x2. You know, you don't need one of every DAC. Just one good one.

We're going to have to check Dinny into DAC-rehab.

x2. You know, you don't need one of every DAC. Just one good one.

Yes, but I need to try one of every DAC to find that which I believe to be a good one. Plus the Bryston was a decent price. Plus I'm crazy.

We're going to have to check Dinny into DAC-rehab.

Ugh, I know, I know. But this is it--I mean it this time.

I'm trying to send back the UDAC today. My 30-day return window expired yesterday, but that should roll over to today since I couldn't ship on a Sunday. I emailed HR to confirm.

SOURCE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH, AND MAYBE EVEN FIFTH AND SIXTH!

Dinny, you need to get a passive switch and identical cables for all your DACs.

After I did single blind testing on them I am much happier with mine

Manley SkipJack FTW!

Seriously, the SkipJack is making these comparisons pretty fun/easy. Of course, it's single-ended, so the direct comparisons need to be understood in that context. More relatives than absolutes.

Manley SkipJack FTW!

Seriously, the SkipJack is making these comparisons pretty fun/easy. Of course, it's single-ended, so the direct comparisons need to be understood in that context. More relatives than absolutes.

Oh ok, I didn't realize.

I use a 4 way balanced audio switch with identical Mogami cables that I had my wife rearrange and at regular listening volumes I couldn't tell the difference between my $300 DEQ and the $2.5k BC DAC3 or $3k Weiss DAC3. I tried quick switching, I tried long listening with one then switching and I could not identify anything without cheating by cranking the volume and checking the noise floor. I'm not saying there aren't differences with some DACs because there definitely are, (Filburts little number has a huge soundstage, or the Amarra). Not sure what's going on but at least between those three which are aiming at being as true to digital as possible I couldn't hear any difference and I have at least "ok" ears.

Enjoy the hunt

My DAC shootout had me sell my ECD-1 for an 0404. The ECD-1 was noticeably better (as in I could reliably identify the difference and blindly preferred the ECD-1), but not $800 better to my personal value scale.

Of course, it's just a matter of time before your personal value scale falls off a cliff. Enjoy the ride, Dinny.

My DAC shootout had me sell my ECD-1 for an 0404. The ECD-1 was noticeably better (as in I could reliably identify the difference and blindly preferred the ECD-1), but not $800 better to my personal value scale.

Of course, it's just a matter of time before your personal value scale falls off a cliff. Enjoy the ride, Dinny.

I couldn't stand to listen to my 0404 (usb model though, probably very different from the PCI) for more than a short periods of time

The bass of the USB 0404 was like microwaved marshmallows.

no, covered in chocolate.

any of you run it balanced? Sounded quite a bit different, to me.

Not I.

It was like adding the graham cracker.

the 0404 doesn't have balanced output

the 0404 doesn't have balanced output

I'm not sure it has a fully differential signal path, but the 0404 USB has a balanced output. I'm not familiar with the PCI version though.

the 0404 doesn't have balanced output

Wrong. 2 TRS plugs in the back are designed for balanced output. You just have to convert them to a standard XLR .

I believe the PCI has the same functionality.

The BDA-1 is here. All I'm prepared to say at the moment is that I think it sounds better with the Upsampling enabled.

Wrong. 2 TRS plugs in the back are designed for balanced output. You just have to convert them to a standard XLR .

I believe the PCI has the same functionality.

*cough* I have a pair of trs -> xlr cables that I can send for the price of shipping + bubble wrap bags

*cough* I have a pair of trs -> xlr cables that I can send for the price of shipping + bubble wrap bags

I done already built some

Wrong. 2 TRS plugs in the back are designed for balanced output. You just have to convert them to a standard XLR .

I believe the PCI has the same functionality.

<--- First line of defense

Ok, the BDA-1 changes considerably when using balanced out as opposed to unbalanced. Much. Moar. Better. I'm seeing the limitations of the SkipJack here, because while it is good for switching and doing a quick and dirty relative comparison of single ended sources, it can't do balanced.

Regardless, it is a different DAC when connected to the KGSS DX via balanced XLR. Much more impact, better soundstage, far more detail. You know, just a lot more Canadian.

I could totally impact a Canadian right now. I know exactly what you mean.

That fucking squid picture haunts me.

Tonight, I think I prefer the Dodson to the BDA-1. The Bryston is nice, but it does not have as much impact as the Dodson. It's close, but I think the Dodson has the edge. Hard to tell though. I feel like I'm supposed to like the Bryston more.

I continue to like the Dodson more. And tonight, Mrs. Monkey listened "blind." For direct comparison purposes, I have the DACs going through the SkipJack single ended, then into the amps. I didn't tell my woman which DAC was which and let her toggle back and forth with the SkipJack. She was listening to the O2 through the KGSS DX. She spent about 30 minutes listening to various tunes. She preferred the Dodson by a wide margin. Like the ECD-1, she found the BDA-1 "muted." But she also thought the Dodson sounded "brighter," which she preferred.

Mrs. Monkey is pretty good at this stuff. I think her comments are right on the money. And while I don't think the Dodson is bright in the negative connotation that we often ascribe to it, I do think it provides more musical insight than the BDA-1, which seems reserved to me. A bit smoother perhaps, but almost artificially so.

I think the BDA-1 is very good, but I'm beginning to think that I like DACs with a little bit of edge to them. The BDA-1 would be a very good choice for someone who wants a very smooth, refined sound. There's no glare, and no splash. But based on my time with the Dodson, I think the BDA-1 does have just a bit of haze. That's not always bad. And I think the BDA-1 does a nice job of just getting out of the way. But I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with the Dodson.

Of course, the BDA-1 smokes the Dodson in terms of features, though, which makes the decision a bit tougher. I like the defeatable upsampling a lot more than I thought I would.