So Many DACs - So Little Time!

danz1906
danz1906 Posts: 5,144
edited March 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
Looking for Good Dac at a Great Price- Here's my order of Preference:

1. PS Audio PerfectWave Dac
2. Bryston BDA-1
3. Bel Canto e.One Dac3
4. Benchmark Dac1 pre
5. Cary Xciter Dac
6. PS Audio DL III
7. Cambridge DacMagic
8. Music Hall Dac25.2
Linn AV5140 fronts
Linn AV5120 Center
Linn AV5140 Rears
M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
Odyssey Mono-Blocs
SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
Post edited by danz1906 on
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited January 2010
    Just gotta ask about one not listed ...of course. Musical Fidelity VDAC?

    In a separate forum it has been consistently thought to be better than the last 2 on your list. YMMV
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin T2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC: Denafrips Pontus II Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Pass X150.8 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Morrow M4 ICs & Audio Art SC-5 ePlus, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    phipiper10 wrote: »
    Just gotta ask about one not listed ...of course. Musical Fidelity VDAC?

    In a separate forum it has been consistently thought to be better than the last 2 on your list. YMMV

    Ive heard good things about the VDac,but Im looking for a Dac with Balanced
    outputs.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2010
    Don't forget the Peachtree Nova.
    "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
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2010
    Sometimes this hobby makes me want to throw out the white towel and call the fight.
    Peachtree Nova....great...I've never even heard of that but I don't doubt that it's good. I wonder HOW many more I've never heard of.

    Oh well...it is said that John Milton was the last human (European), who was able to read and command almost ALL the knowledge of his time...it's been a while since John and Paradise Lost!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Don't forget the Peachtree Nova.

    Very Interesting Intergrated Amp/Dac combo!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • agfrost
    agfrost Posts: 2,428
    edited January 2010
    Did you see the Musical Fidelity tubed DAC on Chicago CL?

    Guy's got an ad up for it at $1100, but mentioned it in one of his other ads for $1K, so he'll go at least that low, maybe lower. Include "berwyn" in your search and you'll get to the ad easily.

    Plus, if you buy it, I can stop thinking about it.

    Jay
    Jay
    SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
    Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
    Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    agfrost wrote: »
    Did you see the Musical Fidelity tubed DAC on Chicago CL?

    Guy's got an ad up for it at $1100, but mentioned it in one of his other ads for $1K, so he'll go at least that low, maybe lower. Include "berwyn" in your search and you'll get to the ad easily.

    Plus, if you buy it, I can stop thinking about it.

    Jay

    Jay,,,,I didnt see the CL ad for the MF Dac,,,Thanks for the heads-up!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Jay,,,,I didnt see the CL ad for the MF Dac,,,Thanks for the heads-up!

    The Dac is also on Audiogon.......Looks pretty Good:)
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • DeusExa
    DeusExa Posts: 491
    edited January 2010
    That's a pretty wide price range...
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2010
    I replaced the Benchmark DAC1 Pre with Bryston BDA. Both are great, but for me the Bryston is a bit better sounding. The Benchmark is more versitle since it also a pre-amp.

    My next DAC is the Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC. Suppossedly, this is the king, the pinnacle, the DAC all others wish they were. But it has two flaws for me, price and inputs. Price is $5K, while better than a high-end CD player, is still up there. The input flaw is a bit bigger in my mind, but it might be irrelevant. It does not have an RCA SPDIF input, only a BNC. I asked them about that and they said Bluejeans can make a RCA to BNC cable, and if it is under 3' there shouldn't be any issue. However, for 5K I would expect an RCA input.

    http://www.berkeleyaudiodesign.com/
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    BlueFox wrote: »
    I replaced the Benchmark DAC1 Pre with Bryston BDA. Both are great, but for me the Bryston is a bit better sounding. The Benchmark is more versitle since it also a pre-amp.

    My next DAC is the Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC. Suppossedly, this is the king, the pinnacle, the DAC all others wish they were. But it has two flaws for me, price and inputs. Price is $5K, while better than a high-end CD player, is still up there. The input flaw is a bit bigger in my mind, but it might be irrelevant. It does not have an RCA SPDIF input, only a BNC. I asked them about that and they said Bluejeans can make a RCA to BNC cable, and if it is under 3' there shouldn't be any issue. However, for 5K I would expect an RCA input.

    http://www.berkeleyaudiodesign.com/

    The Berkeley Audio Alpha Dac looks Very impressive!
    Would you say its better than the Theta Gen VIII?
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    The Berkeley Audio Alpha Dac looks Very impressive! Would you say its better than the Theta Gen VIII?

    Personally, I have no idea. I have never experienced either of them, but as we all know, there is always something better.

    For audio equipment, I gather information from some posts on this site, Google searchs, and equipment reviews in various magazines. If I am looking for something, for example a DAC, and everything comes back positive, then I might purchase something unheard. So far, this process has been working well.

    The Alpha DAC got a good review in the absolute sound by Robert Harley, but, based on a CP member's recomendation, I decided to save $3K, and buy the Bryston instead.

