Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Balanced DAC with Coax and Native 24/192?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Balanced DAC with Coax and Native 24/192?

post #1 of 2
10/11/10 at 12:27pm
Thread Starter 

I'm new to the world of high-end DACs, so I'm hoping to get some recommendations.

 

I have a pair of balanced (dual XLR) Denon D2000s.  I would like to use a sound card or other transport to get 24/192 audio from my computer to a DAC via coaxial S/PDIF, then send balanced output from the DAC to a balanced amp.  Or, I would send the coax from my transport to the DAC, and then to the JH-3A's coax input (whenever the JH-3A comes out).

 

I've been reading about the DACMagic, but are there other options for balanced DACs with coax input and output?  I'm hesitating a bit on the DACMagic due to its use of upsampling and some reports of shaky build quality/defective units.

 

I'd be willing to spend up to around $1700, although if you can suggest any high-value products that cost less, I'd be interested.  USB would be nice, but it's not necessary since I'm planning on getting a tranport with coax from my computer.

 

Lastly, can someone please clarify whether USB output is inherently limited to 16-bit audio, or is there (as I suspect) also 24-bit possible from USB?  If so, how do you get 24-bit audio from a USB output?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice!

Reply
post #2 of 2
10/12/10 at 9:17am

The Wyred4Sound can do that.  I am pretty sure the DAC1 and DAC2 vary mainly by the USB implentation, the DAC2 will do 24/192 via USB, while the DAC1 does not.  Both offer both balanced and single ended output.

 

Wyred4Sound

 

Lots of reviews out there for the DAC2, fewer for the DAC1.  I love my DAC2, which I use via USB at 24/192 using PureMusic Hog mode.  I run regular sounds from my mac with optical.

 

Pretty sure that 24/192 is in the SPDIF functionality set, via Optical and SPDIF.  Most recent press has been for USB though.  Other non-usb DACs to investigate are the Lavry and Benchmark DACs, as they both have balanced out.  24/192 is pretty recent though, although I think its been on the "pro" gear for awhile, just not much consumer based music available for it until recently.


Edited by Bones13 - 10/12/10 at 9:21am
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dedicated Source Components
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Balanced DAC with Coax and Native 24/192?