[RustA]

I am currently extremely happy with my desktop O2/ODAC combo and not looking for spending money anytime soon since the synergy with LCD-2 rev2 is absolutely perfect to my ears...
 
However, I am still interested to have a look at some high-end deadly-neutral amps/DACs with ultra low distortion - simply the best options from the technical perspective.
 
Are there any better options than O2/ODAC or Benchmark DAC1? It must be neutral, solid state and as I said - technically absolutely excellent.
 
Thanks!

 

[skamp]

Why? The O2/ODAC is already transparent. You won't get any audible benefits from, say, the Benchmark DAC1. That's the whole point of the O2/ODAC.

 

[Clemmaster]

Do you need it for music enjoyment or pure objective measurement?
 
The Fostex HP-A8 is a good realization of "transparency". So is the HP-A3, but since you want the best, the A8 is Fostex's flagship.

 

[RustA]

Quote:

Do you need it for music enjoyment or pure objective measurement?
 
The Fostex HP-A8 is a good realization of "transparency". So is the HP-A3, but since you want the best, the A8 is Fostex's flagship.

Thanks, will look into it!
 
Quote:

Why? The O2/ODAC is already transparent. You won't get any audible benefits from, say, the Benchmark DAC1. That's the whole point of the O2/ODAC.

 
Because I am curious to study the specifications, learn about the design, additional features, try them somewhere...
 
Benchmark DAC2 HGC looks interesting, for example...

 

[Monir]

Something cheaper than the DAC1 would be the Yulong D100, I hear it's very neutral and highly detailed, and it's also recommended among other head-fiers.

 

[RustA]

Quote:

Something cheaper than the DAC1 would be the Yulong D100, I hear it's very neutral and highly detailed, and it's also recommended among other head-fiers.

 
Thank you very much, I really appreciate that!

 

[zeinharis]

Also try the Dacmini by Centrance

 

[mcullinan]

It sounds like you would love the Concero. This is an extra special DAC... Very neutral and clean, musical, and detailed.

 

[RustA]

Quote:

Also try the Dacmini by Centrance

 You say that Epica sounds even better with dacmini, right?

 

[zeinharis]

Quote:

 You say that Epica sounds even better with dacmini, right?

 
Compare to Dacport??, i'll say 100% yes

 

[RustA]

Quote:

It sounds like you would love the Concero. This is an extra special DAC... Very neutral and clean, musical, and detailed.

 
This one?
 
http://resonessencelabs.com/concero/

 

[rawrster]

yes

 

[Timestretch]

I don't believe it gets much better than a Benchmark DAC1. I prefer my DAC1 USB to a Lavry DA11, Rega, and a few others in the price range that I have heard. I admit I have not heard $2000+ DACs, so maybe they are better. 

 

[Satellite_6]

Quote:

I don't believe it gets much better than a Benchmark DAC1. I prefer my DAC1 USB to a Lavry DA11, Rega, and a few others in the price range that I have heard. I admit I have not heard $2000+ DACs, so maybe they are better. 

They aren't. Good transparent DAC's are $100-200.

 

[RustA]

Quote:

I don't believe it gets much better than a Benchmark DAC1. I prefer my DAC1 USB to a Lavry DA11, Rega, and a few others in the price range that I have heard. I admit I have not heard $2000+ DACs, so maybe they are better. 

 
After going through specs of the amps/DAC mentioned, I am only interested in DAC2... But still, I don't expect it to be much better at all.