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Audiophiles by qobuz streaming to s212/7/2023 ![]() A Reviewer’s Choice winner.ĭenafrips Pontus II (starting at $2,298 USD)Ī Chinese-built DAC sold directly through a Singapore source, the Pontus sounds like a risky purchase. Optional Pow1 LPSU ($900), improves sound quality across the board. We found the Swiss-built Merason Frerot to be perfect for streaming Qobuz, and for mating with an equally high-value streamer like the Innuos Zen Mini Mk. ![]() Small, simple and relatively inexpensive for the performance it offers, this DAC is perfect for audiophiles who don’t require a lot of bells and whistles but do want superb sound quality. Merason Frerot with POW1 LPSU ($1,350 USD) According to the musicians who made it, this was how your music was supposed to sound. Clear, open, transparent, sound flows forth like sweet water poured from the hands of friendly, loving gods. Add a choke-input and tube rectified power supply, and forget David, here you have an Audio Goliath. There is no oversampling, no up-sampling, and no filtering. And so what? Chances are, you’ve never heard digital like this, and certainly at nowhere near its price. ![]() Yes, it’s a Redbook-only converter, and yes, it sports NOS chips. Measurements, schmeasurements-do yourself a favor and try this BorderPatrol DAC. ![]() Both are modular and upgradable designs.īorderPatrol SE-i DAC (starting at $1,075 USD) Both versions are worth their money-expect the AKM to have a slightly less defined bass while maintaining an excellent midrange, while the Multibit version adds crispier high frequencies to the mix. The cheaper one is built around the smooth sounding AKM4490 chipset while the pricier (but still affordable) multibit version takes advantage of Schiit’s know-how from their top-of-the-line Yggdrasil converter. This affordable DAC from Schiit comes in two options. Features include digital, single-ended, and balanced outputs. The reason we chose the iFi ZEN Blue V2 is that it sounds amazing right out of the box, will connect to virtually anything with a Bluetooth signal, and features one of the better DACs based on the ESS chipset. Yes, we’re including a Bluetooth option, because truth be told this is the perfect gateway device for allowing the kids (or grandkids) of the digital age a chance to take the wheel of any major (or minor) hi-fi system. Each section is organized by price in ascending order. The Best Digital Players portion of our buyers guide is broken down into subcategories, such as DACs, Servers and Streamers, Digital Music Streaming, Transports and SACD Players. If you’re looking for our list of “the best stuff to check out right now” - the best loudspeakers, CD players, amplifiers, turntables, cartridges, preamplifiers, DACs and more - this is it. We’ve attempted to capture a moment in time - one year - and collect together, in one place, all of those products that we want to have and hold and use in our own systems right now. No list like this can ever be complete since we’re bound to forget something that has duly impressed the heck out of us. These are the products we love - and we think you will, too. These products have elicited responses such as “I was gobsmacked every minute I spent with this” or “The shipping box was wet with the tears of my lost innocence” or, too often, just “Take my money!” In other words, this isn’t about high-end audio products that we merely like. Every product listed in this guide is beloved by at least one team member. ” This collection represents our enthusiasm. The Guide is more than “We heartily endorse this. Welcome to the Best Digital Players section of the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for Summer 2022.
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