2. digital
  3. 1314673872

Need a DAC recommendation

It has been my experience that there isn't a great deal of information out there regarding the performance of all the new DACs coming out--especially for more affordable ones.

I need a new DAC and I'd like to spend less than 600 used or new, the cheaper the better. USB would be nice, but I'm probably going to use digital coax mostly from my computer. I only listen to FLAC and I always try to obtain the highest bitrates possible, so the DAC has to be able to accept at least 24/96 (192 or higher would be even nicer, as would upsampling, but I'll take what I can get for the price). On my other system, I have a V-DAC with the V-Link usb/spdif converter and its not bad. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. BTW--Anyone try the VDAC II?
rossbernstein
drdennis
165 posts
 
Music Direct has the Musical Fidelity M1 on sale for $619. This reportedly is an upgraded V-DAC with a choke regulated power supply. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered, as they are backordered one week. I use a V-DAC on another system, and I like it very much. I plan to use the M-1 with a V-LINK on a computer based system.The M-1 has favorable reviews.
soulbrass
246 posts
 
The PS Audio DL III is showing up <$500 regularly - a nice, warm DAC with lots of input options and upsampling to 192 kHZ.

...add the V-Link and you've got a pretty potent and flexible DAC for <$650!
tubeking
65 posts
 
I can second the P S Audio Dac III. I have one on a second system and think it is a great bang for the buck product.
restock
831 posts
 
What about the new Apogee Duet 2?
rossbernstein OP
23 posts
 
Since this is a technology that changes rapidly, and we already have the ability to make DACs that can achieve much higher bitrates, I was hoping that there is, or will be, a great new generation of affordable DACs on the market. Seems to me that the majority of DACs on the market are a bit obsolete Months ago, I saw buzz about an exciting DAC from Asus: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Asus-to-Release-Xonar-Essence-One-Audiophile-Headphone-Amp-and-USB-DAC-188448.shtml
Upsamples to 32 bit/352.8Khz and is only supposed to cost about $250-$300. Now, I realize that Asus isn't the prototypical audiophile company, but they make a good soundcard, and maybe at this point it'll take a computer electronics company like Asus to make something that renders the competition obsolete at a fraction of the price. Unfortunately, there's been no news of this DAC since then. Anyone know of anything on the market that can achieve upsampled bitrates higher than 192 for anywhere near that price? Also, does anyone have any experience with the HRT streamers? I wish there were more current DAC reviews out there, but I can't seem to find that many.
More to discover