DAC Upgrade

About the Audio Mirror Tubadour III ... I don't know why Vlad stopped producing the $1550 version. The SE version is out of reach for many folks and now it competes in a price bracket where there are lots of wonderful DACs available for about the same price. Personally, I feel the Denafrips Pontus or Venus are better value in this price range. I really wish he could re-introduce the non-SE version.

Agree about Friz Carrera BE not needing a subwoofer. The bass is just right -- tight and punchy with nothing flabby about it. Fritz has developed a fantastic speaker! A steal at his asking price if you ask me.

@larsman LOVE my Fritz speakers. Sound great, easy on the eyes (WAF was key), and Fritz is great to work with. Initially I was thinking that I might need a subwoofer, but between toying with placement and the speakers breaking in, they really have nice presence. Now, just trying to bring the rest of the system up to snuff. 

@jjss49 Fair point.  I think the pricing of some of its previous incarnations was still in my mind.

@danto - How do you like those Fritz speakers?? I’ve got a pair of Carerra BE’s - took a few months to break in, but they sound awesome now!

Sell and get a Musician Pegasus.  Schiit may be made here, but where do you think most of the components with which it’s made come from?  It’s a global world, and while I like buying American as much as anyone, ya gotta ask yourself how “American” is any audio component these days?  To me, at this point it’s more semantics than anything, and I’m loving my $1100 Pegasus.  Just my $0.02 FWIW. 

Support the other Chinese-go MHDT

@twoleftears 

haha no, not by me anyways

but in this thread, i am taking away the op is at a lower price point

vlad's tubador 3 se is a $2500 unit

Wot?  Has Audio Mirror Tubadour fallen out of favor?

@jjss49 

Yes, I know read my post.

BTW, @ericsch Denafriprs is Singaporean, not american 🙂

denafrips gear in designed and made in china, in guangzhou, an hour north of hong kong

internationally, they are represented by vinshine audio which is based in singapore - they are in effect a direct sales outfit, entirely bypassing importers, distributors and dealers in the usa and europe, part of the reason why their prices are relatively low for their provided performance

smile or frown, those are the facts

When it comes to buying american, Schiit offers the best value for money. BTW,  @ericsch Denafriprs is Singaporean, not american 🙂

I have a Gungnir multibit which was a experiment for a friend who we decided on a Yggdrasil. I think it depends on your long termed intent. If it is to build a much better system over time then I would wait until you can afford to buy a Yggdrasil. If you are thinking this is your final destination, I would do the upgrade. I was a long time skeptic of Schiit… but their performance makes up for their ineptitude in marketing.

i have not heard the basic gungnir but i felt the multibit version is very good

dena pontus is perhaps a touch more open and spacious, but very very close

the mhdt tube dacs have a somewhat different sound, more laid back, warmer overall

@danto 

Neither is American made as is your preference but are highly regarded for true exceptional quality sound.

1 Musician Audio Pegasus DAC.

2 Merason Frerot DAC.

Charles 

I totally get buying American when possible. The two DACs I own, MHDT and
Denafrips Pontus II are excellent and a great value. The Pontus is also about same net $$.

 

I am happy with a Modi Multibit but I would sell the Schiit.

You can do AS good AND play DSDs for the same net $$.