What would you buy Sub $350 Firewire/USB DAC

OK, since the OP has generously undertaken to inform the curious of his discoveries... there are two DACs at the low end which interest me. One is the Beresford, from the U.K.

http://www.beresford.me/others/main.html

and the other is the VALAB mentioned above, which is made by an outfit in Taiwan and sold on eBay.

http://stores.ebay.ca/Vintage-Audio-Lab

I would use such a converter with a computer-based portable system if its sound were better than that of my M-Audio Audiophile USB external.

I tend towards the VALAB DAC because their description on eBay is wonderfully enticing. The unit is said to be "sweat sounding", and I'm sure that would be great for rock.

Here is a little more information--I'll have to fill in some blanks....



AudioSector USB NOS DAC Peter Daniel
$280
NOS
USB Others?


Bersesford TC-7510 MK6/4
£200
US twin WM8740
Digital Only


Blue Circle USB
$190
?
USB/SPDIF


Cambridge Audio DacMagic
$399

USB/Coax/Optical


DIYEDEN SVDAC05 USB DAC
$199
CS4398 / PCM2704



Fubar III
$350
PCM2702/OPA2604AP
USB


KECES 151 USB DAC
$225
NOS PCM 2702
USB


MHDT Paradisea
&599
NOS Philips TDA 1545A
USB / toslink / coaxial


Musical Fidelity V-DAC
$300

USB/Coax/Optical


Musiland MD 10 Bit Select USB DAC
$300
USCS4398
USB/Coax/BNC


Styleaudio Carat HD1-V
£130
Burr Brown 2704
USB


Vintage Audio Lab DAC
$180
NOS TDA 1543
USB/Digital


Yulong DAH 1 USB DAC
$280
AD1955
USB/Coax

Great post Music prof !

I have much more to do, of course. I've dropped the Apogee Mini-DAC from my list as it is too expensive, the Beresford as it hasn't a USB or Firewire input, and the Squeezebox Classic as it is not what I thought it was. I'm likely to remove the Blue Circle and Fubar as I don't think that they compete with the others for my intended purpose.

The Cambridge Audio DacMagic seems to get slightly better reviews than the Musical Fidelity V-DAC, but I am still open minded about the the latter. If it is anywhere near as good as their other products, it has to be worth consideration. Finally, I'm finding it difficult to learn more about the AudioSector USB NOS DAC by Peter Daniel. I remain interested though...

My so-called short list is about to get a good deal shorter.

Thanks again to all for posting,

--Patrick

Get a Keces 151 USB DAC dor $250, and quit worrying. It will deliver what is on the CD.

No matter which DAC you choose; part one is to rip it right. Part 2 is to amplify it right.
Part 3 is to place your speakers correctly.

At the end of the day a DAC should have no character. It is simply a converter.

BTW forget about Firewire - the universe has chosen. There is no need for the bandwidth.