Async USB DACs – rDAC, vDAC, zDAC

Des Moines
Des Moines Posts: 115
edited July 2010 in The Clubhouse
The Musical Fidelity vDAC has been out for a year and now sells for $299. Have any CP members auditioned it? I would like to know if the SQ is significantly better than NMTs / Networked Media Players at a similar price point.


There are two new USB DAC product launches this summer and it seems like they are gaining popularity over media players w / hard drives.

Arcam rDAC ($479)
http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,solo,DACs,rDac.htm

Decware zDAC ($875)
http://www.decware.com/newsite/ZDAC1.html
HT in Progress
Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR520 5.1
Fronts - Polk SDA 1C
Center - Polk CS350
Monitor - Sharp Aquos LCD
NMT - Mede8er500x
Cables - Signal Ultra
Post edited by Des Moines on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited July 2010
    You would think for those prices they could put them in something better looking than a Radio Shack project box.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2010
    The Arcam appearance reminds me of Sonos, which isn't a bad thing. I agree with William about the Decware though, it looks awful.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Des Moines
    Des Moines Posts: 115
    edited July 2010
    Face wrote: »
    The Arcam appearance reminds me of Sonos, which isn't a bad thing. I agree with William about the Decware though, it looks awful.

    Agreed re the Decware. The real deal seems to be between the Arcam and Musical Fidelity, which both have strong brand advocates.
    HT in Progress
    Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR520 5.1
    Fronts - Polk SDA 1C
    Center - Polk CS350
    Monitor - Sharp Aquos LCD
    NMT - Mede8er500x
    Cables - Signal Ultra
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2010
    The Arcam DAC looks good and it will be interesting to find out how it compares to others in its price range. I bought a Musiland 02 USB DAC off of eBay and have been impressed with its performance considering it was $126 including shipping. It's not the infamous giant killer, but in my modest computer music system it really sounds nice.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited July 2010
    The v-dac is meant to look awful to keep the price down. Just put
    it BEHIND the preamp!
    A dacmagic DAC looks better. I've seen it at at $350 used often enough.
    I'm using a PICO right now. They aren't top shelf, but do a very nice job.
    You can set up one of these DAC's with a pc or network device and
    match up well with what a good mid-fi CDP would cost and sound like.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter