Entry level DAC
leadfoot1
Posts: 155
Been thinking about getting a DAC for the first time. What is a good entry level DAC? How much would one cost? Not sure on budget right now.
Also what would be a good used one to look for? Right now using the DACs in my Denon 4810ci and Pioneer Elite SC-35 so it would need to be better than those.
Also, not sure if this was supposed to be in Eletrical, my apologies if in the wrong section.
Also what would be a good used one to look for? Right now using the DACs in my Denon 4810ci and Pioneer Elite SC-35 so it would need to be better than those.
Also, not sure if this was supposed to be in Eletrical, my apologies if in the wrong section.
Post edited by leadfoot1 on
Comments
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CambridgeAudio DAC Magic is liked around here.
I had a PS AUdio DL III that I liked.
Check out audiogonSpeakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs -
I agree that the DacMagic is a good choice.Get one from Audiogon for about $325.
You need to figure out your budget.
A hundred bucks one way or the other can make a difference.You can get them for $250 to $2500Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC
Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords
I’M OFFENDED!!!! -
Not so sure a dac magic is going to give him better sound then the dacs in the Elite receiver. I guess it depends on what he plans on using the new dac with, just a cdp, HT, computer ? Without a stated budget, the responses will run the gamut.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Check out Audio-GD. They offer DACs and many price ranges, and I love their sound quality and build quality in any product I've ordered from them.
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We also need to know more about the rest of your system. A good DAC can make a difference, but the rest of your gear needs to be on a level that will let you hear that difference. It looks like you have a SC-35, what speakers are you running?
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You can get them for $250 to $2500
More like $25 to $25,000
Not so sure a dac magic is going to give him better sound then the dacs in the Elite receiver.
I agree. Any "entry-level" DAC is not going to be an improvement. You would need a solid mid-level piece to do better. Benchmark DAC-1, Wyred for Sound DAC-1 or 2, Bryston BDA, etc.Check out Audio-GD. They offer DACs and many price ranges, and I love their sound quality and build quality in any product I've ordered from them.
I agree. I got an Audio GD NFB-7 DAC from zingo, and it's fantastic. It out performs the Benchmark in my system, to my ears. It's also built like a tank with a great analog section and power supplies.
Since then, I bought an Audio GD Digital Interface USB to SPDIF converter, and I have been equally impressed with its build quality and sonics.
Very high bang for the buck factor from Audio GD, and don't be scared that they're based in China. I received great customer service, though it was in rather broken English.
I guess it depends on what he plans on using the new dac with, just a cdp, HT, computer ?
Yes. We need more info.
2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
don't forget the Wyred for Sound as well as Burson which can also function as a pre amp. IMO if still running things thru a AVR for 2 channel it still isn't the best sound you can get.
Otherwise Musical Fidelity M1 Dac is also good and Benchmark ect. Several out there and many different prices to boot. -
There are a million DACs out there now.
Other than older name brand DACS(with great analog sections)
There aren't any real giant killers. You get what you pay for.
There was a thread I found where 8 guys got their equipment together
and compared them. As expected, sound got better with price. There was
one more expensive one that was crap, but other than that, the rule applied.
There are a lot of new DACS that raise the bar in their price range,
but the improvement is across the board. High end and low end are improving,
so $$$$ is for the most part better than $$.
Check Audiogon, you can find some older, better gear at a good price point,
You'll also won't take a beating if you sell it. DACs are hard to compare.
Most people have only heard one or two. So all the reviews are glowing.
Name a dealer where you can hear two head to head. Pretty rare.
I just bought a audio-gd nfb3 used. I'm waiting for delivery.
I expect good sound, but it isn't going to sound like a $1k DAC."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 -
OK thnx for the replies guys. I was thinking $300 ish budget and would prefer used. The setup right now consists of Pioneer Elite SC-35, Denon 3910 cdp, Vienna Hadyn Grand. I tried using the DACs in the cdp and the reciever and I thought the ones in the receiver sounded better.
Will anything in my price range sound better than my receiver DACs? If not what should my budget be? -
I have the Haydn's and the DacMagic. I thought it made a noticeable difference over my Harman Kardon AVR335. However it sounds like the Pioneer Elite must have a better built in dac than my H/K. If that's the case I would probably hold off and get something a little better.Setup:
2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI -
Monarchy audio is a good choice and can be found sometimes on audiogon and ebay in your price range.SDA-2BTL with custom IC
Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
Harman Kardon T-55c TT
DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre -
I just purchased the Xiang Sheng DAC-02A....tube dac with usb...nice feature:you can switch between the tube output or ss output.Nice volume attentuator on the headphone amp...coax,optical and bnc inputs...$245 w/free ship from HK.....I'm pairing it with the Yaqin CD-3 Tube Buffer.....Heavenly.
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OK thnx for the replies guys. I was thinking $300 ish budget and would prefer used. The setup right now consists of Pioneer Elite SC-35, Denon 3910 cdp, Vienna Hadyn Grand. I tried using the DACs in the cdp and the reciever and I thought the ones in the receiver sounded better.
