Schiit Loki & Meridian Director shootout

[ronenash]

Just talked to a freind today listening to the Loki and we both reached a conclusion that putting more the $500 into a dac today just doesn't make sense. With the rate of improvement digital still makes, any high price multi thousand dollar dac will probably fall short of the entry level dacs two years from now. With the quality of dacs like the Loki, Bifrost, Director and a few others you can get top quality for a great price. I for one do feel I am missing anything using the Loki and Director. If anything my 7 year old $16,000 Meridian 800 can not hold up to any of these docs...

[Puma Cat]

I continue to be completely astonished by Loki....gobsmacked as the Brits would say. I listened to it all last night, and it was such an wonderful, engaging, beguiling experience. I know I've bought some products that provide tremendous value for dollar in audio. The Shunyata Venom 3 power cord, the Audioquest Dragonfly, the Schiit Bifrost, and Loki is right up there with them, and might just take the cake. The performance it provides for $149 is just frickin' RIDICULOUS!

[ronenash]

BTW, interconnects are just as important as the USB cable. I am using the WW Platinum Eclipse, now we are talking a $3,000 interconnect with a $150 DAC!!!!!!!!!

[Pider]

Originally Posted by ronenash

BTW, interconnects are just as important as the USB cable. I am using the WW Platinum Eclipse, now we are talking a $3,000 interconnect with a $150 DAC!!!!!!!!!

You guys are hilarious!

.....but I do need some new IC's for my Loki, so been lurking to see what PC finds in the $200 and under range. I don't happen to have a spare WW Platinum laying around.

[Puma Cat]

Pider,
I settled on the Silversound Sextet cables. Should be gettin' em today!
The Zu Mission are great for the money, though. You can usually snag a pair on Zu's weekly eBay auctions for around $135.
-PC

[Pider]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Pider, I settled on the Silversound Sextet cables. Should be gettin' em today! The Zu Mission are great for the money, though. You can usually snag a pair on Zu's weekly eBay auctions for around $135. -PC

Thanks, PC. Will take a look. IC's are one item, among many, with which I have zero knowledge and experience. I'm not looking for uber ICs. Just something that will let the Loki and Bifrost shine.

Bought my first DSD album download today. Now I've got to retrieve the Loki from the hangar, install it in the system, make the changes in JRiver on my music server and take a listen. Mel is out of town, so this is the time to do some extensive experimenting, playing lots of different types of music, switching back and forth from the Loki to the Bifrost. Wish I knew more about setting up zones on JRiver so the switching would be simple.

[ronenash]

WW equinox is a great cable IMO for around $200. I would try it out.

[Loop4fun]

Originally Posted by Pider

Thanks, PC. Will take a look. IC's are one item, among many, with which I have zero knowledge and experience. I'm not looking for uber ICs. Just something that will let the Loki and Bifrost shine.

Bought my first DSD album download today. Now I've got to retrieve the Loki from the hangar, install it in the system, make the changes in JRiver on my music server and take a listen. Mel is out of town, so this is the time to do some extensive experimenting, playing lots of different types of music, switching back and forth from the Loki to the Bifrost. Wish I knew more about setting up zones on JRiver so the switching would be simple.

Shiit sells a Pyst one meter usb cable on their site for $20.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Loop4fun

Shiit sells a Pyst one meter usb cable on their site for $20.

I don't think that Schiit cable will cut it, to be honest. It's very likely not as good as the Audioquest Carbon cable, and the Coffee completely blows the Carbon away.

[Pider]

Quick update:

Got Loki working in the home system finally. When testing it out playing The Modern Jazz Quartet Live at Carnegie Hall downloaded from HDTracks and converted to DSD by JRiver, Mel came into the living room unasked and said, "Wow! What did you do?"

Yeah, that good.