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Best DAC

Hey community,

Current system:
ARC SP-6
Threshold S500
Magneplanar 1.6

I love the tube sound of the SP-6, and think it pairs great with the power/clarity of the S500 and 1.6 speakers.  Currently using the DACMagic to play audio from my computer, and I believe it may be the limiting factor in my system.  What DACs would be a significant upgrade?  What’s the best at the moment?

I’m comfortable spending up to $2-3k for a significant improvement.  Let me know if higher/lower priced DACs would be more suitable.

I appreciate your insight.
mr_sacrimoni
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
you should get a usb cleaner if you plan to continue to stream from your computer - that is the source and my bet is that is a source of deleterious noise into the system along with the originating digital signal

otherwise buy a dedicated streamer such as a bluesound node 2i (use it as a good cost effective streamer only, and not as a dac although there is one on board ... it is poor)

then consider outboard dacs... search - there are many threads on good dacs fitting various budgets
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,817 posts
 
We area dealer we sold the dac magic anf it was a geeat starter dac. You would be much better suite with a streaming dac such as a lumim d2.

A node is a good streamer but it does not really work as well as a stteamer into a betyer dac as you want to use usb asyncronous data transfer via usb minimizes jitter and allows for higher data rates

Dave and troy
Audio intellect Nj
Lumin nad andwe were cambridge dealers
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I’m comfortable spending up to $2-3k for a significant improvement.
Look at R2R Multibit dacs NOS or OS from Schiit, Denafrips, Holo.  for that price range.

Cheers George
nealkot
25 posts
 
Mytek Brooklyn Bridge and you’re done. 
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