All the DACs money can buy...

[granodemostasa]

Hi.
This is a list of all the common dacs that I've ran across. If there are more, please add them to the list. The prices reflect their "new" price, or current price if they are no longer being made. For the Chinese dacs i tried to guess what shipping would be.

List of Digital to Analogue Converters:

1. Dac in Box $60http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
   

   Battery powered
   Oversampling
   CS4397 D/A
   Output: LT 1364C opamps
   Optical and Coax input

2. Entech Number cruncher 203.2 ~$80-299 ENTECH 2008
   

   Oversampling
   CS4329 D/A
   Optical and Coax input

3. Trends Audio UD-10 90$ http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Produc...Audio_desc.htm
   

   Oversampling
   Dac: PCM2704
   input: USB

4. Silverstone Ensemble EB01 $100 [/url]http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-eb01.html[/url]
   

   Non Oversampling
   Brown Burr PCM2702 D/A
   USB Powered
   Output:OPA604 op-amp
   USB input

5. Dac Super Pro USB
   http://www.audiomagus.com - DAC Super Pro USB
   

   * D/A Receiver chip CS-8416,
   * D/A converter chip, CS-4398 (24-192KHZ )
   * Dual LT1364C OPAMPS for analog output circuit
   * Optical digital input
   * Coaxial Digital Input
   * USB input (CM-108 USB receiving chip)
   * Standard RCA analog output plugs

6. Firestone fubar II $120 [/url]http://www.firestoneaudio.com.au/products/products/products/fubar.html[/url]
   

   Non Oversampling
   brown burr PCM2702
   USB input
   Output OPA2604

7. Monica 2 Dac $125 1545 DAC Kit
   

   Dac: CS8412
   Opamp: TDA1545A

8. Diyeden SAVAC04-U ~$150 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
   

   Oversampling
   D/A: PCM1716
   output: NE5532*2
   input: usb, coaxial, optical

9. Diyeden SVUC01 (tube) ~$150 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
   

   oversampling
   Tube output
   USB input

10. HIPPOhifi The Bloat $169 HIPPOhifi
    

    Oversampling
    PCM1794 or PCM1798 D/A
    Output: OPA2132, OPA2107, AD823 or AD8620
    Input: USB

11. Beresford TC-7510 $170 http://www.homehifi.co.uk/products/TC-7510.html
    

    Non Oversampling
    input: 2 Toslink/ 2 Coaxial

12. Diyeden SADAC-01-Plus ~$170 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
    

    Oversampling
    AD1852 D/A
    output: OPA134, OPA2228
    input: Optical and Coaxial

13. Zhaolu Dac 2.0 AD chip- $178 iFi Audio
    

    Oversampling
    AD 1852 D/A
    Output: opa2604
    input: Coaxial and optical

14. Zhaolu Dac 2.5 AD ~$180 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
    

    Oversampling Dac
    AD-1852 D/A
    output: 2604 opams
    input: coaxial and Optical

15. Stereolink Model 1200 $189 stereo-link :: USB DAC connects your computer to your stereo
    

    Non oversampling
    USB input
    Solidstate output, unknown opamp

16. mood-lab concept dac $199 moodlab
    

    Non Oversampling
    Dac: TDA1543
    receiver: CS8412
    output: passive IV conversion
    input: Spdif/Toslink

17. Diyeden SVDAC 01, Clear ~$215 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
    

    Oversampling
    Dac: AD1852
    Input: Coaxial, Optical

18. Sterolink model 1300 $219 stereo-link :: USB DAC connects your computer to your stereo
    

    non oversampling
    USB dac
    free cables (apparently)

19. Zhaolu Dac 2.0, CS Chip- $225 iFi Audio
    

    Oversampling
    CS4398 D/A
    Output: OPA2604
    Input: coaxial and optical

    a. Modifications by Ori for $225 Oritek Audio - Zhaolu D2.5A DAC modifications page
    b. Upgraded headamp for $50 iFi Audio
20. Zhaolu Dac 2.5 CS ~$230 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
    

    Oversampling
    CS4298 D/A
    output: 2604 opamp
    input: coaxial and optical

