(2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: AU$25,500
Website: www.aplhifi.com
Tom said: The DSD-SR’s overall balance seemed on the lighter side of what I’m used to. This in turn meant the reduced mid-bass weight allowed small mid-range details to become more apparent.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Not-quite-neutral DAC.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: AU$18,800
Website: www.aquahifi.com
Peter said: For me, for the time being, and especially when you factor in the xHD’s value for often bleeding-edge performance, I’d call it a “bargain and the best I ever had.”
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The gist: Modularity adds value to this DAC.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $5999
Website: us.auralic.com
Jeff said: You can insert an Auralic Vega G2 in your audio system and be confident that you’re hearing everything on your recordings -- as long as the rest of your system is up to the task. It’s not this DAC that will be the limiting factor, I can assure you.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: Amazingly transparent DAC at a great price.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $1199
Website: www.bluesound.com
Gordon said: In short, while new features like support of AirPlay 2, Siri voice control, and two-way Bluetooth add to the Vault 2i’s appeal, what’s most impressive about the product is its unique functionality, and the overall excellence of the BluOS software platform.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: The BluOS software is really the thing here.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: AU$7500
Website: www.chordelectronics.co.uk
Edgar said: While it may require a minor readjustment to accept yet another device into the signal chain, there’s no denying the performance payoff more than justifies it.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Add this to your Chord stack for even more performance.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $5999
Website: www.cocktailaudio.com
Aron said: If you’re in the market for an all-in-one music player with exemplary build quality and an industry-leading résumé of features, Cocktail Audio’s X45Pro deserves to be on your shortlist.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: A little cool sounding but hard to fault otherwise.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: AU$13,995 as reviewed
Website: www.linn.co.uk
Barry said: For music lovers who are over (or never got into) constant tweaking it offers a level of performance that is frighteningly close to far more expensive (and space consuming) equipment, something I find very appealing.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Linn’s take on a great digital front end.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2019 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2019) Stereo Digital Source Components
Price: $4500
Website: www.luminmusic.com
Gordon said: Given the rapid changes occurring in digital audio playback, it’s risky to characterize any digital source as a potential endgame purchase. But that’s how I feel about the Lumin T2. I think it will be a long, long time before anyone buying a T2 experiences upgrade fever.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Nice when more money buys you a truly better product.