FWIW I have a Schiit Bifrost Uber and I really like Schiit gear. Having said that, I have bought a Bluesound Node 2 this year and I play digital files from my HDD via my wireless router to the Node 2, mostly ripped CDs. The DAC inside the Node 2 sounds as good as the Schiit DAC on at least half of my files and better on the other half. With MQA files via Tidal streaming the internal Node 2 DAC is noticeable better than my Schiit DAC. I have tried both DACs. The kicker is that the Node 2 cost me $499.
Is my Cal Audio Sigma II too old?
It seems like I have had my Cal Audio Sigma II DACs for 12 years or more. Is this too old? Have DACs come that much further since it was made? I always liked the warmth of this tube based DAC and currently have a Telefunken smooth plate in it and still enjoy the sound. Regardless of its age, it still sounds less harsh than the DAC built into the Sonos Connect I use for my digital listening. This is connected to a NAS drive with redbook cd flac files. I don’t really have the 2 grand at the moment for a Benchmark 3 or a Mytek Brooklyn but I’m not sure I need or want all that additional functionality. I just use it to decode the digital signal. Would a more modest DAC outshine this older unit?
The rest of the system consists of a McIntosh C712 preamp, McIntosh MC2102 tubed power amp and Magnepan 1.7i speakers.
The rest of the system consists of a McIntosh C712 preamp, McIntosh MC2102 tubed power amp and Magnepan 1.7i speakers.