[lmmo]

Hi!

I need to buy a DAC with USB input and would like to know what is your opinion about the best one. Let's consider entry-level products (under 500 USD).

Thanks!

Links for products:

Musical Fidelity V-DAC: http://www.musicalfidelity.com/produ...ries/vdac.html
Valab DAC (aka Teradak): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...6090417&_rdc=1
Cambridge Audio DACMagic: http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=320
Beresford TC-7520: http://www.*************/UK/Stereo_Au...2FTOSLINK.html
Other?

 

[Brighten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmmo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi! I need to buy a DAC with USB input and would like to know what is your opinion about the best one. Let's consider entry-level products. Thanks!

What is this "entry-level" price range?

 

[lmmo]

edited in the initial post

 

[UglyJoe]

In this price range I'd see if I could get a local head-fier to build you a y1 DAC designed by amb. I would think it should cost a good bit less than $500, has switchable USB, toslink, and coaxial inputs, can be powered from either the USB or an external PSU, and is modular, so there are 4 or 5 different build options that might better suit your needs. Plus, it extremely well designed (of course), very portable, and supports bit depth and sampling frequencies of up to 24 and 96kHz, respectively (via optical or coax input). Check out The γ1 Modular Miniature DAC for specs and more info. It's a great DAC... listening to mine right now!

 

[Edi]

I'm in the same boat as well, going to keep an eye on this thread..

 

[DC Lee]

Anyone tried the new Beresford USB DAC yet? I prefer to put my trust in a Taiwanese built DAC than in a Chinese one. After Zhaolu, Zero DAC, Yulong, etc. I have had enough of poor quality control.

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UglyJoe /img/forum/go_quote.gif In this price range I'd see if I could get a local head-fier to build you a y1 DAC designed by amb. I would think it should cost a good bit less than $500

It's not that expensive

 

[Brighten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Knight /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's not that expensive

Haha... yeah. Not at all.

 

[J.P.6]

Fubar II DAC.

 

[imademymark]

why isnt the pico in there?

oh right, its not out yet

 

[decur]

super dac 707 from alo @$110.00 is pretty darn amazing for little coin!!!!

 

[lmmo]

Hard to find a poll leader... what does this means?

 

[DC Lee]

I wish question was also which dac with USB is close to coax or toslink or which one with USB and coax/toslink sound the same when playing same track from PC or CD.
Also what about Keces from Taiwan?

 

[Brighten]

If you can wait for the Pico (DAC only) I'd say that's your best bet. A steal for $350 against other competitors in it's price range.

 

[csommers]

#1: Apogee Duet(mac only)
#2: dacmagic
#3: pico dac

Thats how I would rank some of the "cheaper" DACs out there or soon to be released.