"Best" DAC for a grand or less

>>04-09-11: Chicagojtw
A used Benchmark DAC 1 can be had for under $1,000. This is equal to any on the market at any price.<<

No, it is not.

I suspect you haven't heard some of the upper tier dacs.

IMO

For USB DACs, dbaudiolabs has a Tranquility DAC (not the Tranquility SE) that imho is an outstanding value under $1k.

For a little bit more money, the Tranquility SE is simply a joy to own and use. I have both on separate, different systems, and the experience is amazing, a day to day pleaser.

Call Eric Hider of dbaudiolabs. I've found him to be very knowledgeable and helpful.

Historically, the little iRoc is an incredible value for the money (find one used here on the audiogon.

Don't forget the added decisions and experimentation related to interconnect cabling (single ended and especially USB) as well as power cable. In addition, a 2010 MacMini is an absolute must if you are to get the best from your DAC.

:) listening,

Ed

Audiofeil--

Read the article I linked above. There is no possible audible improvement over the DAC1. When the best piece of test equipment in the world says the DAC1 kicks out a straight line frequency response with a noise floor of below -120 Dbs...you're not arguing about sound but purchase price and the attractiveness of the case.

There is no possible audible improvement over the DAC1

Is this statement to be taken seriously or is this guy just trying to add some humor? Have we returned to the days of choosing a product solely on electronic instrument measurements? Thank you Mr. Hirsch.

For $400-600, a favorite DAC of mine over the years is the Counterpoint DA10. This is an extraordinary product that outperformed others that I owned at higher cost. I sold it when I got the Manley and VTL Reference DACs. I regretted selling the DA10 and thus bought another as part of a second system. Look for one with the UltraAnalog chip as this was the chipset used in all the great DACs in the mid-late 90s.

Another favorite DAC is the Classe DAC1. This typically runs in the $900-1100 range. And no surprise, it also uses the UltraAnalog chip.

I had a Benchmark home for a few weeks (the HDR version, so a pretty recent model). Maybe it's the accuracy that I couldn't take. I found it too lean and the highs somewhat dry and -- for want of a better term -- squeaky. (I can hear Jack Nicholson screaming, "You can't handle the truth!")

I would have been using it to feed a BAT VK-250SE at the time.

I'm currently using a Neko D100.