21. Dac-AH, Pacific Valve mod $230 Pacific Valve Lite DAC AH
    

    Non Oversampling
    Philips TDA-1543 D/A
    input: Coaxial and Optical
    output: EL2044 OPAMP

22. Diyeden Great March $245 iFi Audio
    

    Non Oversampling
    AD1852 D/A
    Output: OPA627 OP AMP
    Input: USB, 2 coxial, optical

23. Firestone Spitfire $250 Firestone Audio Spitfire DAC
    

    Coaxial and Optical input
    Oversampling
    Brown Burr PCM1793 D/A
    Output: OPA2604 opamp

24. MUSILAND MD-10 $270 iFi Audio
    

    Oversampling
    Dac:CS4398
    output: AD OP275

25. MHdt Constantine $280 MHdt Laboratory
26. M-Audio Flying Cow $289 http://www.maudio.co.uk/products/en_...gCow-main.html
27. Mhdt Dialogue II $289 MHdt Laboratory
28. Lite Dac-AM ~$290 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
    

    Oversampling
    Output: NE5532- OP
    input: Coaxial/Toslink/Balanced
    Dac: AD1853
    Receiver: CS8414

29. M-Audio Super Dac $299
30. Headroom Micro dac $299 Page Not Found - HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears
    

    Oversampling
    Cirrus CS4398 D/A
    input: USB, optical, coaxial

31. Xindak Dac3 MKII $300 Xindak Electronic - Product Center
    

    Upsampling
    input: toslink/Coaxial

32. RAKK Dac $305 K & K Audio - Lundahl Transformers, audio DIY kits and more
    

    Oversampling
    Dac: BB PCM1794
    receiver: CS8416
    output: your choice, either passive IV or Class A Mosfet

33. Delta Sigma "white noise" $303.52 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220029331792
34. Rockna RD-2 $325 (estimate) AD LABS RD-2 upsampling d/a converter module
    

    Upsampling
    Output: IV conversion discrete
    Receiver: CS8416
    Dac: PCM1796
    input: Toslink/ Coaxial

35. BES Icarus Audio Dac $329 BES Audio LLC - Home
    

    Oversampling
    Input: USB, Coaxial, XLR, Optical
    Dac: PCM 1798, TDA-1543, CS4398

36. Meier Audio Corda Move $335 Meier-Audio
    

    Non Over Sampling
    input: USB
    output: AD8610
    Dac: PCM2704

37. Channel Islands VDA-1 $350 CIAudio VDA-1
    

    Oversampling
    receiver: DIR1701
    Dac: PCM1716
    output: OPA2134
    input: Coaxial/Toslink

38. Citypulse Dac 7.2 $370 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html
    

    Oversampling
    Receiver: CS8416
    Dac: PCM1796
    input: Toslink/Coaxial

39. Moodlab $399 moodlab
    

    Coax, Optical, USB IN
    receiver: CS8414
    D/A: TDA1543

40. Lite Dac60 ~$400 Pacific Valve Lite DAC 60
    

    Oversampling
    Dac: PCM1704
    output: tube
    Input: coaxial/toslink

41. Sweet Sound Dac $420 http://stores.ebay.com/eAudioguy-Online-Store
42. Ray Samuels Audio Predator $425
    News - Ray Samuels Audio
    

    USB input

43. RDL RU-SPC1D $440
44. Corda-Aria $450 Meier-Audio
    

    Non Oversampling
    Dac: PCM2704
    output: LM6171
    input: USB

45. Scott Nixon usb Tubedac $475 dac.htm
    

    non oversampling
    input: Toslink/Coaxial
    output: Tube, 6922
    Receiver: CS8412
    Dac: TDA-1543

46. Music Fidelity X-Dac $475 Welcome to Musical Fidelity
    

    oversampling
    input: coaxial/toslink
    output: tube

47. Presonus Central Station $499 PreSonus
    

    oversampling
    input: toslink/coaxial

48. Mhdt Paradisea $499 MHdt Laboratory
49. Mhdt Renassiance II $499 MHdt Laboratory
50. Headamp Pico $500
    HeadAmp - Audio Electronics
    

