Arcam iRDAC vc Popcorn Hour A-500 Pro DAC

[SanjeevKM]

Friends, I am presently using an Arcam iRDAC, and I am planning to buy a replacement for the connected O!Play media player that is old now. I am confused between two purchase options:

(1) Buy Popcorn Hour A-500 @ $267 and connect it to the iRDAC over coaxial,
(2) Buy Popcorn Hour A-500 Pro @ $599 and use it's SABRE ES9018K2M based DAC (and sell the iRDAC). The Pro will start shipping on 30/9/16 and hasnt been reviewed or tested by the market as yet, but the DAC chip is used in HiFiman and a host of other DACs.

Which option will result in a better sound? Any help will be appreciated.

 

[anubisX]

Not sure about the final result but I prefer the 2nd option. Coz I will buy the irDAC from you

 

[srisaikat]

Don't sell the irDAC without knowing performance review of popcorn pro. The sound quality of irDAC is hard to match, even the irDAC -II is not getting that appreciation which the previous irDAC itself got. irDAC have very nice balanced sound.