Best highend DAC WITHOUT AMP built-in

[spencexxx]

Looking to get a Heed Canamp to drive my k340s (finally)

I have looked at the Apogee Minidac/Benchmark/Lavry etc...but they all offer a built in Amp. I don't need that feature.

Looking for USB/toslink imputs

Oversample doesn't matter...quality of sound is key.
Thanks!

 

[tea-head]

No such thing as best...what 'sound' are you looking for???

I use Peter Daniels USB Deluxe kit...he assembles and ships for $350...mine is naked, mounted on a maple board (3"x6"). pRAT, body, presence.

I also have a Paradisea+ ($640). Tube buffer with USB, Coax and Toslink. (Air, holographics, tubiness). MHDT makes a tubeless 'Constantine' ($?) with same inputs. Both nice, both different. What qualities of sound are you seeking?

All are NOS

tea

 

[IPodPJ]

Cambridge Audio Azur 840c is a CD Player and a DAC with digital inputs (no USB) and costs $1,600 but you can get it as low as $1,200 (non-authorized dealer) and $1,400 (authorized). It has been compared to units up to $10,000.

 

[infinitesymphony]

What's your price range?

Some people might pay the same price for the DACs you mentioned even if they didn't include headphone amplifiers.

 

[Piffles]

Musical Fidelity X-DAC V8

Yes I'm committing the sin of recommending something I've never heard. But I have the speaker amp X-T100 of the same series: the best amp I've ever heard.

 

[Tarkovsky]

I have the Cambridge audio Azur 540R which is cheaper than the 840c, doesn't have a cd player (it's a 7.1 DAC and power amp) and can do 7.1 and is perfect for computer as source IMO. I TOSlink into it, you can also coax SPDIF - either way you'll need a card or external box with a ditial out. AFAIK it's capable of 192/24 and sounds very good for most kinds of music. The power amp is probably weedy on the current and I hear it on some of the heavier stuff I listen to, but it has lots and lots of detail and is very smooth. It doesn't handle my AT The Drive-in justice or Mars Volta, Ryan Adams etc with authority, but that's very hard to do well and isn't presented badly IMO. For van Morrison, RHCP, Bjork, Outkast, Decemberists, assorted classical music, hiphop even Tool it sounds splendid. My friend with a very nice pair of floorstanding KEFs and a Quad power amp seems to agree (or he's just placating me) that it's a good sound. If you're going to use the tape out to drive a separate headphone amp the underpowered speaker amp isn't really going to be a problem.

I think it's one of the few midrange amps that can pull of a good stereo sound AND surround. It also has all the ins and out you'll ever need if you want to upgrade to a standalone PA (I might get a couple of rotels for my fronts) and a tape out for your headphone amp. I doubt it'll drive the 650s, but I don't have anything of that high impedance to try with it. It's been a very wise investment for me. It's also quite pretty and going to aesthetically match my green solo and imac! I got mine for £150/$300 off ebay.

 

[spencexxx]

Thanks European time Zone people...that'll give me some things to mull over. To tea-head...did I say "best"?? Man, what was I thinking on THIS forum? : )

Also, teahead, is the Peter Daniels USB Deluxe kit similar in aspects of build to the Altmann attraction?
The Altmann Attraction DAC
(both stuck to a hunk of wood and all)

Also, price range up to 600 USED value (or whatever in the area new/real price from dealer NOT list)

Forgot to mention that the Oorginal Post amps I listed are a good form factor for me since I want to use it in Europe and the US AND would like it to be transportable but it does NOT need to be portable. The Apogee seems to meet that need, but I have heard sketchy things about it and like i said, I don't need and amp built-in. That would rule out the Cambridge stuff (although it sounds nice to have the 7.1...my AKGs only have 4 drivers!)

 

[milkweg]

There is some Japanese DAC that costs $100,000.00. Interested? How about a tone arm for your LP player that costs $65,000.00. You did say you want the best, afterall.

 

[Jalo]

I owned a ultra micro Dac and Amp for the last three months. Love it. Sound is tight, clear, and intimate.

 

[fault151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tea-head /img/forum/go_quote.gif No such thing as best...what 'sound' are you looking for??? I use Peter Daniels USB Deluxe kit...he assembles and ships for $350...mine is naked, mounted on a maple board (3"x6"). pRAT, body, presence. I also have a Paradisea+ ($640). Tube buffer with USB, Coax and Toslink. (Air, holographics, tubiness). MHDT makes a tubeless 'Constantine' ($?) with same inputs. Both nice, both different. What qualities of sound are you seeking? All are NOS tea

have you got a link to PETER DANIELS product?

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Stello DA100 or DA220MkII, both sport USB
April Music

 

[micaela]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT /img/forum/go_quote.gif Stello DA100 or DA220MkII, both sport USB April Music

x2 for the Stello

 

[Towert7]

600$ ain't gonna get you the best of anything in this hobby.
Having said that though, add the Paradisea to your list of things to consider. It's about 600$us.

 

[Dzjudz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spencexxx /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Apogee seems to meet that need, but I have heard sketchy things about it and like i said, I don't need and amp built-in.

What sketchy things?

And all (well, almost all) high end DACs in this hobby have headphone amps built in. That doesn't mean the DAC is any worse.

 

[spencexxx]

Hi Dzjudz, I guess I had read a few things from a person who didn't like the Apogee...but I have since read things that say its fine...You know how it is!
Its not that I dont' want the amp built in as much as that I don't need it. I would rather pay more for less amp and more DAC (less signal path etc)