revco
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2008
- Posts
- 5
- Likes
- 0
Hello all,
I am quite pleased that I came across the Head-Fi forums - it is exactly the resource that I have been looking for. I am in the market for a USB DAC to replace my aging and troublesome DAC that I'm using now. PC Audio has nearly replaced my CD usage...I haven't even bothered to set up my Marantz transport with my latest move.
I'm sure all of you are tired of making recommendations - and I am tired of reading the countless, conflicting reviews. Most reviews that I have seen here are for headphone users - and that's great - but it's not my application. Unfortunately, in my town there are no hi-fi shops that carry DACs, so this will be a blind purchase for me and I need to get it right.
My hi-fi system is composed as follows:
Klipsch LaScala speakers - Horns (~$3-4K new)
Cary Audio CPA-1 Preamp (~$1300)
Bel Canto S300 Amp (~$1400)
Media Center PC / Vista
Decent interconnects & cable ($500ish)
The setup is very transparent, albeit a very slight edge to the warm side. I am specifically looking for a DAC that is warm, musical, clean and not overly analytical. I want a quality midrange (to show off my horns), but it can't be too powerful in that regard. It also needs to be fairly strong on the low end as the LaScala's are known for being weak in that area. (Not for quality, but for strength & depth...the woofer ends around 53hz)
My budget is around $1K...plus or minus...though not too high as I'm working towards the Bel Canto DAC3. I really like the idea of a balanced setup as my preamp and amp are currently using a balanced connection. I need RCA though as I haven't budgeted a new balanced cable with this purchase.
From what I've read (and rather extensively now), my primary choices are the Stello DA100 Signature and the DAC1. I've read good and bad things about both and have seen conflicting information too many times. (e.g. the DAC1 is warm, no it's not...the Stello is weak in the low end, no it's not...etc.) I don't need the DAC1's amp at all...though, I have considered future potential for it.
Personally, I'm leaning towards the Stello...but I want second opinions. Given my requests, do you think that's a good match, should I look elsewhere or can you sell me on the DAC1 in my setup?
Thanks so much...and good to be amongst a group of of audiophiles!
I am quite pleased that I came across the Head-Fi forums - it is exactly the resource that I have been looking for. I am in the market for a USB DAC to replace my aging and troublesome DAC that I'm using now. PC Audio has nearly replaced my CD usage...I haven't even bothered to set up my Marantz transport with my latest move.
I'm sure all of you are tired of making recommendations - and I am tired of reading the countless, conflicting reviews. Most reviews that I have seen here are for headphone users - and that's great - but it's not my application. Unfortunately, in my town there are no hi-fi shops that carry DACs, so this will be a blind purchase for me and I need to get it right.
My hi-fi system is composed as follows:
Klipsch LaScala speakers - Horns (~$3-4K new)
Cary Audio CPA-1 Preamp (~$1300)
Bel Canto S300 Amp (~$1400)
Media Center PC / Vista
Decent interconnects & cable ($500ish)
The setup is very transparent, albeit a very slight edge to the warm side. I am specifically looking for a DAC that is warm, musical, clean and not overly analytical. I want a quality midrange (to show off my horns), but it can't be too powerful in that regard. It also needs to be fairly strong on the low end as the LaScala's are known for being weak in that area. (Not for quality, but for strength & depth...the woofer ends around 53hz)
My budget is around $1K...plus or minus...though not too high as I'm working towards the Bel Canto DAC3. I really like the idea of a balanced setup as my preamp and amp are currently using a balanced connection. I need RCA though as I haven't budgeted a new balanced cable with this purchase.
From what I've read (and rather extensively now), my primary choices are the Stello DA100 Signature and the DAC1. I've read good and bad things about both and have seen conflicting information too many times. (e.g. the DAC1 is warm, no it's not...the Stello is weak in the low end, no it's not...etc.) I don't need the DAC1's amp at all...though, I have considered future potential for it.
Personally, I'm leaning towards the Stello...but I want second opinions. Given my requests, do you think that's a good match, should I look elsewhere or can you sell me on the DAC1 in my setup?
Thanks so much...and good to be amongst a group of of audiophiles!