Any DAC better than D2 Boa for around $200? - Page 2

I was about to suggest the beresford until I saw Herandu's post..lol

Herandu, I just want you to know that you are the sole reason that the beresford is unpopular. I think it's great, but I may have to sell it if you keep displaying the fanboyism. lol

OP, I don't think you can go wrong with the Zero either. Good Luck!

Um, I strongly disagree with this based on my listening to it and a number of other dacs under $500.

You can get some NON-OS dacs, if you like that sound, used for between 200-300 like monica, shek, moodlab, etc.

What about the E-MU 0404 USB? People seem to really like it but I've never been able to listen to it personally

Have you guys even considered the Super Pro DAC707SE USB? Its got the same great CS-4398 24/196 DAC chip as the Headroom Micro DAC and the same high quality CS-8416 receiver chip. I'm sure power's different, but it's $100 and the Micro DAC is $400. Just a thought.

What about the KECES? A lot of rave reviews about that unit.

Are you sure it was the 6/3 you listened to and not a previous version? The 6/3 is a different design than his previous versions, but under the same TC-7510 model number and look alike case. A lot of owners of the older versions of the TC-7510 give the impression that it is the later and better 6/3 they are referring to when that is not the case.

Well. I'm not saying it's the truth, or that it's a lie. But fair answer, and logical. Now I regret buying all that popcorn. Since I neither frequent the NAIM forum, nor do I frequent any non-english forums, I will not comment on what I don't know. :D A slight break on tradition from some common practices regarding recommendations for sound, but whatevers.

I have my doubts about Herandu and his motives, maybe he is just the biggest fanboy of any product on the net, maybe he is Stanley himself, who knows??? One thing is though, ebay feedback don't lie and the people who buy it do seem to love it.

Yes.

Heard that as well as previous versions and a previously modded version.

IMHO, the SHEK and Monica (especially monica 3) simply destroy it.

As in not even close. YMMV. Sorry.

I loved the flexibly of the Beresford and keep wanting to like it - and, frankly, took your opinion very seriously when making my decision to purchase, but became disappointed with the sound when I started comparing it to other dacs.

Blame it on my naivety, but I fell for it on more than one occasion on which you waxed on categorically about the sound and improvement of the new version - that coupled with my earnest desire to get the flexibility the unit offers had me purchase new stock and modded versions, only to be repeatedly disappointed.

I'm now very happy with my SHEK feeding a modded Onix 99 (although may look into upgrading the power supply) and don't plan on falling for it again when Beresford releases a new version and you most likely give it a glowing review noting its superiority to the current version.

Part of that is because I'm determined not to keep making that mistake, part of it is because the SHEK is in a different league as the beresford and I have doubts as to whether beresford could significantly improve the the sound in a version to close the gap.

In any case, it's the categorical nature of the claims like 'the beresford simply destroys any dac under $500 go google it' that seems to exceed the boundaries of even reasonably balanced judgment. Indeed, google it and you will find different results (hopefully this post will also be indexed to display in those results).

I'd be tempted to ask whether you've heard a whole list of sub $500 dacs, but afraid it wouldn't matter - and this thread isn't the place for that anyway.

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Back to the OP - the non-os dacs if that's your sound are great - haven't heard the KECES but comparing it's internal shot to what I've seen in the beresford, it's more impressive on that score and seems like it's be worth a shot.

So it's undisputed outside of head-fi?

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Hmm - even after a bit of searching I've found different reports at other hi-fi sites - english language-wise and even some other that aren't english-language (french for example).

Frankly, this is a fairly odd way to construct an "appeal-to-authority" argument.

Maybe one of us can find a Swahili site?

If you're this active on various boards, eventually getting traction enough to skew a couple shouldn't be surprising.

And asking anything akin to 'what other dac could match the reported claim of an individual's opinion?' broaches a level aggressive inanity rarely seen.

Seriously, this reminds me of someone who used to be here who jacked every thread about portable amps in a similar way - I sincerely hope the mods are following you here and considering similar action.

Which other DAC can match the Beresford? Good question, I really don't know. I know several that blow it out of the water, HR Micro/Ultra DAC, Benchmark DAC1, Apogee Mini DAC, AQVOX USB 2, Channel Islands Audio VDA2, Bel Canto's, Meier's, and on and on and on. The Beresford may be a decent DAC for the money, but it is FAR from cutting edge technology or true audiophile quality. But, then again, I'm not Norwegian, so I could be lying.