Comparing Bel Canto and Schiit DACs
I have the Bel Canto 2.8 DAC right now. It has about 300 hrs on it and it’s really quite amazing connected to my Lumin U1 transport. That being said, I’m giving the HoloAudio Spring 3 a try when it finally gets delivered. I’ll keep which ever DAC ends up being best, and sell the other. Either way I figure I won’t lose much on the resale. looking forward to the test! |
Now that the e.One 2.7 DAC has been out for a few years, and with all the advances in dac technology, is it still held in such high regard as it was when it first came out? I assume the answer is yes but would welcome opinions of those in the know. There doesn't seem to be too many units on the market that feature dac/preamp, AES digital input, analog RCA input and remote control. I think one of the Mytek units may check all these boxes but I think Bel Canto may have it beat on sound quality. If there are any other brands I should be considering I'd love to hear that too. Thanks in advance |
I have the bel canto dac 3 VBS which was sent in an upgraded to the 3.5. I find myself using the Cary 306 SACD as my DAC as it’s more musical to my ears than the BEl canto.. but the Cary clicks and pops loudly through my speakers as it changes modes.. I have a schiit Yggdrasil on the way.. after getting the schiit modi multibit dac, I had to see what their flagship is all about.. I can tell you that the 250 dollar modi is quite amazing.. so very musical with good resolution.. I having fun switching the different DACs and enjoying the music |
1 graber2. Hit the Bel canto sound on the head ,just look at the Fantastic Belcanto 600 mono Amps you can get a pr for $4k and will seriously compete. With anything up to $10 k ,no BS. The digital has. Quietly made a very good name for itself. And their digital preamp is actually very good , not as good as a good active preamp but better then many in the %under $1500 range. Ihave my blu Ray player running through the 2.7 for concerts and many people have commented how real the music flows, that is with a good glass toslink cable, playing with the USB Using the Nordost Heimdal cable noticably better still. I strongly suggest once you buy whatever unit. to replace the cheap Steel fuse still has 5x less conductivity then a Silver or Copper element and ceramic shell , meaning a Ton more resistance all electricity has to go through it . Don’t believe it ,just look up metals resistance index online you will see what I mean put the fusein which are Directional either a arrow, or go with the writing. in the flow from the IEC inlet downstream after a solid 100 hours much betterlow level Clarity ,and a butbetter seperation. I just put in the midpricedHigi tuning Supreme fuse it is very clean , or digital you want the purest signal , just a tip, and use Stabilant 22 contact enhancer and 12 year protection + . Nasa and a bunch of high tech companies use it .i ave tried them all great on tube pins also ,anything metal ,first clean all contacts with 99% Isopropyl alcohol. Happy listening. |
I owned the Multibit Gungnor upgrade it was very respectable but the 2.7 Belcanto was noticeably better in every way. .the Yaggs 2 is on par or slightly better then my 2.7 i leading edge detail but in my system I like the Prat or synergy the 2.7 Belcanto brings . They have been found digital over 25 years and know how to do it right. Schiit sends 6 units out for reviews so and get great exposure. Bel canto does 2-3 on that is it . The Bel canto with their Dual Femto clocks and custom class A output stages , these are very quiet and excellent low level resolution ,if you like a More analog sound ,not quite the leading edge detail as the Schitt Yaggs but pretty close ,it works very well in my system . your amp,preamp will determine this . You need to play Schitt for a solid week 24/7 before it opens up , then you can decide , if it exactly what you want these 2 brands are in digital a long time. |
Bel cantos roots started with Vacuum tube, John Strosner knows his stuff. this 2.7 i compared with the Schitt Yaggs-2 and I thought the Bel canto was better side by side in musicality, the Yaggs on some music may ge theleading edge a hair better, but the Bel canto sounds more alive and real with excellent depth of image ,as well as micro details.it took a solid 24 + hours if not more to get primed. I have not purchased it yet but plan to very soon. The 2.7 uses the Burr Brown dacs, and has Dual Femto clocks Most dacs still don’t have these,Jitter , noise floor, Super quiet. This unit as well as the yaggs I am told take more then 300 hours to fully runin . The 100 step digital preamp to runin direct is pretty respectfully ,not quite as good as a good seperate preamp but very decent in resolution ,just a bit softer sounding ,a bit of less leading edge but n dac form Excellent , I heard the mojo2 dac prettygood detail as well as audio mirror, but not as complete .I owned the $5k luxman, as well as ps Audio top dac . Which has trade offs maybe a bit more detailed but not For everyone .the Bel canto 2.7 is a steal !! I would rather have a bit warmer presentation ,especially with redbook CDs.it doesnot do DSD recordings- which for me could care less, Mqa either . everyone has a opinion. Have a listen . Dedicated audio gives a 30 day return . just let it play for 2 weeks I am told ,100 hours online others said no way . |
