I'm looking to upgrade my current system with a DAC and there are several ways to go, which is why I'm asking for the advice of more experienced audio enthusiasts to avoid possible pitfalls. At the very least I'm looking for some suggestions/options to pursue further.
Here's what I have:
Electrocompaniet PC-1
Headamp GS-X
Black Dragon Furutech XLRs
Sennheiser HD800 w/ Blue Dragon Furutech Rhodium XLRs
Denon D7000 w/ Black Dragon Furutech XLRs
AKG 601
Sure SRH 840
Here's what I want:
Going digital! Using my computer/future latop/digital device as a source. I've always been more of a "skipping through my collection" kind of guy, and I also want to venture into the big universe of digitally served music, including high resolution lossless files etc. etc.
My main decision is:
- Should I try to integrate a DAC into my current system, effectively making my computer available as a source this way, being able to listen via my GS-X amp?
- Should I opt for a completely self-containted and independent listening system?
There are naturally pros and cons to each option.
The units I currently have are somewhat bulky and would need to stay close to my computer desktop. This is not very practical because of cables and significantly reduces movability. However, getting a good DAC to hook up with my system would be the simplest way to go.
Owning two independent systems seems appealing too. In this case, I would build a system specifically to enjoy digital music. On the other hand, that would mean sacrificing the balanced listening experience with most DACs.
A middle-ground would be a DAC that can be connected to the GS-X and also has a headphone out all by itself, leaving both listening options (I do use my unbalanced AKG 601 frequently when at the computer, they are simply the most comfortable over a longer period of time).
I should add at this point that I've been thinking about getting two active monitors like the Dynaudio Focus 110A plus a subwoofer to connect to the preamp outs of my GS-X. But this is dreaming of the future. Nevertheless, it may be yet another factor in my decision.
Anyway, the most important aspect is how the components will work with each other. So far, I have a pretty heterogenous setup. Unfortunately, my experience in all matters hifi is limited to the products I have actually bought. I have no idea if, compared to other setups, mine performs well, great or outstanding, or if I could get even more out of it.
Back to the question at hand: These are the routes I could go. Now, which DAC would work in my system and for what I want?
I was thinking of getting the whole UDAC / BUDA package. That would be a self-contained system with all the options available, save USB 24/92khz. The big plus here would be the possibility to listen directly from the BUDA via balanced headphone outputs! The crossfilter option seems like something I could enjoy.
In the end, however, I want a DAC that does not compromise in sound! I haven't had a DAC before, I see no way of testing various products before buying, so I need to form my opinion on reviews and expert advice, all subjectivity aside. That's how it is.
Here are some DACs that I found interesting:
BelCanto 1.5 (or higher): 24/96 via USB
Music Hall 25.3: 24/96 via USB
UDAC
Benchmark DAC1
Electrocompaniet PD-1 (a product I just discovered today)
...
...
What to do, what to spend my money on? Thanks for any advice and pointers! 
