The Buchardt will work with the DAC but it isn't necessary, everything runs through the A500 DAC so it doesn't matter if you connect a $10K DAC or a cheap streamer or preamp, it would sound the same. I used a Lumin U1 mini which doesn't have a DAC. I didn't keep them, IMO the bass was to boomy and unnatural but the A500 can be EQ'ed. I didn't spend a lot of time trying to get them right I moved on to different speakers. For the price they are pretty good speakers at times I wish I would have spent more time working with them in my room but I had 3 different pairs at once and went with Genelec.