[BRCMRGN]

Only four months to go to find the perfect DAC to complement the new Cavalli Liquid Carbon amp. My own personal wishlist:
 
1. Transportable (maybe even portable). No bigger than the Liquid Carbon
2. Balanced output. Dual 3-pin XLR would be best, but in a pinch, any balanced output will do
3. USB input
4. Coax input (to use with Fiio DAPs)
5. Optical input (to use with A&K DAPs)
6. Under $1000. Under $600 would be even better
7. Personally, I am ambivalent about DSD (I have some and use the AK240 for it). YMMV
 
I have lots of good DAPs and several good DAC/AMP combos, but very little experience with stand-alone DACs other than the SCHIIT Modi.
 
So, I need your help guys. We only have 4 months!

 

[aqsw]

  Only four months to go to find the perfect DAC to complement the new Cavalli Liquid Carbon amp. My own personal wishlist:
 
1. Transportable (maybe even portable). No bigger than the Liquid Carbon
2. Balanced output. Dual 3-pin XLR would be best, but in a pinch, any balanced output will do
3. USB input
4. Coax input (to use with Fiio DAPs)
5. Optical input (to use with A&K DAPs)
6. Under $1000. Under $600 would be even better
7. Personally, I am ambivalent about DSD (I have some and use the AK240 for it). YMMV
 
I have lots of good DAPs and several good DAC/AMP combos, but very little experience with stand-alone DACs other than the SCHIIT Modi.
 
So, I need your help guys. We only have 4 months!

subbed

 

[aqsw]

I've been researching since I purchased the LC. I am really interested in this one, but it is about 400 more than I want to pay. I might have to suck it up though.!!
 
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0115/Hegel_HD12_DAC_Review.htm

 

[ksb643]

subbed too!

 

[BRCMRGN]

  I've been researching since I purchased the LC. I am really interested in this one, but it is about 400 more than I want to pay. I might have to suck it up though.!!
 
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0115/Hegel_HD12_DAC_Review.htm

I had stumbled across this one too. Looks very promising, except for the price.

 

[warrenpchi]

Fails #1 and #7, but I've been looking at this:  http://www.psaudio.com/products/nuwave-dac/

 

[warrenpchi]

Fails #1 hard, but meets the other criteria:  https://wyred4sound.com/products/digital-converters/dac-1-le-limited-edition

 

[money4me247]

good suggestions. any recommendations that does point 6.2 (under $600 price point)?

 

[warrenpchi]

good suggestions. any recommendations that does point 6.2 (under $600 price point)?

 
Yes.  http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/hifi-and-home-cinema/dacmagic-plus
 
MSRP is $650, but it's on Amazon for $499 right now.

 

[warrenpchi]

Also, this:  http://matrix-digi.com/en/products/59/index.html

 

[lukeap69]

No optical but meets all other criteria http://www.cypherlabs.com/products/algorhythm-solo-db/ methinks

 

[GCTD]

I bought the Gustard DAC X12 during Massdrop sale. It's still well in your price range though, $519.99 & FREE SHIPPING at Amazon.
 
 

 

 

 

[YtseJamer]

I highly recommend the Emotiva DC-1.  ($499 and every bit as good as the Schiit Gungir IMO)
 

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

   
Yes.  http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/hifi-and-home-cinema/dacmagic-plus
 
MSRP is $650, but it's on Amazon for $499 right now.

 
There are several Cambridge Audio DACs and streamers that have dual XLR outs.  I don't know anything about their reputation...

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

  No optical but meets all other criteria http://www.cypherlabs.com/products/algorhythm-solo-db/ methinks

 
I'm going to use that with the Liquid Carbon.  But I need to order a special RSA to Dual XLR interconnect, from Moon Audio most likely.  This is a great computer/iDevice DAC, but that's it...