HRT Music Streamer II+ or Arcam RDAC 

I think that this is more about flavor of sound and synergy with specific cans than technical proficiency or being "better" for lack of a better term. I think after a day of comparing that I prefer the Streamer II + to my Duet but I would put them in the same general category of technical proficiency. I've not heard the Arcam but actually read good things about it.  Ultimately, everyone needs to try as much gear as possible in their own home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by third_eye 

I think that this is more about flavor of sound and synergy with specific cans than technical proficiency or being "better" for lack of a better term. I think after a day of comparing that I prefer the Streamer II + to my Duet but I would put them in the same general category of technical proficiency. I've not heard the Arcam but actually read good things about it.  Ultimately, everyone needs to try as much gear as possible in their own home.

I would tend to agree about it being your flavor as opposed to "better", although I can't help but think a component that sounds more like music and less like HiFi would met most people's definition of "better". But it is certainly about preference. I recall many years ago (about 25 to be exact) sitting in the living room of a friend's house listening to to some Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers driven by some 70's vintage solid state amps (that I don't remember the brand of) thinking how absolutely awful it sounded - painfully bright and hard, but quite revealing for the day. At the time I was using hot-rodded Dynaco tube amps and some boutique 3-way dynamic speakers. I thought my system to be vastly superior and more musical (liquid, smooth, harmonically rich) - my friend hated it because he couldn't "hear everything". Still think he was deaf (probably from listening to those crappy amps), but he was happy.

I think the HRT is "better" in many audiophile characteristics, but I wanted to listen to the Apogee. Is the HRT accentuating soundstage and transparency by being a little dark (hooded midrange), lean and "toppy" (bright) ? - I think so. Is the Apogee a little too "juicy" and smoothed over with a expansive but less distinct soundstage? - also yes. But that set of strengths and weaknesses is closer to my ideal sound than the HRT. 

It's your money. Just keep in mind that at this price point, everything is compromise. 

EDIT: It is chinese. Sorry 'bout that OP.

Get this one: 

Muse Mini DIR9001+4X TDA1543 parallel connection NOS DAC. USD 63 shipped. 

I did a blind test assisted by a friend - I preferred it 16 of 18 times to my six months old  $2500 Dac. And, no - it wasn't less detailed. Slightly less bright. How come it is so cheap? It is a cheap design. Lucky shot. Whatever. Just do not use the switch too much when power is on - it gets very confused if you do that :-) And it won't do super duper high res files, I believe. But who cares - when such files are readily available - there are hotter designs to buy than the dacs of today. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120612153492&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2827wt_903

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/514782/bryston-bda-1-dac-vs-muse-dac-reviewed

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/512389/mini-dac-tda1543-x-4-nos/120#post_7203193

At $450 the question seems loaded for someone to say Apogee Duet. 

I have the Yulong DAC D100 - and this is magic if you are looking for neutral sound. Mostly use it with my PC. It is about the price you are mentioning but then, you would have to get one shipped from China...

However, it can be used as a DAC to connect to speakers through a pre-amp as well as to headphones.

Please read the review

 http://www.head-fi.org/products/yulong-d100

And read how Skylab used the D100 in a variety of ways...

You said you were looking for a DAC for $450 - I assume you didn't mean a complete hi-fi system for your PC for $450. 

Hervie

x2 yulong d100

He said no chinese brand though...

China is the new US

I had the same impression of the Streamer II+, but I really think that the 2011 edition takes care of  that little bit of leanness/brightness the older version had. I bought the older (trapezoidal) edition a while ago, and while I liked it,  I found it had very slightly shrill/grainy highs and perhaps sounded just a bit lean (couldn't tell if it was due to the highs or the mids themselves).  It was frustrating because I rather liked the DAC and these issues were subtle, but I just couldn't totally enjoy the music with it.  It sounded "digital" to me ( don't know how else to put it), and I felt that I was listening to the DAC as much as I was listening to the songs themselves (other people around here definitely liked the DAC and could not hear the issues I had with it, though). When I saw there was a new version out, I bought it to try it, just to see if there was any difference in SQ but doubting it would be significant, if any (else they would have released it as a new model or charged more for it).  To my surprise, I found it greatly improved in the sense that with the previous version I couldn't completely enjoy the music, and with the new one I definitely can (I had resigned myself to having to compromise/settle at that price point).  Both my mom and I noticed the difference in an instant (we were both very familiar with how the older version reproduced the songs we tested it with, and I actually tested her blind, even though there wasn't really a need). Now the highs are much clearer and smoother (I have no problem with them), and the mids sound just right to me. Overall the DAC is both musical and neutral to my ears, and I'm very happy with it. Of course this is just my impression, but since it's easy enough to return the Streamer if bought from Amazon, I think it's worth a try.

Quote:

Originally Posted by khollister 

 

I think the HRT is "better" in many audiophile characteristics, but I wanted to listen to the Apogee. Is the HRT accentuating soundstage and transparency by being a little dark (hooded midrange), lean and "toppy" (bright) ? - I think so. Is the Apogee a little too "juicy" and smoothed over with a expansive but less distinct soundstage? - also yes. But that set of strengths and weaknesses is closer to my ideal sound than the HRT. 

 

It's your money. Just keep in mind that at this price point, everything is compromise. 

I'm in the same boat and would like to find a USB DAC that will work best with my iPad...around the same price point hopefully cheaper.