Author Share Posted December 31, 2019 2 hours ago, sir sanders zingmore said: If these things matter to you the Auralic measures well https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-auralic-vega-dac.3671/ the Yggdrasil measures like a steaming pile of Schiit https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-schiit-yggdrasil-v2-dac.3607/ Yeah, I had seen the test of the Auralic. I'm leaning in that direction (because it has both positive, subjective reviews and good objective measures), but it's hard to get my bearings given all the options that are out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 4 hours ago, gollux said: Awesome, thanks. It is hard to know what to think, though - since (per the post above) the Yggdrasil tests badly using objective measures, it's hard to know what to think of lists that include it highly. But I guess the Yggdrasil does get a lot of love, so perhaps the tests aren't definitive? Nothing is ever definitive. Auditioning is the key, and in your own system. The yggy to me sounds detailed but fatiguing so I don't like it. In someone else's system and to their ears it may be the ideal DAC. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deafenears Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 9 hours ago, gollux said: Both the Auralic Vega and Schiit Yggrasil sometimes come up secondhand in that price range, and from reviews I've read both would suit me well. The Vega comes up quite often, so good one to match your Taurus, if you're OCD: 9 hours ago, gollux said: Is there anything else I should look at? Also add the Matrix Audio X-SABRE Pro to your list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDX Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Hugo tt is very good as a headphone dac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollux Posted January 1, 2020 Author Share Posted January 1, 2020 14 hours ago, deafenears said: Also add the Matrix Audio X-SABRE Pro to your list. Thanks - I hadn't come across this one. There's a useful comparison with the Vega here: https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/matrix/3.html (For this reviewer, it looks like the Vega gets the edge.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollux Posted January 1, 2020 Author Share Posted January 1, 2020 15 hours ago, Ittaku said: Nothing is ever definitive. Auditioning is the key, and in your own system. The yggy to me sounds detailed but fatiguing so I don't like it. In someone else's system and to their ears it may be the ideal DAC. I think this is the thing I'm struggling with: now that I have headphones and amplification I'm happy with, it seems that finding a DAC with good chemistry is important. The trouble is that I'm not sure how to test a component in my system without buying it - but perhaps I should give one of these a whirl and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted January 1, 2020 Volunteer Share Posted January 1, 2020 19 minutes ago, gollux said: I think this is the thing I'm struggling with: now that I have headphones and amplification I'm happy with, it seems that finding a DAC with good chemistry is important. The trouble is that I'm not sure how to test a component in my system without buying it - but perhaps I should give one of these a whirl and see. If you buy well from the classifieds on SNA you are likely to get a good bit of kit for a good discount. If you decide it’s not for you, you won’t lose a lot on reselling 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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