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DAC recommendation in the $1k range

Hey all,

I'm looking to upgrade from my PS Audio Digital Link III and wanted some help finding a candidate. My requirements, in addition to sounding great, are that it must be balanced, and it must either have remote input selection or auto-selection of inputs.  DSD is a plus, but I'm on the fence as to whether or not I'd use it (even though I did really love SACD while I had a player).  I don't need pre-amp or headphone amp capabilities.

So far the most interesting candidates I've found are: 
BMC PureDAC
PS Audio Nuwave DSD
PS Audio PerfectWave MK II

Obviously the PerfectWave is the highest pedigree but also the most "dated" being a couple years older and lacking DSD.  But if it's the best DAC of the bunch then I'll pull the trigger.

Any thoughts on these? Any options I'm not thinking of?
hudsonhawk
gdnrbob
4,451 posts
 
I have the Schiit Multibit and McCormack Dac, both under $1K.
The SMc can be upgraded, too.
I am very happy with both.
B
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Just an excerpt from Herb Reinhart's Stereophile review of one of the Schitt dac's I mentioned above. Cheers George

 The Yggdrasil ($2299). I listened at some length. It was not only the best sound of the show, it was some of the most engaging and exciting music playback I have experienced in the 21st century.

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
+1 for Schiit dacs. The Gungnir Multibit is $1249 or basic Gungnir is $849 and can be upgraded later to Multibit for $500. Loving it here. Will be even better when my Sonore microRendu arrives. Cheers,

Spencer
donzi
60 posts
 
I don't know if this remotely fits the bill, as I confess I'm new to audio. Plus, it's a bit over your $1k, but I love this unit: (And no, I don't work for Crutchfield, nor did I buy my unit from them; but I think they have a great writeup.)http://www.crutchfield.com/p_768BD105DB/Oppo-BDP-105D-Darbee-Edition-Black.html
Balanced outs for L&R, fully controllable by phone app, including volume, on/off; wifi, which extends rangeto anywhere in network, beyond sight; tons of inputs, natively streams stuff including TIDAL. Again, I'm not sure I comprehend what you're looking for, but if it's this type of piece, I'd consider this one. I have this, into pre, into amp, into speakers. I have AppleTV as an input to this for streaming functionality.
captelee's avatar
captelee
43 posts
 
A two-unit (small component) set-up well under $1K, the iFi iUSB3.0 > iFi Micro iDSD DAC that will smoke most DACs three times the cost.
All the iFi line sound great at a very low price point:http://ifi-audio.com/home/products/micro/
I travel for work constantly, but after using iFi gear at work I also run the above at home on my not-so-portable McIntosh 601s > B&W 802d and still find iFi one of the best DACs out there at any price.
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