Welcome!! @ca_leo The DAC implementation in the iFi IDSD Micro Black Label is pretty great with Dual Burr Brown chips and from what
I have read using it as a DAC only it sounds very good and more neutral, I believe @Resolve may have commented on this somewhere on this forum . I believe some of the additional warmth in sound from that iFi amp/Dac is also related to the amp as well.
I know that @pennstac uses his XDSD from iFi as a DAC only to feed his LYR3 and loves it. You would essentially be doing the same thing with a step up in the DAC having the dual Burr Brown chips.
I think upgrading your amp to something like a LYR3 would be good as it also allows you to roll tubes and customize your sound even more to your liking and then save up for the Bifrost2 as those two paired sound beautiful. My 2cents. (This is just my opinion do get others opinions please)
I agree with @MRHifiReviews, and I’ll even add the suggestion of the Schiit Magni 3+/Heresy. At only $99 they appear to be a great bargain. Either should pair well with your ifi dac.
Here’s a great review regarding the new Magni’s.
Another option could be the ifi Zen DAC, since you’re familiar with the Burr Brown sound.
Ultimately you may want to save for something like the Bifrost 2, as it’s so highly regarded. That’s what I’m doing. You could always use either Magni paired with the B2.
Welcome @ca_leo. As @MRHifiReviews said, I am very happy with my xDSD that also has the dual Burr Brown chips running as the DAC out into the Lyr3. I’ve also used it as DAC out into my STAX SRM-T1S for my old STAX phones. It’s nice, clean, detailed, and not edgy. I also have DFB and DFC, but they do not serve as well, as there is no actual line-out, despite what you may read about setting volume to max. That just runs the amp inside to the rails, it is not the same as a line out. I checked with AudioQuest on this.
Note: The xDSD only has a single Burr Brown chip, although it is capable of rendering the same file resolutions as the Micro iDSD. Thank you @MRHifiReviews for the fact check.
You will (almost) always see more change in the sound on amps vs DACs. Out of the amps you listed, I would suggest the lyr.
I really want to say go with Mjolnir 2, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. If you haven’t ventured into big desktop amps or tubes yet, I think it’s something best considered later. It’s rather picky about which tubes you use. Stock ones sound meh, to be polite, but good glass makes it sound great.
Anyway… I think you would get much better sound going ifi as your dac into Lyr 3 -vs- Bifrost 2 into ifi.
I do find the highs a bit piercing sometimes with the micro idsd + focal clear combo (on bad recordings, but I like a contemporary rock song now and then) and was hoping that I could soften that out a bit with a new (tube) amp… Anyway, I know this is off topic now, sorry! Maybe someone could DM me if they have any more suggestions? Thank you guys for being welcoming and sharing your ideas!
Stick the wrong tube in the Lyr 3, and you’ll have more treble than you ever did on your micro idsd. Most Ken-Rad tubes come to mind. Some RCA tubes I tried were pretty gentle in the treble department, so maybe try those.
I would advise this - don’t try to fix a headphone’s frequency response issues with tubes, amps, and DACs. As King Lear said “that way madness lies.” Madness and empty wallets. Anyway… use those things to fine tune the sound, not fix stuff. Bright headphones are gonna be bright. Use EQ if you have to fix something, or get different headphones.
The Loki is very good. My problem with all EQ is that I want to fidget with it too much. I would adjust the Loki a lot while listening, like “ohh, this song has great bass, I’ll just nudge this and that up a bit” and next thing I know I’m no longer listening, I’m just fidgeting.
Thanks. I sold off a lot of old gear recently and hadnt checked my paypal account in a while and it was just enough to buy the Bifrost 2 so I’ll give it a whirl since it’s been getting a lot of good positive feedback reviews, and i have the matching asgard 3 now too.
Burr Brown chips running as the DAC out into the Lyr3. I’ve also used it as DAC out into my STAX SRM-T1S for my old STAX phones. It’s nice, clean, detailed, and not edgy. I also have DFB and DFC, but they do not serve as well, as there is no actual line-out, despite what you may read about setting volume to max. That just runs the amp inside to the rails, it is not the same as a line out. I checked with AudioQuest on this.
