XDA-3 compared to Schiit Audio

[daren]

Has anyone compared the XDA-3 to a Schiit Audio Bifrost 2, Bifrost 2/64 or Modius?   I am currently using a Modius and also a Asus Xonar Essence STX for a DAC with a Bluesound Node 2i for a streamer. I am trying to get away from my PC and soundcard as a source but the Essence STX still sounds better than the Modius so I am looking to upgrade. I am torn between a Bifrost 2/64 and the XDA-3. I am currently using an Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2 and XPA-DR2 setup for the analog. 

[vcautokid]

Totally different beasts after the same goal. Great music, and sound. One is Delta Sigma, the other is a Multi bit converter method. I think either will get it done very well. I use many different DACs myself. An SMSL SU-8n, and a FIIO K9, and my latest AUNE S9c that is my focus product. Incredible detail, and build. I couldn't be more happy. This is the time for DACs. So many to choose from, and so many that are so good. You couldn't pick a better time to get a DAC.

[geneo]

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[LuisV]

Difficult question to answer as we all hear differently, have different setups, prefer different sound signatures, etc. etc. I can tell you that I had a Schiit Modi Uber with Eiter and it sounded great. I got the itch one day, so I sold the Modi and purchased the Modi MultiBit; I much preferred the MB sound. After a few years, I got the itch again, and purchased the Bifrost 2 and Denafrips Aries II. Both were better than the Modi MB; however, I couldn't decided between these newer DACs. The Aries was excellent in some aspects, where as the Bifrost was better in others. Very close between them. I ultimately compared them to the DAC in a Cambridge CXN v2 streamer and it was, to my ears, very close. I didn't feel that the extra monies spent on the external DACs over the built in DACs of the CXN v2 was worth the ~$700 investment, so I sold both DACs. They left me wanting more... so I planned to save up for a Pontus or Yggy; however, I got bit by the Home Theater bug and put my 2 channel listening on hold. For now, I satisfy my 2 channel listening requirements via my desktop headphone setup. 

You can read about my 2 channel journey here:

emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/57382/heading-back-2-channel

[cawgijoe]

Nov 5, 2023 21:06:42 GMT -5 LuisV said:

Difficult question to answer as we all hear differently, have different setups, prefer different sound signatures, etc. etc. I can tell you that I had a Schiit Modi Uber with Eiter and it sounded great. I got the itch one day, so I sold the Modi and purchased the Modi MultiBit; I much preferred the MB sound. After a few years, I got the itch again, and purchased the Bifrost 2 and Denafrips Aries II. Both were better than the Modi MB; however, I couldn't decided between these newer DACs. The Aries was excellent in some aspects, where as the Bifrost was better in others. Very close between them. I ultimately compared them to the DAC in a Cambridge CXN v2 streamer and it was, to my ears, very close. I didn't feel that the extra monies spent on the external DACs over the built in DACs of the CXN v2 was worth the ~$700 investment, so I sold both DACs. They left me wanting more... so I planned to save up for a Pontus or Yggy; however, I got bit by the Home Theater bug and put my 2 channel listening on hold. For now, I satisfy my 2 channel listening requirements via my desktop headphone setup. 

You can read about my 2 channel journey here:

emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/57382/heading-back-2-channel

I'm mostly a home theater guy, but do like to listen to two channel music using my all-in-one system. I ended up buying a used Denafrips Ares II from a friend who had the itch to move up to the Pontus, which he bought. I really like the Ares, but every once in a while I wonder how the system would sound with a Pontus or perhaps higher end Schiit dac. I back down when I look at the prices and think about allocating funds to the eventual upgrade to my XMC-2 processor.