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DAC: high quality USB + preamp $5000

I gonna purchase a new setup for my large room in the nearest future. I'd like listening to music by the computer mostly PC and Foobar2000, but it's usually disgusting sounding via USB from a lot of DACs, more worse than their AES inputs with external CD-transport or internal CD-drive of classical Players, unfortunatelly.
Also, a full preamplifier is too expensive for me.
So, What DAC up to $5-6000 could be prefered for connection to PC via USB sounding not worse than AES input and with high quality internal preamp not worse than separate preamplifier?
Thanks in advance for any advices!
(Sorry for my English)
the_crow
the_crow OP
27 posts
 
I'm also willing to consider DAC without preamp section because I might to buy integrated amplifier. But it's necessary good sounding via USB.
kenscollick's avatar
kenscollick
278 posts
 
Before I owned the Cantata I was using a Wadia 781 I like the simplicity of not having a pre amp in the system. I haven't updated my system on this site, The Cantata does everything right.
the_crow OP
27 posts
 
Unfortunately, the Cantata doesn't require to install drivers for the Windows platform, so it doesn't support bit-perfect (via ASIO/WASAPI) and asynchronous mode :-(
joman
167 posts
 
The AMR DP 777 would fit the bill. The preamp isn't to bad either. I use the DAC not the preamp. I have listened to the preamp but prefer my integrated.
mgattmch
569 posts
 
I have a friend who uses a McIntosh C50 to play computer audio files via USB. His system sounds excellent to me
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