Best External DACs under $600, Used or New

[Hershon2000]

Looks like I'm going to get an external DAC for my Pioneer PD-59 CD player which has excellent transport, to connect to my Musical Fidelity X-10 V3 Tube Buffer. I can get a musical Fidelity X-10 DAC new for around $600. Are there any DAC's you'd recommend, that would cost less then $600, used or new, the lower the price the better, for the best sound quality? As an experiment I just ordered for $65 an Entech 203.2 Number Cruncher DAC.

 

[anubisgrau]

lots of hype currently around PARADISEA DAC from MHDT Labs

 

[jimmyjames8]

CIAudio VDA.2 has the killer pro audio chips in it. I may order one today. Most etailers that sell it have 30 day return policy. $600. It hasn't been in production long so there are not many if any reviews. RAKK dac in kit form has same chips but built is $1200.

 

[happyangryhappy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif CIAudio VDA.2 has the killer pro audio chips in it. I may order one today. Most etailers that sell it have 30 day return policy. $600. It hasn't been in production long so there are not many if any reviews. RAKK dac in kit form has same chips but built is $1200.

I second the VDA-2 recommendation... It is an awesome dac that deserves alot more praise than it gets.

 

[GreatDane]

jimmyjames8,

I like your suggestion. I'm also in the same situation, wanting a DAC near this price range. Do you know of any reviews on the VDA.2? I've considered this DAC in past weeks and so far my other contender is the Diyeden Great March Madness @ $420.

 

[003]

Get a Lite DAC-62.

 

[LeChuck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Get a Lite DAC-62.

The DAC-62 is $700 + Shipping from Pacific Valve, it's not really a LITE DAC, they just call it the DAC-62 because of the extensive modding they've done to the DAC-60.

On that note, however, a modified DAC-60M from Pacific Valve will run you $570 + shipping, for ~$600. You can even order the stock DAC-60 fright from Asia for about $400.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hershon2000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Looks like I'm going to get an external DAC for my Pioneer PD-59 CD player which has excellent transport, to connect to my Musical Fidelity X-10 V3 Tube Buffer. I can get a musical Fidelity X-10 DAC new for around $600. Are there any DAC's you'd recommend, that would cost less then $600, used or new, the lower the price the better, for the best sound quality? As an experiment I just ordered for $65 an Entech 203.2 Number Cruncher DAC.

MF A234..600.00 or less used.
Caudio Dac 2 600.00
Lite 60 mod by Pacific valve. 570.00

I would personally avoid the Xdac3, unless you can find it for under 500..

 

[003]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeChuck /img/forum/go_quote.gif The DAC-62 is $700 + Shipping from Pacific Valve, it's not really a LITE DAC, they just call it the DAC-62 because of the extensive modding they've done to the DAC-60. On that note, however, a modified DAC-60M from Pacific Valve will run you $570 + shipping, for ~$600. You can even order the stock DAC-60 fright from Asia for about $400.

This is head-fi, when somebody says $600 they really mean "I hope I dont spend more than $1000".

 

[lolos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is head-fi, when somebody says $600 they really mean "I hope I dont spend more than $1000".

looool..

This is so true! I said in my first posts no more than $50... I spent over $2000

NO COMMENT

 

[SK138]

You can get a used high resolution NOS DAC Ack! Dack 2.0 for less than $600. If you want an upsampling DAC, MF A3.24 is great buy. You got lot of choices. Good luck in your search.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

With a little stretch you can get DA100.
http://www.hifi500.com/product/da100.htm

 

[happyangryhappy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT /img/forum/go_quote.gif With a little stretch you can get DA100. http://www.hifi500.com/product/da100.htm

If your willing to buy used keep an eye on audiogon... Just looking at the recent listings a DA100 sold there yesterday for $299 and a couple Channel Islands VDA-2 and Vac-1 combos have gone for $450-500.

 

[rumatt]

One DAC isn't necessarily "better" than another, so much as different.

Without knowing what characteristics you're looking for in the dac, this turns into an exercise of listing all DACs prices $500 - $700.

 

[rumatt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyangryhappy /img/forum/go_quote.gif a DA100 sold there yesterday for $299

I wouldn't bet on it. I sent him mail saying I'd take it when the listing had 6 views. I never heard back. I suspect he got higher offers.