    "The real story, however, is that this performance and functionality is possible at $4995. Although not inexpensive, the Alpha DAC nonetheless competes with, and outperforms, much more expensive converters. At $5k, the Alpha DAC is a spectacular bargain. It is my outboard converter of choice for both CD and high-resolution sources—regardless of price."

    http://www.avguide.com/review/berkeley-audio-design-alpha-dac
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2010
    Here are some impressions of the Alpha DAC: http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=34678&page=1&pp=35&highlight=Alpha
    "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
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    I think I may check out the Bryston dac.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited January 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Looking for Good Dac at a Great Price- Here's my order of Preference:

    1. PS Audio PerfectWave Dac
    2. Bryston BDA-1
    3. Bel Canto e.One Dac3
    4. Benchmark Dac1 pre
    5. Cary Xciter Dac
    6. PS Audio DL III
    7. Cambridge DacMagic
    8. Music Hall Dac25.2
    You didn't mention Audio Alchemy,I still love mine,sorry reeltrouble.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2010
    Well as long as we're listing things:

    4.1 Balanced Signature. The Dac 4.1 Balanced Signature is in another game. To be honest, as much as I love the 4.1 Balanced and could be happy with it forever, the 4.1 Sig is the first DAC I’ve heard that truly does enable digital to compete on an even playing field with very good if not state of the art analogue. While the 4.1 Balanced is great digital and an appropriate goal for all but the most self-indulgent audiophile, the Signature version does seem to cross some sort of invisible (and expensive) threshold and take us to a place where the choice of what to play, CD or LP, can be based, as we once hoped it would be, on the music rather than the medium. It does not emulate analogue’s beguiling softness but offers comparable smoothness in the treble and stunning overall clarity and transparency. It can turn a good system into an extraordinary one all by itself. That it takes this level of investment to get to this point with digital tells us all we need to know about the medium’s difficulties in musical communication relative to analogue, doesn’t it! $28,000

    DAC 5 Special and Signature . More information and commentary coming someday! $40,425 and $76,500

    Of course the 4.1 is worth more than any car I've ever owned? And I am kidding some here because I doubt there are many who could afford some of these. But I ran across this in a search a couple of days ago...wonders never cease.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    PolkClyde wrote: »
    You didn't mention Audio Alchemy,I still love mine,sorry reeltrouble.

    Audio Alchemy is a Classic older Dac!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    cnh wrote: »

    DAC 5 Special and Signature . More information and commentary coming someday! $40,425 and $76,500.
    Of course the 4.1 is worth more than any car I've ever owned?

    cnh

    Too Rich for my Blood!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    Has anyone heard the PerfectWave Dac???
    The Bryston and the PWD are very close in price on Audiogon,could be very
    happy with either one:)-But which one????
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    Only real DAC I have ever owned and do not feel like I need to upgrade. PS Audio DL III.
    Speakers: 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
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited January 2010
    How about the Peachtree Audio Decco?Is it out yet?
    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
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    Only real DAC I have ever owned and do not feel like I need to upgrade. PS Audio DL III.

    The PS Audio III a great dac for the Money.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    fbm211 wrote: »
    How about the Peachtree Audio Decco?Is it out yet?

    I think MusicDirect has it.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • praedet
    praedet Posts: 314
    edited January 2010
    The new Onix DAC25?
    HT: Ninja Master LSi9s, Ninja Master LSiC, Slightly Modded LSiFXs, Modded LSi7s, Outlaw LFM-1 EX and Polk PSW125
    Outlaw 970 Preamp, Outlaw 7700 Amp, Velodyne SMS-1, Oppo BDP-83,
    2 APC H-15s and a Panamax 5400 for good measure ;)
    Stereo: DIY Alix Music Server, DODD Audio Battery Tube Buffer, Modded DAC-60 and MF V-Link (for now), DIY Silver ICs, Battery Powered Class D SDS-254 Amp, and GR-Research N2X Speakers
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    praedet wrote: »
    The new Onix DAC25?

    Looks very interesting-Nice price!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    DeusExa wrote: »
    That's a pretty wide price range...

    The used price on the Bel Canto Dac3 seems to be coming down in price:)
    The Good thing about the Dac3 is that it has a Remote,and can be run
    without a Pre-amp.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited January 2010
    Eastern Electric is coming out w/ $600-700 DAC using Sabre 9018.

    Due this month. I pre-ordered.

    Switchable tube to ss output. I think it has user exchangable opamps.
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited January 2010
    FWIW I have a modded Adcom GDA 600,, total cost for the unit 100 bucks,, mods included new opamps and some electrolytic caps about 110, bringing the total to 210 dollars,, very detailed,musical and sweet. I'm sure that I could do better,,question is for how much more.I think that I'm gonna keep this one.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited February 2010
    Why are there so many Benchmark Dacs for sale on Audiogon???
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2010
    If you can solder, the Twisted Pear Audio Buffalo II will be available soon. All their stuff is balanced. Then you would have the newest ESS 9018 dac available. The Peach Tree and Oppo and others use the 9008 or 9006 which are older dacs from ESS. Hard to say why there are so many Benchmarks on AG.
    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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