DAC comparison


Hello all. I have a chance to grab an ARC Dac 8. I currently have a Schiit Yggy. Has anyone had the opportunity to hear both that could comment on these two dacs? Thanks in advance. 

backdoor

I've never heard the ARC, but I did get a chance to compare the Shitt Yggy vs my old Peachtree DAC-iT and it doesn't come close.  The Yggy was edgy and nowhere near as musical as my 7 year old Peachtree.

I have a friend with the Border Patrol DAC. He brought it over to my system to compare with my Yggy which, at the time, was my primary DAC. The BP was much warmer sounding with a laid back presentation. I was actually surprised by how different they sounded since most DACs I’ve tried have a very similar tonal balance. I think in the right system, the BP could be a good choice, particularly for the money.

I’ve since upgraded to a Denafrips Terminator Plus (original Terminator first). These DACs have a very similar tonal balance to the Yggy but are much smoother with more detail and significantly better imaging.

I don’t have any experience with the ARC DACs.

Stupid happy? I am totally stupid over the change in fidelity in my system since adding the Venus II. ...Dizzy happy. -

My Wadia 15 which is now about 29 years old gets used all the time and it is redbook only. I also have a Bryston BDA-1, bought so I could listen to some hires but seldom listen to it because the Wadia gives me everything I want and its build suggests it will last another 29 years.

Guys who have got over the must play DSD, must unfold MQA, must have USB input, must etc. and have heard redbook played via a dedicated unit are coming round to appreciate just how much quality performance resides in the humble  redbook CD.

Chasing detail is one way of choosing a DAC but I prefer something that provides me with the necessary heft and immersive experience that I hold more important than a unit that plays all formats, converts on the fly, plays DSD, upsamples and has a dozen inputs etc.

Wadia is not the only one to excel with redbook, there are others and they can be found cheaply. The model 15 that I have can be found for about $800 and I have compared it to some very expensive modern DACs, some of which have been embarrassingly disappointing.

Ignore the joker who claims:  "I wouldn't touch a DAC more than 10 years old"  His myopic ignorance will steer you in the wrong direction. 

@lemonhaze 

Guys who have got over the must play DSD, must unfold MQA, must have USB input, must etc. and have heard redbook played via a dedicated unit are coming round to appreciate just how much quality performance resides in the humble  redbook 

Amen brother and well stated.

Charles