Lobby > Head Amps, DACs, Sources, Portable Equipment Discussion
Not a lot of DAC talk on here...
Anathallo:
So I'm still pretty fresh to the hobby. My system isn't really TOTL, nor have I been able to compare it to other similar setups, but I still very much enjoy it. I use this website (and head-fi, but it's hard to wade through the fanboy-isms sometimes) to try and guide future upgrades/purchases, but I've noticed there's very little talk of DACs on this website. It's primarily headphones, with some amp talk trailing behind.
Is it that you've all found your 'good enough' DACs, or is the market really that stagnant with respect to new, good products?
Sforza:
There was a thread not too long ago where they discussed high end DACs for use in home rigs:
http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,425.msg7212.html
As for me, my "good enough" DAC is the Centrance Dacport LX. I've heard better but I haven't felt the need to upgrade yet.
DaveBSC:
I'm watching the $2000-3000 DAC space very closely. There are loads of great DACs in the $5-8K range, and there are a few very good ones at the $1500 level, but not a ton in between. The Ayre QB-9 is outdated and outmatched, and the Eximus DP-1 seems to be over-hyped by the usual suspects. Arcam's DP33 seems to be terrible.
One DAC that has me very curious is Burl's B2 Bomber. Pro use DACs are typically no frills (with no frills pricing). Weiss for example put a $2K "home use fee" on their Minerva. Slightly prettier buttons than the pro DAC2 - $2K.
No USB, but that's easy enough to add with an Anedio U2 or Audiophilleo.
Tari:
The DAC market has a whole lot of new products coming out, driven by the speaker market and not the (comparatively) niche headphone market.
Most of these DAC's carry higher and higher price tags, with fancier casework to match. At this point there isn't a whole lot to do differently - DSD is one 'in' thing, and it seems like some (Light Harmonic, Antelope) are pushing 24/384 as a thing. Other than that it's a game of chassis and features in the audiophile (non Pro) market, and there's so much BS and so little variation in well designed non-tube Delta Sigma DACs that frankly it doesn't warrant nearly as much conversation as transducers and amps.
Sites like Gearslutz have some very good threads on DACs. Sites like CA can be worse than HF.
Marvey:
The DACPort is truly good enough. The ODAC is good if you can make it work with a beefy USB port.
How much do you want to spend? I know a few members have the NAD M51, PS Audio PWD1/2, and Buffalo.
If you are into DIY, a few of us are secretly in the process of assembling some crazy Buffalo3 based builds which will work with DSD.
I should be getting in a loaner Gungnir...
P.S. I would also have to say no on the DP-1, unless you know exactly what you are getting into. It's possible that those on HF who are exalting it have never heard anything better.
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