Speakers for a desktop system

07-10-09: Daniel825
Does anyone make a line preamp with usb that also has a DAC in it? So that I don't have to use the DAC that is in the Mac?

This is a rapidly emerging product category. The easy answer is also a bit expensive--the Benchmark DAC Pre at $1595. Small footprint, inputs for RCA and Toslink SP/DIF, USB, and analog. Outputs to XLR, RCA, and headphone jacks.

You could stick with the Vincent and add a small USB DAC between the Apple and the preamp. Possibilities include the HRT (High Resolution Technologies) Music Streamer at $99 or the higher quality or Music Streamer+ at $299.

Another very ingenious design is the Devilsound DAC at $299, which is a USB-to-stereo-RCA cord with the USB DAC in a tiny matchbox size lump where the cable switches from USB to RCA. Very clever and lots of favorable Internet buzz.

You may also want to peruse the product offerings of Nuforce-Icon, which includes a battery-rechargable iPod-sized DAC/headphone amp (Nuforce-Icon Mobile), and the Icon, a little desktop USB DAC, headphone amp, and integrated amp at $249. It doesn't have stereo RCA preamp outputs but you could use its headphone jack to drive the AudioEngines, which only input is a 1/8" stereo jack anyway. The AudioEngines come with a 6' adapter cable. Just plug it in between the Nuforce Icon headphone jack and the AudioEngine 1/8" input on the left speaker.

Stereophile review.

How about the Peachtree Nova?
80 watts, SS & high current with a tubed preamp AND a Scott Nixon designed Sabre DAC. Around $1200 from what I understand.
Mated with something like Devore Gibbons 3 or Merlin TSM-MX or perhaps Zu Tones/Druid Credenzas, oh my! I would say any of these would be a great desktop setup.
If I had the cash myself, I would go for Devores & Peachtree Nova.

The audioengine A5's came today. Out of the box they sounded just ok.. But then I remembered that my magnepan 1.6's sounded terrible out of the box so I let them play for a couple of hours while I went outside. When I came back I was just amazed. Playing straight out of the my Mac they are amazing. Huge stoundstage. Very musical. Found myself pulling out disc after disc and just listening to the music not the stereo. I hate to say this but I could live with this system alone... My main system is a Parasound a21 amp, Audio expressions tube preamp, Energy veritas speakers and Audioquest king cobra cables.
I found the Audioengines online for $325 shipped, no tax. So far I think this is the best money I have yet to spend on audio dollar for dollar.

Thanks Johnnyb53 for the suggestion on getting these.

Forgot to mention my main cd player is a vincent audio tube player..