I'm sure the Gumby is competent, but I have a hard time believing that it is 90% of the Yggy. Very hard. Not to harp on this point, but for anyone interested, Bel Canto historically produced (very good) tube products, built around the human voice. They stopped building tube products, and now they create units with Class D. No, its not all tube-sounding, and I would not want it to be. But "musical", natural, fast, and "involving" would be proper descriptors. |
If it’s true Gumby is 90% of yagdrassil , maybe that’s the reason why is so good...after four days , Iam really impressed on this Gumby, is it worth to get me onother yagdrassil for $2399 for my main system or just sticks with Gumby.The thing I like about Gumby is the analog sound and more,it has big sound stage on my system. |
@jayctoy Yes, glad to read things are working out to your expectations. That said, my personal belief is that the Schiit DAC products do *not* need the extensive burn in period that most users typically report. It could be that your perception of it "getting better and better every day" is nothing more than your getting used to the sound. Nothing wrong in that though, as my experience is that the sound is terrific, authentic, etc. |
@jayctoy Glad things are working out. You do what you are comfortable with, of course but FWIW I leave the Gungnir on 24/7. Apart from the very infrequent need to unplug it briefly for a move or whatever, it's been on for months and months...years even. I tend to leave all my solid state gear powered up but muted and/or volume turned all the way down when not in use. See post #874 on this thread... https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new-schiit-ragnarok-and-yggdrasil.667711/page-441 |
gdnrbob - You are very welcome. I think I posted comments previously on another thread too. In my O-pinion, there's an advantage to having lived with the non-MB version for a while and becoming familiar with it's "sound" and then doing the upgrade subsequently. Hopefully you will be as "knocked out" as I by the improvement. Money well spent (and I am the poster-child for "frugal"). Good luck. I'll be interested in reading your impressions when you get it done. |
andbaron - I didn’t respond to your initial post because I’ve no experience with the Bel Canto DAC. But seeing as you decided to go with the Gungnir, I thought I’d comment. I’ve had a Gungnir for a couple of years now. Initially, it sounded a bit dark and closed in. It did take a good while (a month? listening 3-5 hrs per day) to open up. The MB upgrade wasn’t even offered when I purchased it as B-stock from Audio Advisor. Prior to the upgrade I’d say it was very competent but somewhat "dry" sounding...nothing really "magical" about the sound with it in the system. Not that huge a step up from a much less expensive MF V-DAC. After the upgrade however, it was like a different and much better piece. Big gains in detail retrieval, imaging, and especially "tone". It has contributed to a more engaging and enjoyable listening experience. No doubt there are better DACs out there, but I’m not feeling any inclination to replace it. |
I've not heard the Shiit DAC, but I've had both the Bel Canto DAC3 and the DAC3 VB in my system. What I can tell you is that the VBS (virtual battery supply) makes a HUGE improvement in sound and that its performance is incredible -- read the reviews (or the DAC3.5 or 3.7 VB). If you go Bel Canto, do it with a model with the VBS. No brainer. |
I’ve can attest to the high quality of the Bel Canto DACs, I’ve had the e.One 2.5 DAC for 4-5 years now. You can get the 2.5 now, used, for under $1000, an incredible deal for the price. Also has PreAmp capabilities and Multiple Ins/outs. The only drawback is the synchronous USB 24/96 digital in. I just use a USB/SPDIF converter anyway. The newer e.One 2.7 DAC is better still, with a new power supply, Asynchronous USB 24/192 in, Headphone amp doubles in power. Newer clocks I believe. Used ones are $1400. Great value i love the Schitt products, never had their DACs, i have the Lyra 2, etc |
I’ve just picked up a brand new Schiit Gungnir Multibit (Gumby). The company only gives you 15 days for in-home trial before you lose the opportunity to return it. As it’s not quite broken in yet, does anybody know how it may compare to for instance a similarly priced used Bel Canto DAC 2.7 once broken in? OP, 15 days is plenty of time for the evaluation. Despite what others may have you believe, it doesn’t need days on end of break-end. Don’t just take my word for it, ask Schiit. |
I have no experience with Bel Canto, but lots with Schiit. The Gungnir is no slouch and comes close to my Ayre Codex. Unfortunately, Schiit Dac's need some time to open up and 15 days is just when it does it's metamorphosis. If I were you, I would let the Schiit run (pun intended), and if you really think you want to try a Bel Canto, do so. The worst is that you sell it. Schiit sells (yet, another pun). Though I have to say, at least Schiit offers upgrades to their equipment. I don't know about Bel Canto. B |
