[PedroH]

 
I want to buy a world class DAC and I do not have budget restrictions up to 10.000 USD.
 
My current office system is:
- MacBookAir with Decibel serving AppleLossless files, including some 96KHz 24bit high resolution files
- Audiophilleo 1 (USB-SPDIF transport)
- Meier StageDac (the DAC to be upgraded)
- Meier Concerto (the headphone amp)
- Ultimate Silver Dream interconnects
 
I mainly listen to pop, progressive, rock and hardrock and then a bit of every gender (classical is probably the least played genre).
 
What DAC would you choose and why?

 

[shabta]

You might wan t o check out this month's stereophile comparing the Weiss, Bricasti and DCS. They liked the Bricasti soundwise the best. But not clear that running it through the concerto to a T1 is worth the moolah. Maybe there is more to upgrade?

 

[airs]

What are your requirements?  Inputs?  Outputs?  Headphone amp built in?  Upsampling (defeatable?)?  Preamp functionality?  Remote?

 

[PedroH]

Quote:

You might wan t o check out this month's stereophile comparing the Weiss, Bricasti and DCS. They liked the Bricasti soundwise the best. But not clear that running it through the concerto to a T1 is worth the moolah. Maybe there is more to upgrade?

Thanks for the Stereophile tip! It's exactly the kind of information I was looking for.
 
And yes, after upgrading the DAC I will have to update the amp later this year.

 

[PedroH]

Quote:

What are your requirements?  Inputs?  Outputs?  Headphone amp built in?  Upsampling (defeatable?)?  Preamp functionality?  Remote?

Inputs = at least USB
Outputs = at least RCA
Headphone amp built in = nice to have but not a requisite
Upsampling = nice to have but not a requisite. Do not know what you mean with "defeatable"
Preamp = nice to have but not a requisite
Remote = nice to have but not a requisite
 
Having said this, this DAC will be the cornerstone os a series of upgrades so I can flexible on the requisites and upgrade all the other components on the system to match this state-of-the-art DAC.
 
I am looking for unconstrained advise.

 

[liamstrain]

I've heard really good things about the Weiss DAC 202.
 
No USB, but you have your Audiophilleo 1, or you could get a thunderbolt to fire wire adapter ... or the Air has the optical out (though I don't know its quality). 
 
Unfortunately I have not heard it first person to comment on it meaningfully except to point you towards it, and hope someone else has some useful experience with it. 

 

[pigmode]

It was mentioned at another forum, the "new" Weiss DAC 202 has USB.

 

[PedroH]

Quote:

It was mentioned at another forum, the "new" Weiss DAC 202 has USB.

Thanks for the tip on the Weiss upgrade, now it's certainly on my short list.

 

[PedroH]

Any opinion on the McIntosh MCD1100?