Audiophile Digital Components Reviewed
Schiit Yggdrasil+ OG DAC Reviewed
The Schiit Yggdrasil+ OG (Yggdrasil+) is one of three currently available versions of the company’s flagship digital-to-analog converter. OG—in case you’re not familiar with early-1970s street slang or early-1990s hip-hop culture—stands for “Original Gangsta,” because it is the original version and reigns… Read More »
More Audiophile Digital Components Reviewed
Music Hall CD25.3 CD Player Reviewed
Music Hall recently released its latest audiophile Compact Disc player, the CD25.3, a no-nonsense source component that is very competitively priced for an audiophile-grade disc spinner at $649. Music Hall is well-known for its high-value offerings in the audiophile world, ranging… Read More »
Benchmark DAC3 HGC DAC Reviewed
The Benchmark DAC3 HGC (buy at Amazon) is one flavor of many in their DAC 3 line-up. The HGC model is a full-featured, mature DAC rocking the latest and greatest ESS ES9028PRO chipset. At 37 years strong, Benchmark has been making studio-grade electronics… Read More »
PS Audio DirectStream DAC MK2 Review
About eight years ago, PS Audio introduced the PerfectWave DirectStream DAC to quite a bit of audiophile fanfare. It immediately garnered significant acclaim and was praised for its sonic capabilities relative to its price. Introduced late in 2022 (but not… Read More »
Meitner MA3 DAC Reviewed
In the early days of digital audio, Ed Meitner was frequently asked about circuit design from industry people interested in his ideas. It was this recognition of an insight into digital audio that led to one of the most innovative… Read More »
T+A elektroakustik SD 3100 HV Streaming DAC Reviewed
By any reasonable measure, the T+A SD 3100 HV Streaming DAC is a world-class audiophile component with numerous features and a high degree of engineering excellence. Designed completely in house by a group of 12 full-time staff engineers and even two physicists,… Read More »
Bricasti M21 Platinum Series DAC Reviewed
Bricasti Design was founded in 2004 by two executives formerly associated with Lexicon. Bricasti’s initial focus was on the pro audio side, and the company immediately gained a solid reputation thanks to its M7 reverb unit. Before long, Bricasti turned… Read More »
NAD C 538 Compact Disc Player Reviewed
NAD is a company with a long-standing history (50 years, in fact) of making great products. The NAD C 538 (buy at Amazon) is a great example of what the company does so well, as it’s a straightforward entry-level Compact… Read More »
FiiO K9 Pro DAC/Preamplifier/Headphone Amplifier Reviewed
The first time I saw a FiiO audio component, the old nursery rhyme “fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman” popped into my head. FiiO’s track record of commandeering the market share of their competitors from England (and… Read More »
iFi GO bar DAC/Headphone Amp Reviewed
The GO bar by iFi (buy at Amazon) is a $329, ultra-portable USB-based audiophile DAC and headphone amplifier. If you want to know what I mean by ultra-portable, it is approximately the size of my index finger (15/16 inch wide, 1/2 inch high x 2-5/8 inch… Read More »
NAD C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier Reviewed
NAD, an audio company well-known by enthusiasts worldwide for their high-value electronics, is part of the Lenbrook group, which also includes PSB speakers and Bluesound wireless streaming devices. The technology behind each brand is often shared within the family, as is the case with… Read More »
Grace Design m900 DAC Reviewed
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is a device that converts a digital signal into an analog waveform that your speakers can produces and your ears will ultimately understand. DACs are in everything these days. They are ubiquitous devices that perform to… Read More »
iFi xDSD Gryphon DAC/Headphone Amp Reviewed
The iFi xDSD Gryphon (buy at Crutchfield) is a portable balanced headphone amplifier and digital-to-analog converter from a company renowned for both its DACs and its HPAs. It will handle just about any connection you can throw at it, including USB,… Read More »
Schiit Audio Modi 3e DAC Reviewed
The Modi 3e (buy at Amazon) is the latest update to Schiit Audio’s popular low-cost digital-to-analog converter line. The company calls this one a “do-all” DAC, because it accepts coaxial and optical digital inputs, but also Schiit’s own Unison USB… Read More »
Rotel CD11 Tribute CD Player Reviewed
While streaming is more and more likely to be the principal means by which you access your music these days, there are also millions of physical CDs floating around music collections just waiting to be played. The Rotel CD11 Tribute… Read More »
Panasonic DP-UB820-K 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player Reviewed
Recently I reviewed the Sony BDP-S6700 (buy at Amazon), Blu-ray player and quite liked it as a high-value audio player. It was versatile enough to handle multiple formats, not just the Blu-ray discs that you saw on the front of… Read More »
Marantz Professional PMD-526C Compact Disc Player Reviewed
The Marantz Professional PMD-526C is a compelling pro angle on an audiophile Compact Disc player that has plenty of features you won’t find on similarly priced disc spinners. The $249 retail price places this component firmly in the budget category,… Read More »
Sony BDP-S6700 Blu-ray Disc Player Reviewed
Your first thought when you see this post could very well be, why are you reviewing a Blu-ray player on an audiophile site? You’re not wrong in thinking this, but the Sony BDP-S6700 disc player (buy at Amazon) has some features that make… Read More »