    16bit
    USB
    PCM2707 performs USB to I2S conversion
    AD1896 is the upsampling
    WM8740 is the DAC
    OPA365 are for the analog filter

51. Storm Digital D02a $512
52. Lite Dac38 $550 Pacific Valve Vacuum Tube Lite DAC 38
    

    Oversampling
    Dac: PCM1704
    input: toslink/coaxial

53. Lucid DA9624 $599
54. CI Audio VDA-2 $599 Channel Islands Audio

    Oversampling
    Burr Brown PCM1794
    input: coaxial,optical
    output: discrete output stage

    a. Power Supply $158
55. Audio Research Dac-1 $600 ARCDB - DAC1
56. RME ADI-2 – $639 RME Intelligent Audio Solutions - ADI-2
    

    Oversampling
    input: spdif/ADAT/AES

57. Softone Model_2 Dac (tube) $650 Softone/ICL's AUDIO PRODUCTS
    

    Ovesampling
    receiver: CS8414
    Dac: PCM1716
    input: Toslink/Coaxial
    output: Tube, 6DJ8

58. Stello DA100 $675 April Music
    

    Optional Upsampling
    input: USB/Toslink/Coaxial
    Dac: "Delta-Sigma Dac"

59. Lite Dac68 ~$699 Pacific Valve Vacuum Tube Lite DAC 68
    

    Upsampling
    Dac: AD1853
    output: Tube 6DJ8
    input: Coaxial/Toslink/AES

60. Altman Attraction Dac $750 The Altmann Attraction DAC
61. Aqvox DAC USB $775 best DAC, USB DAC, DA converter, USB HighEnd Audio, USB to COAX, COAX to USB, balanced dac usb, headphone amp dac, 24/192 DA, High End HiFi,audiophile , ASIO, Class-A BurrBrown
    

    Oversampling
    input: USB/Toslink/Coaxial/AES
    output: discrete
    Dac: Dual mono PCM1794

62. Ack! dAck! 2.0 $795 Ack! Industries
    

    Oversampling
    Dac: TDA1545
    input: BNC (adapter to RCA included)
    output: discrete class A

63. Perpetual Technologies P-3a $799
64. Entec 205.2 $799
65. Meridian 566.24 Dac $600-800 audiogon, Meridian Home Page
66. IZO 24/192PC $900
67. Benchmark Dac-1 $975 The DAC1 - Benchmark Media Systems, Inc.
    

    Oversampling
    Dac: AD1853
    input: balanced XLR, toslink, Coaxial (optional USB for 300$ more)

68. Lavry DA10 $975 Lavry Engineering - Unsurpassed Excellence
    

    Upsampling (optional)
    Dac: AD1955
    input: Coaxial/Toslink/AES

69. Monarchy M24 Dac $980 Monarchy Audio
70. PS Audio Digital Link III $995 PS Audio - Stereo Products - Digital Link III
    

    Oversampling
    input: Coaxial/USB/Toslink
    output: discrete FET output stage
    Dac: PCM1798DB
    Receiver: CS8416

71. Perreaux $999
72. Kora Hermes Dac $1000 http://www.cadence-tech.com.sg/Kora%20Web/DAC.htm
73. Apogee Mini Dac USB $1050 Apogee Electronics: Products: Mini-DAC
    

    Oversampling
    input: USB/2 AES/ Toslink/ Coaxial

74. Corda Opera $1120 Meier-Audio
    

    Oversampling
    input: USB/ Toslink/ Coaxial
    Dac: PCM1794
    output: LM6171
    receiver: CS8420

75. Stello DA220 $1195 April Music
    

    Upsampling, optional
    input: AES, 2Coaxial/ Toslink
    output: Class A Discrete
    Dac: AK4395

76. Grace m901 $1200
77. Classe Dac $1300 Classé Audio manufactures home theater and hi fi systems for audiophiles and videophiles including digital tuners, surround sound processors, DVD players, and multi-channel amplifiers.
78. Lavry Blue $1325 Lavry Engineering
    

