[smkyle]

I want to connect my computer to a Dynaudio BM5A MKII. I like it because it hits quite low for its size and I don't have to bother with an amp. I have been allotted a small space near the corner of my living room that doesn't lend itself to a stereo setup.
http://dynaudioprofessional.com/bm-series/monitors/bm5a-mkii/
I need volume control and XLR out. Oh yea and I need it to be small and under $200. A used Emotiva XDA is perfect except for the size. The Matrix Mini i is perfect except for the price. The wife requires aesthetics. A Peavey USB P would almost do the trick but it doesn't have volume control. A remote is a big bonus. Also feel free to recommend any other sub $700 setup that will fit in a cubic foot. About 99% of my listening is spotify so I don't want my equipment to be so good that I hear audio compression quality issues. I want it to hit as low as possible without sounding bad. Subs are out of the question.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

Most audio interfaces designed to work with active monitors and with a small form factor (half rack) offer 1/4" TRS jack rather than XLR in order to save space.
 
It's the same thing functionally though. So you just need to specify the right cable.
 
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/microbook/specs.html
 
http://www.thomann.de/gb/steinberg_ur22.htm
 
http://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i4
 
http://www.thomann.de/gb/native_instruments_komplete_audio_6.htm
 

recommend any other sub $700 setup

 
If you want the best.
 
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php
 
http://spl.info/index.php?id=2957&L=1

 

[smkyle]

Thank you for the response. Great recommendations and just the information I was looking for.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

I have a MOTU Ultralite which is mainly balanced 1/4" jacks in and out but it's nice because it's small.
 
If you can find some I've found at least set of leads like this to be very handy.
 
http://www.studiospares.com/leads-xlr/xlr-unisex-stereo-jack-5m-lead/invt/595580?VBMST=595-580
 
You can use them as both ins and outs or join them together to go jack to jack. Lovely cable too.

 

[railrus]

am using a bm-5a mkII with my pc. some of the dac i have tried
 
citypulse (cannot remember which model)
eastern electric dac (modded with a good nos tube)
benchmark dac 1 (as a interim dac before getting my present)
benchmark dac 2 
 
am very happy with my current setup (as a dac plus pre; removed my astin trew tube preamp although i missed the tubed mids). very resolving unit with nice depth and tonality. benchmark dac 1 was a pain to hear with powered monitors

 

[smkyle]

  am using a bm-5a mkII with my pc. some of the dac i have tried
 
citypulse (cannot remember which model)
eastern electric dac (modded with a good nos tube)
benchmark dac 1 (as a interim dac before getting my present)
benchmark dac 2
 
am very happy with my current setup (as a dac plus pre; removed my astin trew tube preamp although i missed the tubed mids). very resolving unit with nice depth and tonality. benchmark dac 1 was a pain to hear with powered monitors

I'm glad to get some feedback from someone with the exact speaker I'm looking at. Out of curiosity, it seems unusual to get a $1000 dac for a $500 active speaker. Do you use your dac with headphones too?
 
Update on my situation: the wife wants to run the TV through the speaker too which doesn't impact my size constraints, but it requires a toslink input to make use of the dac for the TV. I'm leaning towards the M Matrix mini-i now. A remote with volume and input control makes a bigger difference now. Bumping up the budget to $300 introduces a lot of new candidates, however, and my only concern with the Matrix is that I'm paying for a headphone amp that I have no interest in making use of. Just need a small, aesthetically pleasing USB dac plus pre with toslink input, balanced out and a remote. That's a lot of criteria but since there are roughly ten zillion dacs out there it doesn't narrow it down as much as I would like.

 

[railrus]

  I'm glad to get some feedback from someone with the exact speaker I'm looking at. Out of curiosity, it seems unusual to get a $1000 dac for a $500 active speaker. Do you use your dac with headphones too?
 
Update on my situation: the wife wants to run the TV through the speaker too which doesn't impact my size constraints, but it requires a toslink input to make use of the dac for the TV. I'm leaning towards the M Matrix mini-i now. A remote with volume and input control makes a bigger difference now. Bumping up the budget to $300 introduces a lot of new candidates, however, and my only concern with the Matrix is that I'm paying for a headphone amp that I have no interest in making use of. Just need a small, aesthetically pleasing USB dac plus pre with toslink input, balanced out and a remote. That's a lot of criteria but since there are roughly ten zillion dacs out there it doesn't narrow it down as much as I would like.

actually it is USD2k better source makes my setup really sing well.
 
am eyeing at a Hifiman HE-500 (anyone knows if this will work with the benchmark?). previous cans include the Sony MDR-R1. UE TF10, some old Senn etc
 
BM-5a are pretty detailed and clean. think it may be a match with a warmish Matrix (YMMV). would strongly suggest a loaner or check the return policy. for this price point, take it as a free hp output!
 
do give the bm-5a some space at the back or the bass may be flabby. secondly make sure get some nice feet or otherwise you may not get the 100% from this nice monitors. 
 
GOOD LUCK!

 

[juliusthecat]

I've been looking for exactly the same DAC/balanced preamp within my budget to use for a pair of BM6As which are on a shelf in  my basement.

 

[railrus]

  I've been looking for exactly the same DAC/balanced preamp within my budget to use for a pair of BM6As which are on a shelf in  my basement.

do look at the new BMC dac. heard a lot of good reviews as well
 
http://bmc-audio.de/index.php/PureDAC-EN.html

 

[pigmode]

 sorry, wrong thread