New DAC with streamer

full disclosure. I am a dealer for all three brands

@verdantaudio 

So, I heard the Bricasti not too long ago and noted that it didn't sound any better than my Denafrips Venus or the Yggdrasil.  I opened it and noted that the build quality wasn't any better either. I wondered why and pondered it deeply. "Why didn't I get what I paid for??" 

And then....it occurred to me.

16 k Brici  --> subtract dealer's cut of 8k

----> Subtract another 4k (Just keepin the good ol' boys more honest in life cut)

Now, the resultant pice is about in the same ballpark as the Denafrips or the Schiit. Is that why it didn't sound any better Verdant? What do you think?

@verdantaudio  I also got to compare the Bricasti to my TAD D-1000, but, it is not essentially an apples-apples comparison as the TAD is also a top notch SACD player (price is justified). On the same note, I also audited the Playback Designs DAC that the OCD Hifi dealer dude is always talking about on his channel and that DAC did feel like a step up. It retained its composure in more complex passages/tracks and was able to retain separation and spatial nuance better than the Venus & Yggdrasil. It took 3 guys, listening to the test tracks over and and a whole lotta back and forth to definitively say that. Diminishing returns are expected, of course, but, at the least, i see the justification for the playback designs in its price bracket. The Bricasti certainly didn't measure up. 

So, i suppose it's good that you carry Playback Design as well. It again confirms what i've felt for ages "Ya don't get what you paid for in all cases!!". There is maybe a small percentage of items in the 'high end' where the price can be justified . In many other cases, it is just a whole lot of fluff.