USB DAC up to $1000

[brat]

Please, recommend me a USB DAC for $1000 max. Only sound quality matters.

 

[snaps11]

Wait for Burson DAC? / wait for audio-gd to get some burr brown DAC chips in?

 

[vert]

You should audition the new Rega DAC before buying anything. Supposedly sets a new benchmark for the $1000 price level. Gotta let you know though, you'll probably get better sound with a low jitter USB to SPDIF converter feeding the digital input of the DAC.

 

[DaveBSC]

My suggestion would be to pair an ART Legato converter with a $500 DAC, maybe an Audio-GD. No compromise USB DACs are still pretty rare, and they are also more than $1000. You really have to spend $1500 on a Northstar or W4S.

 

[Roseval]

I won't recommend brands.
There are so many of them and I don't have heard them all.
I do think you should listen to a couple of DACs supporting asynchronous USB.
Look for the ones supporting 24  bit / 96 kHz so fully USB audio class  1 compliant.
USB audio class 2 (24/192) are still rare.
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_DAC.htm

 

[brat]

Quote:

I won't recommend brands.
There are so many of them and I don't have heard them all.
I do think you should listen to a couple of DACs supporting asynchronous USB.
Look for the ones supporting 24  bit / 96 kHz so fully USB audio class  1 compliant.
USB audio class 2 (24/192) are still rare.
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_DAC.htm

hmm... I think the schematic (at 1st place) and the used materials (at 2nd) determine the sound of a device... so a badly designed DAC using asynchronous USB and fed with 24/192 files is still a bad DAC
 

 

[brat]

double post

 

[DaveBSC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brat /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
so a badly designed DAC using asynchronous USB and fed with 24/192 files is still a bad DAC
 

Absolutely. It also cuts the other way though, a great DAC with the PCM2704 USB chip (and there are a lot more of these than there are Asynch DACs, good or otherwise) is a bad USB DAC. The nice thing about the Legato is that you don't need to worry about the USB port on the DAC at all. Anything with a S/Pdif input will work (which is pretty much every DAC ever made).

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

 
Quote:

Please, recommend me a USB DAC for $1000 max. Only sound quality matters.

 
If you have an Apple Mac you could get an Apogee Duet. Assuming you are a PC user you now have a choice.
 
This is what you want. For sure. http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php
 
RME have a rock solid reputation among the pro audio community. Legendary driver support. Well within your budget too.
 
This is even better but pushing the top end of your budget and might be more than you really need (for now at least). Good investment.
 
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_uc.php
 

 

[brat]

Quote:

 It also cuts the other way though, a great DAC with the PCM2704 USB chip (and there are a lot more of these than there are Asynch DACs, good or otherwise) is a bad USB DAC.

I agree. PCM2704 has his own specific (and awuful) sound signature as usb-to-analog as well as usb-to-spdif converter.

 

[03029174]

I was in the same boat and after alot of research and testing i chose the Cary Xciter Dac. I'm really happy with it, think you might be able to pick one up used for $1000

 

[06S2k07Si]

http://www.centrance.com/products/dacmini/

 

[bixby]

Quote:

Quote:

I won't recommend brands.
There are so many of them and I don't have heard them all.
I do think you should listen to a couple of DACs supporting asynchronous USB.
Look for the ones supporting 24  bit / 96 kHz so fully USB audio class  1 compliant.
USB audio class 2 (24/192) are still rare.
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_DAC.htm

hmm... I think the schematic (at 1st place) and the used materials (at 2nd) determine the sound of a device... so a badly designed DAC using asynchronous USB and fed with 24/192 files is still a bad DAC
 

Interesting thoughts....if only the real world followed your logic.  A good layout is important and materials are ..not so much.  A good designer does not necessarily need boutique brand names to design a good device.  There are lots of ebay and other dacs that tout big names in their parts lineup and even so a poorly designed power supply can ruin it all.
 
If you really want the best sound follow Vert and some others advice and look to get a good transport , asynch or adaptive (listen to both) and a decent dac like the ps audio dl3.  Something like this would crush most $1000 dacs that implement usb, since they cannot do it very well at that price point and give you a really good sounding dac.

 

[MacedonianHero]

There is currently a Cary Xciter DAC on sale in the F/S forum by a respected member. I can say from first hand experience this is one wonderful DAC and the USB is sublime (the best I've heard via USB). A good step up from my PS Audio DLIII (now sold).

 

[Currawong]

Quote:

You should audition the new Rega DAC before buying anything. Supposedly sets a new benchmark for the $1000 price level. Gotta let you know though, you'll probably get better sound with a low jitter USB to SPDIF converter feeding the digital input of the DAC.

Do you own or have you ever owned one?

 
Quote:

 
Quote:

Please, recommend me a USB DAC for $1000 max. Only sound quality matters.

 
If you have an Apple Mac you could get an Apogee Duet. Assuming you are a PC user you now have a choice.
 
This is what you want. For sure. http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php
 
RME have a rock solid reputation among the pro audio community. Legendary driver support. Well within your budget too.
 
This is even better but pushing the top end of your budget and might be more than you really need (for now at least). Good investment.
 
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_uc.php
 

Do you own or have you ever owned any?
 


Quote:

http://www.centrance.com/products/dacmini/

Do you own or have you ever owned one?
 
brat: Would you consider more than a 1-box solution, that is, a USB to coax converter, then a DAC? It would widen your choices considerably. Is $1000 your absolute limit?