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What DACs should I check out?


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Hello all,

 

First, I have been lurking and reading reviews and posts on this site for about a month now, fantastic site, great people...I am glad to have finally joined!

 

Yes, I did the search on this subject and now I am more confused than ever.

 

I built a Shuttle Case, put in a Claro Plus+ for audio and so I have Toslink, Coax(What I am planning to use for output, and USB(not really planning to use it.

 

I picked up a bunch of Reference Records 192k WAV dvds and would like to at least decode them decently. I have a decent pre-amp but it doesn't decode 192k WAV files (only goes up to 96k. So I am looking at external DAC units.

 

I am looking at the DACMAGIC, and a VDAC...something not huge in budget but will do a decent job of decoding these files.

 

Anyone have any advice?

 

THanks all!

 

 

 

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During your search you may have come across Oversampling vs. non-oversampling DACs.

If so, and if you have a preference, you should express that I think.

 

Peter

 

Lush^3-e      Lush^2      Blaxius^2.5      Ethernet^3     HDMI^2     XLR^2

XXHighEnd (developer)

Phasure NOS1 24/768 Async USB DAC (manufacturer)

Phasure Mach III Audio PC with Linear PSU (manufacturer)

Orelino & Orelo MKII Speakers (designer/supplier)

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I was in the same situation a month ago and due to a multi DAC test in a German hifi magazine I ordered the MF V-DAC.

In this test was the DacMagic, V-DAC, King-Rex UD-01 and the Project USB-box, all because of a USB input.

I found the review online as a PDF file online but I do not remember where I found it so I can not link it here. Fortunately I downloaded the file so if you want I can send it to you by mail... remeber it is in German language.

You can also download the file from the magazine's site if you pay for it: http://www.audio.de/Downloads/Vergleichstest-4-guenstige-D_A-Wandler_5027677.html

 

The V-DAC ranked highest on sound but the DacMagic was praised for being very close to the V-DAC and the many input options.

Unfortunate I did not receive the V-DAC yet but is expected in 1-2 weeks so I can not give you any user comments.

 

Rigelian iOS app -> BeagleBone Black with Botic driver + Linux MPD + XPEnology NAS -> Soekris dam1121 DAC I2S direct from BBB -> DH Labs Revelation -> NAD C162 -> DH Labs Revelation -> Odyssey Khartago Plus -> DH Labs Q10 -> Boenicke Audio W5

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Nothing is wrong with the DAC, it's the cards outputs, they are just mini-din like a iPOD or walkman and since the card is 7.1 it means that I can't put any decent cables on to run to my pre-amp. Thought Coax to an external DAC then Balanced or RCA to my Pre-Amp would be a better path.

 

Also keep hearing that external dedicated DACs are better than the DACs on my sound card.

 

Is this incorrect?

 

BTW, with the DACMagic, if I input a 192k WAV, will it downgrade to 96k then re-upconvert it back to 192k or am I reading the spec sheet wrong?

 

Thanks all!

 

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If 24/96 will do so will the Beresford DAC.

 

http://www.beresford.me/main/main.html

 

Within the next few days a new model will be launched with a USB input and a better analogue section for driving high quality phones. The variable output may also be better improving it's performance as a digital pre-amp - 4 switched inputs.

 

Brian

Squeezebox Classic - Beresford Caiman-Gator DAC - Quad 520f with Dada refresh - Quart 980s German Tower Loudspeakers.

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I just recently went digital with 500+ CDs. I chose the following hardware:

 

Mac Mini - Intel Duo Core 2 2Ghz; 1Gb RAM; 120 Gb Hard Disk

Iomega 500 Gb MiniMax USB HD

PS Audio DL III with Stage IV Cullen Circuits Modification

Kimber Kable USB cable AB

 

This is all hooked up to my existing Mid-Hi-Fi Audio Rigg

 

McIntosh MA6500

Rega Jupiter CD Player (now connected to the DAC via SPDIF)

Audio Physic Virgo III Speakers

8ft Pair of twisted Anti-Cables with banana plugs

Harmonic Technology - Single Crystal™ copper (99.9997%) conductor interconnects

 

All music ripped using iTunes and ALAC. I can not hear any discernible difference in quality of CD compared to ALAC encoded content output from the Mac Mini with the exception of a few albums that were frankly poor quality to begin with. SACD content from www.hdtracks.com FLAC converted to AIFF 24 bit 96khz (using MAX) sound absolutely stunning!