    Upsampling (optional)
    input: 2 AES/ Coaxial
    Dac: DA1955

79. CEC DA53 $1399 http://www.cec-web.co.jp/products/dac/da53_e.html
80. Cal Audio Labs Alpha Dac $1495
81. Stello DA220 MKII $1495 April Music
    

    Oversampling (optional)
    input: AES/Coaxial/Toslink/USB
    output: Class A discrete

82. Music fidelity XDac v. 8 $1499 Welcome to Musical Fidelity
    

    SS output or Tube buffered switchable with button on the front
    Burr-Brown SRC4392 Sample Rate Converter
    Burr-Brown DSD1792 24bit/192kHz DAC
    Burr-Brown PCM2706 for USB
    2 Phillips 6922 Triodes for tube buffer before final SS output stage (can be bypassed)

83. Sutherland 12DAX7 $1600
84. TwinDac+ $1600 The Ultimate TwinDAC+
85. Grace m902 $1600 m902 reference headphone amplifier
    

    Upsampling
    Input: USB/AES/Toslink/Coaxial

86. Wavelenght Brick $1750 Wavelength Audio, ltd, USB TUBE DAC, Tube Audio DAC, USB Audio DAC, Cosecant, Brick, Ultimate
    

    Non over Sampling
    Dac: TDA1543
    input: USB
    output: Tube, 12AU7

87. Hagerman Technology Chime $1799 Hagerman Technology LLC: Chime USB DAC
    

    Upsampling
    input: USB/Coaxial
    output: Class A Tube, 12AX7, 12AU7, EY3
    Dac: TDA1545

88. Apogee Rosetta 200 $1900 Apogee Electronics: Products: ROSETTA 200
    

    Upsampling
    Input: Spdif/MIDI

89. Stello DP200 $1995 stello.com.au
    

    Upsampling (optional)
    input: Coaxial/ AES/ Toslink
    output: Class A Discrete
    Dac: AK4395

90. LessLoss Dac $2000 http://www.lessloss.com/users.html
    

    Upsampling
    Dac: parallel PCM1704UK
    Output: I/U conversion and OP2134

91. Slim Devices Transporter $2000 Slim Devices : Product Info : Transporter Wireless Network Music Player: No compromises.
    

    Upsampling
    Dac: AK4396
    Input: Optical/Coaxial/ BNC/ XLR/ Wi-fi
    Output: OP-NE5534

92. Cyrus DAC-X $2200 Cyrus Audio
    

    Upsampling
    Input: 4coaxial/ 2 optical

93. SB+ Dac $2100
94. Electrocompaniet ECD1 $2250 Electrocompaniet: If music really matters
    

    Oversampling
    input: Toslink/Coaxial

95. Bel Canto Dac-3 $2500 Bel Canto
    

    Upsampling
    Input: Coaxial/ BNC/ Toslink/ USB/ AES
    Dac: dual PCM1794
    Output: two stage, I/V conversion and class A balanced

96. Universal Audio 2192 $2800 Universal Audio | Digital Products | 2192 | Overview
    

    Upsampling
    Input: BCN/ XLR
    Output: Class A discrete

97. North Star 192 $2800 North Star Model 192
98. Grace M904 $2800 m906 m904 monitor systems
99. AUDIOMAT Tempo 2.5 $2975 Blue Moon Audio : The Products : Audiomat
100. Apogee DA-16X $3150 Apogee Electronics: Products: DA-16X
101. Lake People Dac F466-S $3200 Willkommen bei Lake People Elektronic GmbH
102. Music Fidelity DM25 Dac $3250 http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/kw/dac.html
     

     Upsampling
     Input: AES/XLR
     Output: Tube and Class A “transistor”

103. Wavelength Cosecant $3500 Wavelength Audio, ltd, USB TUBE DAC, Tube Audio DAC, USB Audio DAC, Cosecant, Brick, Ultimate
104. Cyrus DAC-XP $4350 Cyrus Audio
105. AUDIOMECA Enkianthus $4000 Audiomeca Enkianthus DAC [English]
     

