[DigitalFreak]

Scratch the 2Qute from the list. A quick Google search has pricing popping up just under 1800 USD

 

[lukeap69]

It's not too cute after all.

 

[Poimandres]

Please let us know what you ultimately decide to go with. There are a lot of us in this boat.

Will it really matter if the Dac is SE or balanced? If I recall doesn't the LC split the SE ended signal into balanced? Would that be much of a difference than utilizing a balanced Dac?

I apologize for the questions however I have never really looked into a balanced setup. Would the upcoming ifi idac2 be a good choice?

 

[Beolab]

That sounds awesome if you have that opportunity, just to make shore it dosent breaks up at middle volume, and can give me a hum of how big the diffrence is up to det Gold or Glass.

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

   
Yes indeed, it's a bare-bones non-portable DAC with the same chip as the Hugo.  Seeing as how the Hugo sounds amazing, the 2Qute should be a nice option.
 
 
I think the 2Qute is in the $1k-1300 range?  Way cheaper than a used Hugo.

 
More like $1800..
 
I think I'd chase a used Hugo instead

 

[bugula]

   
Yes indeed, it's a bare-bones non-portable DAC with the same chip as the Hugo.  Seeing as how the Hugo sounds amazing, the 2Qute should be a nice option.
 
 
I think the 2Qute is in the $1k-1300 range?  Way cheaper than a used Hugo.

he mentioned his upper end was $1500. you can get a used hugo for $1500.

 

[Pirakaphile]

All this talk of affordable balanced DACs and I keep seeing 4 digits every time! I'm gonna be slumming it with the Modi until next year when I get the Gungnir. I refuse to spend more than $1k on headphone equipment! It'll make me feel bad!

Of course, once I get into speakers, I'm gonna have to stretch the budget, won't I? Fudgebuckets

 

[lukeap69]

There are balanced DACs under 1k. Check Audio-gd.

 

[vhsownsbeta]

All this talk of affordable balanced DACs and I keep seeing 4 digits every time! I'm gonna be slumming it with the Modi until next year when I get the Gungnir. I refuse to spend more than $1k on headphone equipment! It'll make me feel bad!

Of course, once I get into speakers, I'm gonna have to stretch the budget, won't I? Fudgebuckets

If you don't need DSD you have a look at the HRT music streamer hd.
 
http://www.hirestech.com/product/?pid=116

 

[Pirakaphile]

If you don't need DSD you have a look at the HRT music streamer hd.

http://www.hirestech.com/product/?pid=116

Definitely don't need DSD, I've got weeks of music in 16/44.1 on my computer and I'm totally cool with CD quality.
I'll look into that little dude, but I'm sold so far on Schiit.

 

[vhsownsbeta]

Definitely don't need DSD, I've got weeks of music in 16/44.1 on my computer and I'm totally cool with CD quality.
I'll look into that little dude, but I'm sold so far on Schiit.

The HRT microstreamer is an amazing little device. I haven't heard the music streamer, but some reviewers seem pretty enamoured with it...
 
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue67/hrt_musicstreamer.htm
 
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue69/music_streamer.htm
 
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/viewpoint-hrt-music-streamer-hd/
 
Contrary to some of the reviews, it does 24/192 on PC now too.
 
Bus powered and balanced out. On paper it seems a good match for the LC.

 

[Pirakaphile]

The HRT microstreamer is an amazing little device. I haven't heard the music streamer, but some reviewers seem pretty enamoured with it...

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue67/hrt_musicstreamer.htm

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue69/music_streamer.htm

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/viewpoint-hrt-music-streamer-hd/

Contrary to some of the reviews, it does 24/192 on PC now too.

Bus powered and balanced out. On paper it seems a good match for the LC.

The reviews are looking pretty good, I'll have to wage a little internal war as I read up. I've plenty of time to decide anyway.

 

[Stillhart]

I've been thinking about the 2Qute as a good option as a CLAS replacement guys. The AudioGD DAC19 is interesting in that I've been curious about AudioGD stuff for awhile.

I'll be reviewing the dac19 in a few weeks if you're curious.

To the person who asked whether a balanced DAC was worth it, I'd say no IMO. Lots of folks here are forgetting that the LC was demoed with an SE DAC at CanJam. It got all that hype and praise with the Hugo. Proof that a balanced DAC isn't necessary.

 

[Barry S]

I'll be reviewing the dac19 in a few weeks if you're curious.

To the person who asked whether a balanced DAC was worth it, I'd say no IMO. Lots of folks here are forgetting that the LC was demoed with an SE DAC at CanJam. It got all that hype and praise with the Hugo. Proof that a balanced DAC isn't necessary.

You may be right about this. The question isn't so much whether the LC sounds good out of a single-ended DAC (we're assuming that's yes), but how much better (if any) it sounds fed by a balanced DAC. I'd worry less about SE vs. balanced, and concentrate more on finding a DAC with an excellent reputation.  As an experiment, I'm going to compare the single-ended vs. balanced outs on my Gungnir into the Raganrok, and out to my LCD-X via the balanced output.

 

[Pirakaphile]

You may be right about this. The question isn't so much whether the LC sounds good out of a single-ended DAC (we're assuming that's yes), but how much better (if any) it sounds fed by a balanced DAC. I'd worry less about SE vs. balanced, and concentrate more on finding a DAC with an excellent reputation.  As an experiment, I'm going to compare the single-ended vs. balanced outs on my Gungnir into the Raganrok, and out to my LCD-X via the balanced output.

Do share with us your impressions! We'll give you hugs. Or something.