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Looking for Features (DAC/Amp Window Shopping, Suggestions?)

post #1 of 11
5/24/11 at 10:10pm
Thread Starter 

So...I seem to be having trouble finding a DAC with all the features I want. I think it's just me though. My knowledge base for DACs is pretty low though....Anyway, here's what I'm looking for.

 

Required:

- 24/96 USB

- 24/192 Coax

- Coax In

- Toslink Optical In

- USB In

- Line Out (Not a Pre Out)

- Balanced Options

- Headphone Amp (To power the HE 500, though it will mostly be used for easier things to drive)

- Solid State

 

Optional:

- Built in PSU (No Wall Warts)

- Sexy (Everyone likes nice looking things)

- Analog Ins

- Remote Control

 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Oh, try to keep it ~$1500 max. :D


Edited by MorbidToaster - 5/26/11 at 11:00am
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post #2 of 11
5/26/11 at 11:47am
Thread Starter 

Best option I've found so far. It's got everything but a built in amp of some sort. 

 

Wyred4Sound DAC-2

 

EDIT: Heck the DAC-1 has almost everything I want at 1k as well. Though I'm still trying to find one with it all wink.gif

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by MorbidToaster View Post

 

Required:

- 24/96 USB

- 24/192 Coax

- Coax In

- Toslink Optical In

- USB In

- Line Out (Not a Pre Out)

- Balanced Options

- Solid State (if applicable)

 

Optional:

- Built in PSU (No Wall Warts)

- Sexy (Everyone likes nice looking things)

- Analog Ins

- Remote Control

- Headphone Amp (To power the HE 500, though it will mostly be used for easier things to drive)

- ~$1500


 

 

 


Edited by MorbidToaster - 5/26/11 at 11:54am
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post #3 of 11
5/29/11 at 5:26pm

I second the wyred4sound.  Also give the Eastern electric DAC some attention, and although I haven't heard it, the blue circle 509 is supposed to be awesome

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post #4 of 11
5/29/11 at 5:37pm
Anedio D1 (at the moment only does 16/44 USB but everything else you want I believe +remote control)
Antelope Zodiac (should be out in the next week or so)
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post #5 of 11
5/30/11 at 8:23am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Permagrin View Post

Anedio D1 (at the moment only does 16/44 USB but everything else you want I believe +remote control)
Antelope Zodiac (should be out in the next week or so)

D1 has no Balanced outs and the USB isn't up to snuff. It also uses BNC which is a minor inconveinience.

That Zodiac looks really really nice, but I can't find a price on the base model. I only see the + version for 2500 atm.
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post #6 of 11
5/30/11 at 8:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuberoller1 View Post

I second the wyred4sound.  Also give the Eastern electric DAC some attention, and although I haven't heard it, the blue circle 509 is supposed to be awesome


The 509 looked really nice until I realized that a lot of stuff if 'extra'. It goes over budget with 24/96 USB, and holy crap it goes over with an amp section.
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post #7 of 11
5/30/11 at 9:31pm
Yeah that's because the Zodiac base model isn't out yet. I got an email from a dealer an LA saying it is being distributed very soon. Originally I emailed him a little over a month ago and his was reply was 4-5 weeks so it should be any day now.

As far as the D1 is concerned: I imagine you read Project86's review thread so you know that there is a USB/SPDIF workaround coming out. I'll be switching over myself most likely as I'm using TOSLINK which only goes up to 96 while SPDIF can support 192. If you were in the area I'd definitely want you to give it a listen, but if you want balanced outs then that's already decided.

Cheers!
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post #8 of 11
5/31/11 at 7:24am
Thread Starter 

Even unreleased products usually have a price SOMEWHERE...Preorder or something. Whatevs. I can wait a little bit. 

 

The actual unit looks gorgeous, and if they others in the line are any indication, I may be able to tack on a nice power supply later on. We'll see. I'm very interested.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Permagrin View Post

Yeah that's because the Zodiac base model isn't out yet. I got an email from a dealer an LA saying it is being distributed very soon. Originally I emailed him a little over a month ago and his was reply was 4-5 weeks so it should be any day now.

As far as the D1 is concerned: I imagine you read Project86's review thread so you know that there is a USB/SPDIF workaround coming out. I'll be switching over myself most likely as I'm using TOSLINK which only goes up to 96 while SPDIF can support 192. If you were in the area I'd definitely want you to give it a listen, but if you want balanced outs then that's already decided.

Cheers!


 

 

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post #9 of 11
5/31/11 at 7:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MorbidToaster View Post

Even unreleased products usually have a price SOMEWHERE...Preorder or something. Whatevs. I can wait a little bit. 

 

The actual unit looks gorgeous, and if they others in the line are any indication, I may be able to tack on a nice power supply later on. We'll see. I'm very interested.
 



 

 


lol biggrin.gif

It will be the same pricing scheme as the gold and +, that is $1000 less than the tier above. So if you're in Europe it will be ~1500 euro (+VAT yuck) and if you're in the U.S. ~$1500.

TigzStudio got a Welborne wall wart for his +, that was what I was going to do with the basic model as well. That is until I bought the Anedio instead. wink.gif
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post #10 of 11
5/31/11 at 7:56am
Thread Starter 

What supply did he get? And what does it come with originally? I can get a good shot of that stuff and can't seem to find an unboxing video.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Permagrin View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MorbidToaster View Post

Even unreleased products usually have a price SOMEWHERE...Preorder or something. Whatevs. I can wait a little bit. 

 

The actual unit looks gorgeous, and if they others in the line are any indication, I may be able to tack on a nice power supply later on. We'll see. I'm very interested.
 


lol biggrin.gif

It will be the same pricing scheme as the gold and +, that is $1000 less than the tier above. So if you're in Europe it will be ~1500 euro (+VAT yuck) and if you're in the U.S. ~$1500.

TigzStudio got a Welborne wall wart for his +, that was what I was going to do with the basic model as well. That is until I bought the Anedio instead. wink.gif


 

 

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post #11 of 11
5/31/11 at 8:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MorbidToaster View Post

What supply did he get? And what does it come with originally? I can get a good shot of that stuff and can't seem to find an unboxing video.
 



 

 


If I recall it was custom. If you contact Welborne they should know exactly what you're talking about though as they did 2 of them I think. Trevor knows a lot more than I of course, might want to drop him a PM.

Cheers!
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