[jbloggs]

I'm thinking of getting a DAC to go with my SqueezeBox, which is used with a Marantz PM7001 and Kef iQ1s, I listen to all kinds of music, but mostly rock.

I am considering the following:

1) Shrek D2

2) Cambridge Audio DacMagic

3) Behringer ULTRAMATCH PRO SRC2496

4) Entech 205.2 Number Cruncher D/A DAC

5) Entech 203.2 Number Cruncher D/A DAC

My music is in (high quality) VBR MP3s.

Would appreciate comments (from one own's experience) on the above DACs, and which would work well with the SqueezeBox.

Thanks you.

 

[udo]

Is the DAC in the SB not good enough?
What is lacking?
Why do you listen to MP3's?
There's a number of lossless formats that do play on the SB.

 

[jbloggs]

Quote:

Is the DAC in the SB not good enough? What is lacking?

I find the sound stage quite narrow...would this be because I am playing MP3 files as opposed to a lossless source (ie. flacs), rather than the quality of the DAC in the SqueezeBox?

Quote:

Why do you listen to MP3's?

They are easier to put onto a HDD...

If I was playing flacs, would any of the above DACs be better than that in SqueezeBox?

 

[Turn&cough]

All the DACs I have tried/owned have been an improvement over the SB3's analog outs.

Without having heard all those you mentioned I think a safe bet would be the DAC Magic. You can pick one up retail and return it if you don't like it(which I doubt you'll want to do)

PS - Why settle for MP3 when the SB3's native format is the superior FLAC?

 

[slwiser]

I use the SB3 with my Lavry DA10 feeding my Stax setup. Very nice. I also use FLAC files.

 

[jbloggs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turn&cough /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why settle for MP3 when the SB3's native format is the superior FLAC?

They are easier to put onto a HDD...ie. simply buy them, download them onto HDD, no ripping etc., however, I think now may be the time to think about moving over to flacs.....

Thank you for you helpful replies.

 

[Valens7]

You may also want to consider the Keces DA-131.1 DAC. It goes for around $375 shipped, and Maniac is a pleasure to deal with. I like mine!

I plan on using it with a Squeezebox Duet via coax in the future.