[jbeard]

I have a Bottlehead Crack that I am about to update with the speedball option.  I currently run the tubes it came with fed from a MacBook Pro through an HRT Music Streamer II.  It sounds great, but I have noticed it sounds better when it is fed through my Logitech Squeezebox Touch which has me wondering about a new DAC for my MacBook.
 
I am considering the following:
Schiit Bifrost
EE Minimax DAC +
Halide DAC HD
JKDAC32
 
I am willing to spend around $1200 on a DAC but would prefer to spend less if I could.  I am hesitant to spend much as the technology seems to change so fast.
 
USB is a must and it would also be nice to have S/PDIF, but it is not necessary. 
 
What are your thoughts?

 

[Draygonn]

One option is to get a $30 USB to Ethernet adapter and connect SBT to MBP.

 

[jbeard]

One option is to get a $30 USB to Ethernet adapter and connect SBT to MBP.

Sorry, I should have clarified. I use the SBT for my home stereo and the Crack and T1`s for a desktop setup at work so I am looking for a solution independent of the SBT.

 

[jbeard]

Surely someone has an opinion.
 
I know I see most of these DAC's mentioned quite often.
 
At this point, I am probably no longer considering the Halide.

 

[burnspbesq]

Concero. You'll love it.

 

[jbeard]

Concero. You'll love it.

I'm intrigued. Looks small which would be a nice plus. How does it compare to the bifrost which seems to be in the same price range?

 

[burnspbesq]

I'm intrigued. Looks small which would be a nice plus. How does it compare to the bifrost which seems to be in the same price range?

I have actually never heard a bifrost. I have heard a Gungnir, and while I'm a little hesitant to rely too heavily on my memory, I think the Concero would win that shootout and it wouldn't be close.

 

[jbeard]

I have actually never heard a bifrost. I have heard a Gungnir, and while I'm a little hesitant to rely too heavily on my memory, I think the Concero would win that shootout and it wouldn't be close.

Any thoughts on how the EE minimax DAC plus might stack up against the concero?

 

[Phait]

The ODAC is nice, I've got one feeding my Crack to HD600 and I'm very happy.
 
Edit: Doesn't have S/PDIF though, but you said it wasn't a deal breaker. A big pro though is that it's much below your maximum price and well documented on NwAvGuy's (albeit biased) blog.

 

[Bones13]

Either a PS Audio Digital Link III with or without a separate ("better") USB/SPDIF adapter - look for those in the For Sale section here.  New they are 699 (down from 1K), and less used.
 
For new I would consider either the Wyred4Sound DAC1 http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/396494  I have the DAC2, but its a bit above your price range for some part upgrades, and a few more inputs.
 
or the Havana or Stockholm DACs, which are currently on the used market, a second version of the Stockholm is due sometime.  The Havana has been modded and commented on extensively.
 
 
A lot of choice out there for DACs, and prices have been driven down a lot on the low to mid range stuff.  The upper ranges of DACs >$2000 tend to have very small differences(improvements?) for a lot of additional monies.  My main DAC was an expensive kit, but has a NOS DAC digital board, and tube/transformer output circuit.