Small DAC With Balanced Outs

Hi Roscoeiii... i am running a computer music server, but do not need to use USB - i can output optical, coax, firewire, or USB.

budget is around $1k. thanks for the small options - i was not aware of those two but will certainly look into them. i've owned the minerva in the past - looking to go smaller.

-Scott

"i know the benchmark DAC1 when left on all the time will put itself into standby mode when no signal is detected"

Benchmark DAC1 USB does that - not Benchmark DAC1.

Kijanki... is this for all inputs on the USB model, or just when running with USB? i was planning on using Coax...

From the manual: "While in Standby Mode, the DAC1 USB continues to monitor the selected digital input and will immediately resume normal operation when an error-free signal is restored."

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/sites/default/files/documents/DAC1-USB-Manual-RevG_0.pdf

Srosenberg - Standby is good and bad. It will extend life of the unit by lowering average temperature by few degrees but it does it by cutting power to most of circuitry. It will take time again to sound 100%. DAC1 takes about 10W and can get really warm only if you place it in enclosed space.

Standby is perhaps more valid with tube gear. Sound of the DAC is more important than features like that IMHO. My DAC1 is powered all the time (no standby) in open space on the shelf and it is lukewarm. Standby could extend it's life from let say 20 to 30 years but unfortunately cannot extend my life. The fact alone that you are posting here almost guarantees that in 20 years you will buy another DAC (or perhaps audio implant?).