     Oversampling
     Input: Coax/BNC/ AES/ AT&T

106. Orpheus Labs Dac one $4800 Orpheus Laboratories - High End HiFi
     

     Upsampling
     Input: AES/Coaxial/Toslink
     Dac: proprietary dac board

107. Audio Aero Prima $5000 http://www.sigsound.com/PDFs/PrimaDacLit.pdf
108. Empirical Audio Spoiler USB Tube DAC $6000 Interconnects and Cables by Empirical Audio
     

     Oversampling
     Dac: PCM1704UK
     Output: Tube
     Input: USB/ Coaxial

109. MSB Technology Platinum III $6000 DAC III
     

     Upsampling
     Dac: proprietary dac, four modules
     Input: Coaxial/Toslink/AES

110. Sonic Froniters SFD li mkii Tube Dac $6500
111. Chord Dac 64 $6500 Chord Electronics Ltd - Creating Perfection in both Professional and Consumer Hi-fi fields. With a large range of Stereo, Mono and Multi-channel amplifiers, Pre-amplifiers and digital products, leading the world in high end British audio.
112. Elise Dac LT $6600 http://www.artaudio.com/elise.html
113. Dodson DA-218 $8000 Silversmith Audio Group
114. Sennheiser HEV90 $8000 http://www.sigsound.com/PDFs/PrimaDacLit.pdf
115. Lavry DA2002 $8500 Lavry Engineering - Unsurpassed Excellence
     

     Upsampling
     Input: Coaxial/AES
     Receiver: Motorola DSP56002 DSP
     Dac: own creation using AD7538, BB OPA177, OPA627 and AD744
     Output: BB OPA134

116. Spectral SDR-2000 $8999 Spectral Incorporated
     

     Oversampling
     Dac: proprietary design, four Dac modules
     Output: discrete

117. Zanden Audio model 5000 MKIV $9800 Products information
     

     Non Oversampling
     Dac: TDA 1541
     Receiver: proprietary
     Output: IV conversion, Tube: 6922
     Input: AES/Coaxial

118. Wadia 27ix $9950 Wadia Products Line
     

     Oversampling
     Input: 2 Toslink/ AES/ 2 Coaxial/ 1 Plastic Toslink
     Output: Class A discrete
     Dac: Four PCM1702S

119. Emm Labs Dac6 $9995
120. Theta Digital Generation VIII $10,000 Theta Digital - Generation VIII Product Info
121. Wavelength Ultimate DPU $11,000 Wavelength Audio, ltd, USB TUBE DAC, Tube Audio DAC, USB Audio DAC, Cosecant, Brick, Ultimate
122. Nagra Dac $13,000 Nagra - High end Audio
123. Esoteric D-03 $13,200 TEAC Esoteric
     

     Upsampling optional
     Dac: Dual differential AD1955
     Input: Coaxial/ AES/ I.link/ Toslink

124. Emmlabs Dcc2 Se $13,500 EMM Labs - DCC2 SE 2 Channel Digital to Analog Control Center
     

     Upsampling
     Input: coaxial/ toslink/ OptiLink/ AES/ PCM
     Dac: proprietary design, Dual differential discrete design

125. Zanden Audio 5000 signature 15470$Products information
     

     Non Oversampling
     Dac: Two TDA 1541
     Receiver: proprietary
     Output: IV conversion, Tube: 6922/ 6CA4 (power)
     Input: I2S/AES/Coaxial

126. Burmester 970 SRC reference da converter $16,000 Burmester
     

     Upsampling
     Dac: proprietary dull differential
     Input: Toslink/ AES/ Coaxial/ AT&T (ST)

127. dCs Elgar Plus Dac $17,495 dCS "World Leaders in Digital Audio Conversion Technology"
     

     Oversampling
     Input: AES/ Dual AES/ RCA/ BNC/ Toslink
     Dac: proprietary, “ring dac”

128. Stax X1T Dac $20,000 http://www.highendpalace.com/
129. MBL 1611E - $21,450 MBL 1611 D
     

     Upsampling
     Input: 2AES/ 2 Coaxial/ 2 BNC/ 2 Toslink/ 2 plastic Toslink
     Dac: CS4396-KS
     Receiver: CS8414

