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DACs with volume controls

Okay, I love all this audiophile stuff, but I'm a private school teacher (little money). So are there any decent used or new DACs that I can purchase with a volume control and hence skip the need for the preamp? I'm thinking I can go 1.5 grand, maybe 2 if I wait till summer. Anyone out there use this stuff or heard it? I'm new to this sonic world and have only read about the Wavelength DAC, don't know any others.
tbadder
aroc
760 posts
 
Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0's had volume controls, if I remember right. I see a DTI32 and DDE3.0 for sale here on audiogon for under a grand.

The DDE3.0 is AA's best DAC and the DTI32 is AA's best jitter box. Too bad AA went out of business. They made some good inexpensive stuff.
aroc
760 posts
 
EVS Millenium DAC II has optional volume controls. ($100 option)I saw it mentioned in another thread, see:

http://audiogo5.iserver.net/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1002111835&read&3&4&

Word has it it will be upgradable to future DVD-A and SACD, though two channel only. bnc coax, aes/ebu. i2s is coming. I'm surprised this DAC can't walk on water, the way some people review it.

http://www.tweakaudio.com/
http://www.tweakaudio.com/Millennium%20DAC.html

http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/DAC/product_77953.shtml
http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/DAC/product_45605.shtml
tbadder OP
103 posts
 
Thanks again guys. EVS with volume controls....hmmmm....more than a little intriguing.
davewavaolcom
193 posts
 
pass labs d1 $1500-2000 used.
eastein
99 posts
 
I tried using a new but cheap sony dvd player as a transport with an MSB Gold DAC. I was hoping this combination would work but it was not really listenable. I bought a rega planet to use as a transport and it sounds significantly better on its own than the sony/msb combination did. The rega/msb together are another fairly substantial improvement over the rega alone.

2c
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