 

I'm extremely pleased with the results and the DAC so far. I've added IsoNodes the the Hard Drive and Mac Mini to dampen any extraneous virbrations.

 

Both my wife and I use our iPhones and the Remote App to control iTune on the Mac Mini. Works very well and gives you the ability to set up Genius playlists on the fly. In the past couple of weeks since we went digital we have listened to music we have not listened to in many years. Going digital is one of the best things we've done in years.

 

 

Mac Mini Intel; PS Audio DL III - Stage IV Cullen Circuits Mod; Mcintosh MA6500; Audio Physic Virgo IIIs, Anti-cables, Luminous Audio - Synchestra Signature Interconnects, Kimber Kable USB cable

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Hi honeybadger,

 

If your priority is to maintain an unmolested 24/192 bitstream then you're going to have to aim a little higher than the DacMagic, v-dac, et al. Your soundcard will output the stream no problem, but there are not that many 'affordable' dacs around that will give you a 24/192 input.

 

If you need to keep the cost within limits, you may need to accept some compromises, at the moment. If Micro$oft ever decides to ship native 24/192 USB drivers for Windows, then we'll be in - until then, I fear, it's high end budgets or lower sample rates. :)

 

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IMO, you need to set a $$ budget and then see how far over that you're willing to go! ;-)

 

Seriously, without a starting point dollar-wise, it's difficult to provide input. I say this from experience. . .I was in the market for a new DAC a few months back. I wanted a mid-price unit ($1,500 - $2,500) that would handle the current state of high-resolution material. I ended up buying a pre-owned Esoteric D-05 at a price point significantly (percentage-wise) over my max budget. I'm extremely please with my choice as it handles all sample rates and bit depths and functions as a preamp to boot. It will also serve me for future upgrades, when there's more hi-rez material available.

 

HTH. . .

 

Bob

 

BPT 3.5 Ultra/Reference 3A Reflectors/MSB Technology S201 Amplifier/MSB Technology Analog DAC/MSB Technology Network Renderer/Audirvana +

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I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago and wanted a DAC that could support both 24 bit 96 khz and 192 khz with multiple inputs including USB. I did some research and found several worthy DACs. However, most were in the $2500 - $3000 range and I was not willing to spend that amount of $$$.

 

So, during my research I came across this review about the PS Audio DL III Cullen Circuits Stage III Mod. I was impressed with what I read and it detailed the type of DAC I was looking for. Just before finding this review, I looked at the unmodified PS Audio DL III and almost went with that one for $999. But after reading the review, I new for the extra $700 I wanted to go with the modded unit.

 

Needless to say, I called Rick at Cullen and he said they were running a special to stimulate some sales (remember, the economy is pretty slow at the moment) and that I could purchase the Stage III mod for $1390 or the Stage IV mod for $1490 (which basically adds separation of the coax input). That was all I needed (a $360 savings on the Stage IV) so I decided to go with the Stage IV mod and it has performed exactly as was described in the 6moons review.

 

Anyway, for the $$$, it has to be the best bang for the buck around and supports 24 bit 96khz and 192khz sampling rates.

 

Info on the base model can be found here

 

Info on the Cullen Circuits mod can be found here

 

I just purchased my unit + mod from Cullen Circuits using the link above.

 

Stuart

 

Mac Mini Intel; PS Audio DL III - Stage IV Cullen Circuits Mod; Mcintosh MA6500; Audio Physic Virgo IIIs, Anti-cables, Luminous Audio - Synchestra Signature Interconnects, Kimber Kable USB cable

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