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Novice needs Mac Mini and DAC advice

Stereo Boys, I really really need some advice. In the past 18 months, I've loaded all in on this hobby and in that short time span have gone from birth to a full blown, fairly high end system and now I'm integrating a Mac Mini server into the mix. My mind is blown with too much information and I'm losing it over which DAC will give me the best bang with a budget anywhere from $800 to $4000. I'm told that the Ayre and Wavelength don't really outperform the lower cost DACs by a huge margin. I need a shot of the truth. And I'm looking for plug and play. I'm not that conversant with all the technical science involved in all of this. I just want a clean, high res sound. Please help!!
moonshot
backgroundblur
57 posts
 
Just go slow, and start from the foundation, and work your way up.

Focus on a good dac for now. Then move into a player solution that sounds good, and suits your convenience. Mac side, I've had good luck with audirvana plus and fidelia.

Then, go to the tweaks.

You have time to take it in stages, but for myself, that order gave me the biggest to smallest gain in improvements.

That way, you can focus on one thing at a time, and the benefit of enjoying it, as you go.
moonshot OP
13 posts
 
Backgroundblur: Good. I'm there. I think I'm going to quit whining and start winning. Many good DACs mentioned in this thread alone so I'll explore with enthusiasm and look at this challenge as a fun thing.

I really feel a fundamental shift into the comfort zone after the support and great advice offered through all the generous words by all of you. It literally blows my mind that total strangers would take the time to share from their real world experiences... and care.

Thanks you all so much. I feel like you all have done a lot of my due diligence for me and given me the benefit of your learning curve. The rest is up to me...and this bird will fly.

- Bob.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"External power supply as well?"

Absolutely

"Concerning jitter, isn't that the DAC's responsibility to reclock or do you really need the reclocker buffered in between the source and the DAC?"

That would be nice in an ideal world. You need some kind of reclocker or external USB converter. No DAC does a complete job of reducing jitter. The ones that come close don't have great clocks in them anyway, so you are stuck with that SQ. I have auditioned and modded dozens of DACs for customers in the last 10 years.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
I'm loving my Metrum Octave. At around $1,150 it's an absolute steal IMO. Beat my Weiss Minerva at 1/5th the cost.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I'll second the Metrum Octave. Drive it with a low-jitter source though.

the Metrum Hex iseven better BTW

The W4S DAC2 is also fabulous,but driven with I2S input.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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