DAC for entry level system

Just a quick word about tubes....
Some of the newer re-makes and some of the easy to find brands in general are getting to be very good and not expensive at all. The new remake Mullards are wonderful tubes and not that far off from the original. JJ has made improvements and the newer Tung-sol's are great to listen to. I think that I paid about 150.00 for a match quad of the new Genelex Gold Lions and they are just incredible... now thats tubes for my amp and not my dac. The smaller tubes for a dac that you may purchase will run you about 20.00 per tube. There are good places to purchase them as well. The Tube Store has always treated me fair and just finding a good outlet that tests, and gives advise is half the fun. Beware ! You can go crazy!!! Personally I don't let myself get suckered into the mega-dollar tubes. I will agree that some may sound better... But it is a diminishing return. As stated, the newer runs of tubes from most manufacturers are just great.

Just my 0.0263 cents
Come on, do some tubes... You will be happy that you did.

Cheers,
Tubeears

If you are considering the PS Audio DL III for ~$400-$450 I'd look for a good deal on the much newer NuWave for ~$600-$650. If you are moving towards PC audio the NuWave has a great USB section (I'm also using a SB Touch, w/ EDO USB to USB). I tried the DL III prior to the NuWave and the NuWave is way nicer in just about every way.

Tubeears, :)
I'm not saying no to tubes. I need to try it.
Darkstar1, I'll definatly update when I'll buy the DAC. The Rega DAC is definatly one of the units that is intersting me.
Dragon1952, the Nuwave looks like a great product. The price that you mentioned is for new or used unit?

The NuWave for $600-$650 would be used. I recently got a mint unit for under $650 shipped. Some people got them for $695-$795 new w/ trade-ins so if you are patient you can find a great deal on a used one.

Thank's Dragon1952. just one more question for you. Are you using the balance output or the non balance output of the Newave? Since I don't have balance input in my amp, I wanted to ask you if you checked both of them in your system, and if you found one of them better then the other one?
Thanks.