Will anything in my price range sound better than my receiver DACs? If not what should my budget be?
Short answer is....not really. None that I can think of off the top of my head anyway. You could find a dacmagic used in that price range but as far as the amount of improvement, thats iffy. Maybe try a tube buffer to give you some added SQ. Yagin has a decent one for around 2 bills.
How is the denon connected to the receiver ? Maybe you can tweek the settings a bit in the receiver too to gain some SQ.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Do not discount the CA DacMagic. It's a great sounding DAC that will bring the improvement that you're looking for. One thing I've learned is that you do not, I repeat do not have to spend a lot of $$$$$ to get incredible sound. I think in the opposite direction...spending a lot gets you very little in return. Don't get hung up on how much a piece costs!"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DAC.asp
The V-DAC MKII. This could be very nice. Is it for sale in the U.S. yet? Has anyone listened to it? -
So I was picking up my new speakers today and listened to a Peachtree DAC. It sounded good and was $469 ?? I think. Would this be an improvement over my SC-35 dac's ?
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Well I put an offer in on a DAC Magic on audiogon. If it is not excepted I think I am just going to get a Wyred4Sound DAC-1 and be done with it.
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Cambridge Audio DAC MAGIC is the one you seek, stop looking and go buy one. Done deal.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Cambridge Audio DAC MAGIC is the one you seek, stop looking and go buy one. Done deal.
Dan, I know you're an Elite Man; does the dac magic really best the Elite's DAC's that much???
Ben2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
Bought the Cambridge DAC Magic. Can't wait to get it!
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You havent said what digital cable you are using. That will make a difference! Black cat veloce is a good choice.Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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I have actually been thinking about getting the Black Cat Veloce. Will probably get one very soon. Currently using an older Bolder Cable solid core that has been cryo'd with Eichmann bullets.
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My wait is over I just got a Audio-gd nfb3. It was used $250 to my door.
Nice sounding DAC at that price. I was holding out to buy a PSaudio, but this
was priced too well. This performance in the under $500 range just wasn't
there two years ago. I'm sure you'll find much the same true when your
DAcmagic gets there. That one was on my radar as well."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 -
Hey Jeff, What are the terminals? The terminals on the Black Cat's (in the pic) looks like BNC's with a RCA adapter, is that right?You havent said what digital cable you are using. That will make a difference! Black cat veloce is a good choice.
I couldn't see any actual specs on their site.
http://api.ning.com/files/uWSIohLoVuGt6Im2OEFAHUVywEuBfCzORrq1O4M-BKvmfVQlZ9bjrGzsz5r*r4Y9pueIZYeOE-po8cZ46nNPQ3XFM2aPXXzT/VeloceEdit.jpg -
Hey Jeff, What are the terminals? The terminals on the Black Cat's (in the pic) looks like BNC's with a RCA adapter, is that right?
I couldn't see any actual specs on their site.
http://api.ning.com/files/uWSIohLoVuGt6Im2OEFAHUVywEuBfCzORrq1O4M-BKvmfVQlZ9bjrGzsz5r*r4Y9pueIZYeOE-po8cZ46nNPQ3XFM2aPXXzT/VeloceEdit.jpg
Yes it is.Testing
Testing
Testing -
Hi Ken,
Pepster has it right, bnc cable with rca adapters. Works well and sounds better than the dh labs IMO. Listening to the MIT demo cables and the black cat veloce. Sounds sweet.Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server -
sucks2beme wrote: »My wait is over I just got a Audio-gd nfb3. It was used $250 to my door.
Nice sounding DAC at that price. I was holding out to buy a PSaudio, but this
was priced too well. This performance in the under $500 range just wasn't
there two years ago. I'm sure you'll find much the same true when your
DAcmagic gets there. That one was on my radar as well.
How do you like your NFB-3?
I am a huge Audio GD fan. The craftsmanship and quality of parts for the money is unique. Kingwa is smart designer, and a customer-oriented businessman.
I'm currently using an Audio GD NFB-7 and a Digital Interface. Both are fantastic.:biggrin:2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
falconcry72 wrote: »How do you like your NFB-3?
I am a huge Audio GD fan. The craftsmanship and quality of parts for the money is unique. Kingwa is smart designer, and a customer-oriented businessman.
I'm currently using an Audio GD NFB-7 and a Digital Interface. Both are fantastic.:biggrin:
I'm interested in hearing how like your NFB-3 as well! -
Short answer is....not really. None that I can think of off the top of my head anyway. You could find a dacmagic used in that price range but as far as the amount of improvement, thats iffy. Maybe try a tube buffer to give you some added SQ. Yagin has a decent one for around 2 bills.
How is the denon connected to the receiver ? Maybe you can tweek the settings a bit in the receiver too to gain some SQ.
You can get the top yaqin tube buffer(CD3) for $167 incl shipping!.....I just got one....very nice.If you're interested,let me know...I'll tell you where.It was solidly packaged and took about 10 days with an actual HK Post tracking number.....peter -
I have the Yagin CD 1 tube buffer along with the CA DacMagic & the SONOS system. Sounds simply wonderfull!!!"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
