What makes a DAC so expensive?


You can buy a Cambridge Audio AXA25 25 Watt 2-Channel Integrated Stereo Amplifier | 3.5mm Input, USB Input for $225, and most DACs seem more costly. 

I'm wondering what it is that makes a Bifrost 2 almost as expensive as an Aegir and 3x's as expensive as the Cambridge product, above. I would have thought an Aegir would out-expense a Bifrost by a factor of two or three. What are the parts that make the difference? 

I'm wondering if the isolated DAC concept is one that comes with a "luxury" tax affixed. Can anyone explain what I'm getting in a Bifrost 2, or other similar product that justifies the expense...?

Thank you.
listening99
listening99, forgive me for offending you. 

I felt offended several times back when I was a budget audiophile. Nearly any honest criticism of my equipment or methods was cause for disgust. But, looking back, those critics were right. 

FYI, The terms "objectivist" and "subjectivist" are not particularly name calling in the sense of calling someone a fool, but are used widely in the industry and among hobbyists as descriptors of methodology. 

I have spent enough time on this. Blessings to all. 
Audio is not about an upgrading race, not about buying costlier components at all...

This is a truism, or a common place evidence that costlier gear can be better....

Audio is about creating the best conditions to experience a good S.Q.

Thinking that money only can buy that is ignorance....

Saying that costlier gear are better is a common place argument devoid of any originality....

In audio we must use a minimum of brain power to identify the problems and after that solving them.... My experience is that this does not cost much money....It cost fun work and time....


Then am i a fool completely deluded or is it possible to reach something acceptable and very good at low price? yes i know that by my experiments....

ANY system MUST be embedded mechanically, (minimizing vibrations/resonance)electrically (decreasing the noise floor) and very important located in an acoustically controlled room...

Any relatively well chosen audio system at relatively low cost may sound marvellous, if its embeddings are well done.... ANY.....

Contradicting that saying that i never listen to 100,000 dollars system is logically a sophism....

When you enjoy a good S.Q. it does not mean that there is nothing better than your system, it means that you are no more obsessed by sound race to upgrade at all cost, because you have it in way so satisfying that throwing money is ridiculous....

But i know it by reading all threads all this years most people dont have a clue how to reach some S.Q. level except buying costly gear....I was like that....

And saying to people they will never have a clue about good sound without paying a fortune is not only false it is pure ignorance about audio creativity and experience.... Consumerism is not audio.....  

My best to all....
It's all hype. There is no challenge to getting a clean accurate signal to the preamp. We don't need to worry about dedicated power supplies or dampening vibrations. Just consider for a second that all that is needed is a $2 chip part. But that's no fun for this board. As you move up the price range beyond quallity speakers and amplification you are dealing in mysticism and snake oil. I enjoy stacked Eminent Technology LFT 8b's amplified with two dynaco stereo 400 series ii amps through a B&K cheap preamp mostly listening through audio engine blue tooth receiver. All cheap stuff and when I have listened to $100k systems I do not hear something better or even equivalent. sorry.
It’s all hype. There is no challenge to getting a clean accurate signal to the preamp. We don’t need to worry about dedicated power supplies or dampening vibrations. Just consider for a second that all that is needed is a $2 chip part.
Amen.....

After someone who affirm that only big money can afford audiophile experience, someone who says that there is no audiophile experience, no need of money, no need to think about that anymore at all.... :)

What great faith.....

I just this week bought cheap springs that increase my speakers isolation controls, am i deluded? The sound is way better....Placebo effect?

Or perhaps it is your ignorance or indifference with some blinders to go with?

Sleep with that, all is hype....Problem solved..... Amen..... :)

By the way IT IS NOT THE PRICE that make audio experience what is is, it is simple cheap intelligent controls of the embeddings....

Read a page about acoustic..... That will enlighten you....

Ok i apologize for my rant.... I will let that like it is here..... My best to all.....
time for this thread to die

no more useful info for the op, and for everyone else reading it, it must be a terrible bore 

life is short 

lets all move on