[manhattanproj]

just want to know what you all think: which dac(s) do you think is the best the market has to offer for under $500?

value(1-10)
performance(1-10)

10 being the highest

 

[Hello]

I'll throw out some possibilities:

Headroom MicroDac 300
Channel Island Dac 350 + optional PSU 150
RME ADI 500

I think the CI would be the most popular around here. MicroDac has the added bonus of portability. The ADI is 'jitter-resistant'.

 

[manhattanproj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hello I think the CI would be the most popular around here. MicroDac has the added bonus of portability. The ADI is 'jitter-resistant'.

really, i havent read people talking much about the ci. i thought the micro dac was the most popular among people in the forum.

 

[blessingx]

I really think the Scott Nixon TubeDAC+ and Ack! dAck! 2.0 need to be added to the list.

 

[Thaddy]

Seems like the Fubar and Spitfire from Firestone Audio and the Dac-Ah take care of DAC's under $250. I myself plan on getting the DAC-Ah along with a few different optical cables to test

 

[Medikit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thaddy Seems like the Fubar and Spitfire from Firestone Audio and the Dac-Ah take care of DAC's under $250. I myself plan on getting the DAC-Ah along with a few different optical cables to test

I'm definitely looking forward to trying out the spitfire + extra powersupply once I have the funds

. I'd like to see some reviews comparing the spitfire to ciaudio's.

 

[Borat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx I really think the Scott Nixon TubeDAC+ and Ack! dAck! 2.0 need to be added to the list.

The Ack! dAck! is 800 dollars. If it was under $500 it would be on my desk right now.

 

[blessingx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borat The Ack! dAck! is 800 dollars. If it was under $500 it would be on my desk right now.

My bad. I was going by the price I see them over at Audiogon every so often. And that probably was the upgraded 1.1, not 2.0. Anyway subtract, but keep the Scott Nixon. Great bang for buck.