2. digital
  3. 124273-11116

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
smbuscemi's avatar
smbuscemi
1 posts
 
The oppo is in my Amazon shopping cart. I've been wrestling with my Metrum Hex to take iOS and later AppleTV. 

This is may work.
dragon_vibe
430 posts
 
The LKS D003 Chinese DAC is better then the GustardX20.
jim_swantko
301 posts
 
Micromega MyDAC is still a killer value.
erik_squires
16,290 posts
 
I have not done a lot of comparative listening, but when I was last shopping for a DAC, the Parasound Z Dac at $500-ish was really quite nice! I could listen to it for hours.  I did get to hear it against the NAD M51 DAC, ugh.  There was a huge disappointment.
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