130. Wadia series 9 $27,850 Wadia Products Line
     

     Oversampling
     Output: Class A discrete
     Inputs: 2 glass Toslink/ 2 BNC/ 1 fiber Toslink/ 1 AES

131. Esoteric D-01 $32,000 TEAC Esoteric
132. Audionote Dac 5 $33,000 Audio Note Home Page
133. Boulderamp Dac2020 $35,000 Welcome to BoulderAmp.com
134. GTE Trinity Dac 42,000 Euros GTE Trinity DAC Technical Review [English]
     

     Upsampling
     Dac: PCM1704
     receiver: AKM 4112B

135. Gaku-on $250,000

Dacs you can't buy:
a. "Dac from bufferfly-look-alike box" $800-1600
b. "Dac from discrete maker" $499-599
c. upcoming mini-dac from Headroom $ only Tyll knows
d. Zhaolu D 3.0

[mrarroyo]

Item 46) Musical Fidelity X-Dac V3 can be purchased from Music Direct as a Demo for $475 plus $7 S&H. I know 'cause I just got one.

By the way good list, thanks.

[Sleestack]

The D-01 should really be listed as $32K(Dual Mono).

[lagardere]

GREAT, GREAT WORK!

You might want to add this one:
- Stello DP200 - 1995$ + Shipping

[lagardere]

… and the RME ADI-2 – 639$ + Shipping

I also read somewhere about the MSB Link DAC III but I don’t know the price.

Please correct 63) Bel Canot with Bel Canto

If in the future you could add the links to the manufacturer’s websites (or more …), this thread really could become the new bible for everyone looking for a dac.

[lagardere]

WOW! Almost all links already added! CONGRATULATIONS! GREAT JOB!

I which I had this kind of information when I started looking for a dac (that I didn’t buy yet btw). It would have saved me lots and lots of searching. Hours ......

[Blueiz]

I vote for STICKY status.....

[Azure]

Very useful. A sticky pending a little clean-up would be nice

[909]

I've heard word that a new DAC might be hitting the market place, but I don't know when. At the So Cal, Craig had his Moth Audio DAC from the late 90s and it out did the legendary 508.24 and everyone that compared them confirmed it.

After the meet, I mentioned to Craig that he should make another DAC and a few days ago he told me that he's talking with the Moth Hyper DAC designer. Right now, they are currently brain storming an updated version.

[granodemostasa]

i'm gonna edit this throughout the week... as more dacs and info come in.
thanks.. i can't put the moth dac unless i figure out the price (before or in the future).... i am hungry for that moth dac though... count me in as interested

[kramer5150]

I vote:STICKY, in the "Source Components" section?

Great research granodemostasa!!

can I suggest, maybe adding what DAC chip each unit uses, and what OP amps (if any) are used on the analog side?

Some of that info might be proprietary info though.

Garrett

[granodemostasa]

Originally Posted by kramer5150

I vote:STICKY, in the "Source Components" section?

Great research granodemostasa!!

can I suggest, maybe adding what DAC chip each unit uses, and what OP amps (if any) are used on the analog side?

Some of that info might be proprietary info though.

Garrett

i wanted to... what i'm having troube on is getting the tabs to work so that it doesn't look all piled atop and unorganized.. for example, if you look at the zhaolu section, the a./b. things are on the same level as the numbers...

[Azure]

Try using the "CODE" tags.

How about including whether each DAC is tube or solid state based (Maybe also non-oversampling, oversampling, etc.)?

[granodemostasa]

Originally Posted by Azure

Try using the "CODE" tags.

How about including whether each DAC is tube or solid state based (Maybe also non-oversampling, oversampling, etc.)?

I'm not sure how to use "code" tags...
how does the top "dac in a box" look like- as a model for the rest of them?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by granodemostasa

I'm not sure how to use "code" tags...
how does the top "dac in a box" look like- as a model for the rest of them?

Click on that pound button that is next to the quote button, and then just insert your formatted text in there.

The "dac in a box" model looks great, though my brain doesn't like adding the US dollar sign at the end of the number (Just looks unnatural with "$," as opposed to other forms of currencies).