[clackman]

Need Suggestion....

 

[fjf]

Balanced and unbalanced outputs, USB-coax-optical and aebu inputs, sounds very good: www.aqvox.de

 

[applebook]

The best balanced DACs under $1000 are the Lavry Black, Apogee Mini-DAC (no RCA-output), and the DAC1. The slightly more expensive Bel Canto DAC2 is there but doesn't have balanced outputs or a headphone amp.

The Aqvox is a bit obscure at the moment, as is there are few (if any) reviews. RME's DAC is interesting because it's about $800 and is also an A/D converter. I can't find any real reviews of it either.

 

[Asmo]

Channel Islands VDA-2 ($599) & VAC-1 Power Supply ($159).

 

[sacd lover]

I have a dack ack v2.0 with the teflon cap upgrade I am auditioning right now. This is the best sounding source I have heard. I am using the dack with a sacdmods 555es or Eastsound E5 as the transport. The naturalness and lack of digital artifacts is wonderful. As good as the E5 and the modded 555es happen to be on their own .... the dack v2.0 is just better. I have to get one of these.

 

[clackman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by applebook The best balanced DACs under $1000 are the Lavry Black, Apogee Mini-DAC (no RCA-output), and the DAC1. The slightly more expensive Bel Canto DAC2 is there but doesn't have balanced outputs or a headphone amp. The Aqvox is a bit obscure at the moment, as is there are few (if any) reviews. RME's DAC is interesting because it's about $800 and is also an A/D converter. I can't find any real reviews of it either.

so which one of the three is the best?( mini-DAC, DAC1, Lavry DA10)

 

[catachresis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmo Channel Islands VDA-2 ($599) & VAC-1 Power Supply ($159).

I did a search, and I still haven't found a good, extensive Headfi Review of how the VDA-2 / VAC-1 combo sound. Would you be willing to contribute one, Asmo?

 

[Asmo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by catachresis I did a search, and I still haven't found a good, extensive Headfi Review of how the VDA-2 / VAC-1 combo sound. Would you be willing to contribute one, Asmo?

Soon!

There are a few head-fi members who are waiting for theirs to arrive, it is a new product, but I am 110% certain it is competitive with the other models listed, based purely on how good his products are, I was only posting it, because it is worth looking at. I will ask a friend of mine, who has a DAC-1 and is waiting for a VDA-2 to arrive if he has gotten it yet. I am also looking at pickin up a vda-2 shortly.

 

[catachresis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmo Soon! There are a few head-fi members who are waiting for theirs to arrive, it is a new product, but I am 110% certain it is competitive with the other models listed, based purely on how good his products are, I was only posting it, because it is worth looking at. I will ask a friend of mine, who has a DAC-1 and is waiting for a VDA-2 to arrive if he has gotten it yet. I am also looking at pickin up a vda-2 shortly.

Well, then add me to the list of members eagerly awaiting a full descriptive analysis. Thanks!

 

[Revliskciuq]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clackman so which one of the three is the best?( mini-DAC, DAC1, Lavry DA10)

As cliche as it sounds, and as often as it's said, the truth is you have to decide for yourself. Of those I've only heard the Apogee and the Benchmark, and they both sound quite different. The benchmark is very analytical, and reveals everything a particular recording has to offer - good or bad. If you enjoy this kind of ultra-precision than I would go with the DAC1.

I've only briefly listened to the Apogee so I'm not qualified to give you much feedback, suffice to say that it added colouration to the sound, and was less testing of the recording than the DAC1.

I've never heard the DA10.

So it all depends on the type of sound you want.

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmo Soon! There are a few head-fi members who are waiting for theirs to arrive, it is a new product, but I am 110% certain it is competitive with the other models listed, based purely on how good his products are, I was only posting it, because it is worth looking at. I will ask a friend of mine, who has a DAC-1 and is waiting for a VDA-2 to arrive if he has gotten it yet. I am also looking at pickin up a vda-2 shortly.

If you are waiting for me, I never ordered a VDA-2 due to problems with shipping

.

 

[applebook]

If there's such a thing as an absolute "best of" anything at any given price point, then everyone would own that product

AFAIK, this is not the case.

For me, the DAC1 is the best under $1500 because of its features, and because I like its sound signature: analytical, quick, excellent transient attack, and very detailed.

 

[pburke]

$1000 --> DIY, used, or retail?

big difference in what you for your money get in these categories

 

[applebook]

How many hi-fi DIY DACs are there? Unlike amps, companies that produce high quality DACs tend to be, well, companies.

Does anyone here have any experience with DIY DACs that they've made or bought from someone else?

 

[surfboardz26]

I would second the benchmark DAC1. It is a very good deal for what it is capable and for its sound. If you want quick, anyalitcal, and precise sound than this is great. It really does a good job as a source and has excellent intrement seperation. It has a great black background noise with wide soundstage that seems very naturall. At times it can sound a little cold and too quick and snappy and would prefer to have the notes decay more with more warmth. If you feel like you want to warm things up a bit than a tube amp does just that. This dac 1 does a really good job on conveying one into the music.

just my opinion