One DAC I haven’t seen mentioned in this thread is the Onkyo P-3000R. It’s sold as a preamp, but it functions as a DAC and it works with Linux with no special drivers -- it’s purely plug ’n play. It has separate Burr-Brown DACs for each channel.
I saw it mentioned on Audiogon here from 10-03-2013 in a discussion on the Parasound P5 (which was recommended to me by a local dealer).
The comment by @audiozen was:
Here’s the Onkyo product page.
Stereo Receivers | A/V Receiver | Stereo Receiver | AVR | P-3000R | Onkyo USA https://www.onkyousa.com/Products/model.php?m=P-3000R&class=Stereo%20Receiver
Is this still a better choice than the Parasound P5? And is it as good or better than any of the under $2000 DAC’s we discussed in this thread so far such as the NM24? (I’m still trying to stay under $2000.)
I saw it mentioned on Audiogon here from 10-03-2013 in a discussion on the Parasound P5 (which was recommended to me by a local dealer).
The comment by @audiozen was:
I recently heard a Preamp from Onkyo that smokes the Parasound Pre’s, the Onkyo P-3000R which retails for $1695.00 and can be purchased at a lower price. The Onkyo is superior to the Musical Fidelity and Pass Preamps that I have owned in the past. The Onkyo weighs just under 25 pounds and is sexy as hell with its satin black finish. It comes with a MM phono stage, has a built in Burr-Brown DAC with USB or XLR input. Has bass and treble controls and a headphone jack. I heard the piece just over a week ago and my jaw dropped from the sound quality. Very pure, ultra clean clarity with a dimensional holographic space typically found in very high priced Preamps. Very smooth with a pleasant warm character.
Here’s the Onkyo product page.
Stereo Receivers | A/V Receiver | Stereo Receiver | AVR | P-3000R | Onkyo USA https://www.onkyousa.com/Products/model.php?m=P-3000R&class=Stereo%20Receiver
Despite being at the cutting edge of the burgeoning home theater market, Onkyo has never forgotten its roots in pure hi-fi audio. With the P-3000R, we present a streamlined two-channel pre-amplifier that packs a treasure trove of stunning audio technology. The P-3000R handles both analog and digital sources, with connectivity options including AES/EBU digital connectors and a USB device for PC audio. Separate 192 kHz/32-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs for each channel ensure accurate digital-to-analog conversion. Meanwhile, to minimize interference and maintain signal quality, the P-3000R employs noise-reducing DIDRC technology, a vibration-resistant chassis design, and independent amplifier circuitry. Thanks to the P-3000R’s bi-amping capability, you also have greater flexibility in how you set up your system. As always, the job of all this advanced hardware is to bring you closer to your music and let you feel the unique resonance of each individual instrument.
Is this still a better choice than the Parasound P5? And is it as good or better than any of the under $2000 DAC’s we discussed in this thread so far such as the NM24? (I’m still trying to stay under $2000.)