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best DAC' choice between $1K-$2K?

Its time for me to plan my annual upgrade splurge and this year the target area is DAC replacement. The DAC I use now is the PS Audio DLink III, its powerfull, detailed, but computer audio is showing the DAC's weaknesses with a design based on 2006 digital technology.

Looking for a musical sounding DAC...I can deal with tonal balance variances and dynamics that aren't spot on but a piece of gear that distorts overtones, doesn't have correct time decay and struggles with digital defects will have me moving on within 5 minutes of listening.

I've seen good things on the Metrum Octave but its lacking in design features like a headphone section and 192khz support. Bel Canto seemed popular at the DC Audio show and is recent enough in design to have longevity.

Wondering what in the new purchase market folks think is the class champ between $1K-$2K for a DAC with 192K support, headphone output, volume control for direct to amp and the most natural sound. I have a quality asynch to USB converter so that feature is of minimal importance to me.

The new Oppo 105 looks like an interesting alternative but I doubt its competitive against a DAC in this range and I've seen no serious reviews yet to compare against other known good gear.
128x128davide256
singleendedsingle
664 posts
 
Have you checked the Burson conductor? it comes with the ESS 9018 Reference DAC chip/preamp and a very good headphone amp section.
http://bursonaudio.com/Summary_Conductor_6Moon.html
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
399 posts
 
Appreciate the suggestion of the Burson Conductor, will followup on that. I see also that Benchmark has decided to knock the dust off its line with the Benchmark Media DAC2 HGC, so will be looking at both of these vs the Metrum. The DSD functionality looks interesting, has me wondering if that will become more prevalent. Will look at the Mytek also but they are a bit of an unknown to me in pedigree
chrissain
470 posts
 
I own a Bel Canto dac 3.5 mk2 VBS and it is awesome sounding.
mccance
8 posts
 
Metrum Octave with Audiophilleo USB2SPDIF, driving a tube preamp, like a ARC SP16 or 17.

Blows away everything out there.

I believe the Octave will do 192 via the SPDIF and I know the AP will, so there you go.

You don't need headphones. LOL.
happycamper
16 posts
 
I'm looking at a Lynx Hilo. A few Anedio D2 owners are moving them on for this unit. Hope to hear along with a Buffalo 3, PerfectWave II, NAD M51, Anedio D2 and anything else we can pack in.
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