[coolshot]

macbook pro bit perfect
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...1&Go.y=2&Go=Go
headroom desktop w/dac

good combo. Im not a fan of USB as it takes up alot of cpu cycles especially when your multi-tasking on a single core cpu causing skipping when you do a lot of tasks at the same time.

 

[fordgtlover]

I just noticed that for the Silverstone EB01 the output opamps are listed as BB OPA624; they are OPA604. Cheers.

 

[Iostream]

Just to add to the list:
Musical Fidelity X-DAC v8
$1499
SS output or Tube buffered switchable with button on the front
Burr-Brown SRC4392 Sample Rate Converter
Burr-Brown DSD1792 24bit/192kHz DAC
Burr-Brown PCM2706 for USB
2 Phillips 6922 Triodes for tube buffer before final SS output stage (can be bypassed)

 

[jiiteepee]

Hmm.. is the Goldmund Alize 6 D/A circuit available separetly or is it used in some other DAC implementation than the Goldmund Reference II turntable they list it with?

http://www.goldmund.com/products/reference/


jiitee

 

[granodemostasa]

Thanks... keep the details coming.

 

[Bootleg]

I like the Benchmark DAC1 USB so much that I just bought a second one...this time in silver.

 

[Jazic]

This post should be stickied...

 

[Bootleg]

By the way, if you haven't yet bought a Benchmark DAC1 USB, you need to.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootleg /img/forum/go_quote.gif By the way, if you haven't yet bought a Benchmark DAC1 USB, you need to.

No thanks!
I am perfectly happy with my Electrocompaniet ECD1.

 

[granodemostasa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootleg /img/forum/go_quote.gif By the way, if you haven't yet bought a Benchmark DAC1 USB, you need to.

I've heard it.. it's an improvement only so far as benchmark dacs are compared to each other. it is still not as good as my VDA-2.

 

[Dan the man]

So in the $2500 or less price range, which DAC would have the best overall SQ with Jazz and female vocalists? I also want a true balanced capability in case I get my AKG 701 modified for balanced output.

I will be using a MACBOOKPRO as my source with apple lossless and itunes.

 

[MCC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazic /img/forum/go_quote.gif This post should be stickied...

Actually, I just looked up this thread to suggest the same...

 

[Icarium]

Maybe consider this Dan the Man:
http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html

They are 3500~ new but you can find the used ones (Well they just got sold, but for between 1850-2190 apparently. I have the non usb version basically and its pretty good, a lot of depth. Granodemostasa used to have the version down and thought it was alllrightttt, solid, but it had its deficiencies. I think these more expensive versions are a level up for sure and Gordon Rankin has remarked that his usb dacs are a bit better than the non usb versions... but I can't vouch for that ;p

 

[twsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootleg /img/forum/go_quote.gif By the way, if you haven't yet bought a Benchmark DAC1 USB, you need to.

DACs seem to be a somewhat personal thing here, but I would like to at least put in my two cents worth in support of the DAC1-USB. To my ears this is a very fine sounding DAC, especially when outputted to a good amp that is synergistic with it - personally I find the DAC1-USB matches very well with the GS-1 and produces a smooth but detailed and highly resolving sound. I've had a couple of very high-end CDPs and I find that I much prefer the sound of the DAC1 over the analogue outputs of these units. I suspect that this synergy thing may account for why some people prefer one DAC over another, and certainly in the case of the DAC1, there is no question in my mind that its internal headphone amp does not do justice to what the DAC1 is really capable of. So, if you're comparing combined DAC-amps I wouldn't be too surprised if the DAC1 might fall short to some ears, however as a stand-alone DAC, it is right up there with the best of the lot.

 

[Bootleg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twsmith /img/forum/go_quote.gif DACs seem to be a somewhat personal thing here, but I would like to at least put in my two cents worth in support of the DAC1-USB. To my ears this is a very fine sounding DAC, especially when outputted to a good amp that is synergistic with it - personally I find the DAC1-USB matches very well with the GS-1 and produces a smooth but detailed and highly resolving sound. I've had a couple of very high-end CDPs and I find that I much prefer the sound of the DAC1 over the analogue outputs of these units. I suspect that this synergy thing may account for why some people prefer one DAC over another, and certainly in the case of the DAC1, there is no question in my mind that its internal headphone amp does not do justice to what the DAC1 is really capable of. So, if you're comparing combined DAC-amps I wouldn't be too surprised if the DAC1 might fall short to some ears, however as a stand-alone DAC, it is right up there with the best of the lot.

The best interconnect is no interconnect.

I actually like the sound of the DAC1 USB's internal headphone amp...that is to say it has almost no sound of its own. I think it is a fairly colorless representation of whatever the beautiful DAC is doing musically. To me, the character and synergy of the headphones makes a far bigger difference. I love the DAC1 USB with the Denon's.

With the Grados? Not so much.