DAC for around 1500$ to match my HD800

If you're looking at both the DAC and an amp, be sure to consider this:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/burson5/1.html

- As a headphone amp "clearly beat" the $2.5K Antelope Zodiac+

- As a (LCD-2) headphone amp, was chosen over a custom modded $4K Woo

- As a DAC, was preferred over the $3.5K Weiss DAC2

- Outperformed a €4.5K CD via the $10K Esoteric pre-amp in certain aspects

- Outperformed a €10K Lektor Prime in certain aspects

(Pasted from the 160D thread) :¬)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadab12 

Thank you, but i'm looking for a balanced setup...

as I already have a single ended amp

Apologies - evidently missed that when reading :¬)

I have the Wyred4sound DAC-2.  I really like it.

You may want to listen to a high end dac before you buy one, because sadly in reality you are very unlikely to be able to differentiate a $300 dac and a $1500 in a blind test.

I suggest you look at an emu 1616 as these have balanced output, can perform many other functions and are one of the best measuring dac's I've ever seen.

I say find the DAC you like first.  The DAC is your source.  That's what you're listening to.  If you don't like the sonic signature of your source, then you're evaluating the rest of your chain based on the other components' abilities to color the presentation you don't like from your source into something that maybe you do like.  Instead, focus on finding a DAC that you like, then build a system around it based on pieces that accentuate what you like, rather than trying to mask what you don't like.

Not that I've always followed that advice, but do as I say, not as I do....

edit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackmccabe 

You may want to listen to a high end dac before you buy one, because sadly in reality you are very unlikely to be able to differentiate a $300 dac and a $1500 in a blind test.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nspindel 

I say find the DAC you like first.  The DAC is your source.  That's what you're listening to.  If you don't like the sonic signature of your source, then you're evaluating the rest of your chain based on the other components' abilities to color the presentation you don't like from your source into something that maybe you do like.  Instead, focus on finding a DAC that you like, then build a system around it based on pieces that accentuate what you like, rather than trying to mask what you don't like.

 

Not that I've always followed that advice, but do as I say, not as I do....

Solid advice.

I have been using RME ADI-2 for the past 4 years with SPL Phonitor > HD 800, and am still happy with the setup.

Right now I'm using the pre amp outs of the DAC-2 to drive my LCD's. No amp.

I'm sorta in the same boat as you, but I don't really need an amp.  I'm looking at upgrading my dedicated DAC, at approximately the $1500 price range.  Of course, not all the items I've looked into are exactly $1500, but somewhere within the ballpark.

Things I've been looking into:

Audio-gd Reference 5

Audio-gd Reference 7.1

Audio-gd NFB-7

Bel Canto DAC 1.5

Electrocompaniet ECD-1

Lavry DA11

North Star 192 MkII

Grace m903

Cary Xciter

M2Tech Evo

M2Tech Young

Calyx

Red Wine Audio Isabellina (tube, 16-bit)

Monarchy NM24 (tube)

MHDT Havana (tube, 16/96)

To be honest, I'm leaning towards the Calyx.  It supports 24/192, asynchronous USB, has both balanced and unbalanced outputs, and uses a Sabre32 ES9018 chip.  I'd probably use it with a Kingrex PSU MkII.  The only problem is that nobody seems to own one, and nobody's reported hearing one, so it'd be a blind buy.  I don't know if I have the stones to drop 1.5G on something for which no impressions exist.  The Xciter also seems like a pretty damn good option in the price range.  I'd prefer to keep my DAC solid-state, so though I have looked into the Isabellina, Havana and Monarchy NM24, I doubt I'd invest in those in the end.