New Mac, DAC, Software and ?

jparkhur · « **on:** 12 Jan 2013, 06:20 pm »

I have finally had some time to put everything together and have come up with the following. I obtained a Mac Mini 2.6 Quad Core with 16 G of RAM, a Oyen FW Drive, Audirvana Plus and am waiting on a DAC. Not sure on that one. I am also reimporting all of my 40,000 songs so they are all AIFF, this may take another week or so. I will be using a dB Audio Labs cable for USB out, suggestions on DAC's that are out there now.

Speakers: Many
Speaker Cables: Synergistic X2
Amps: Lots
Pre: Passive
CD: Oppo 83

JP

geowak · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Jan 2013, 01:06 am »

For a DAC, I would look at the Schiit Audio Gungnir DAC. Also I think the Bryston BDA-1 is very good. I own a Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC and a Benchmark USB DAC1 Pre. I can recommend anything Benchmark makes. But and for the budget price points, Schiit Audio makes very neutral sounding DAC's

IMHO

K Shep · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Feb 2013, 06:24 pm »

My reference Dac has been the Bryston BDA-1 for a few years. I owned an Ayre QB-9 until I had the opportunity to listen to the Bryston in my room next to the Ayre. Bryston won out. I recently put together a second system where I stream files from my Mac Mini to an Airport Express plugged into a Paraound Z-dac. This new system build has thrown my attention back into the hobby, and I purchased the Schiit MODI USB only async Dac. I have listened to it next to the Bryston and it holds it's own. For $99 it is a steal. And it is powered over USB so no power cord.

chrisby · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Feb 2013, 07:41 pm »

Quote from: K Shep on 8 Feb 2013, 06:24 pm

My reference Dac has been the Bryston BDA-1 for a few years. I owned an Ayre QB-9 until I had the opportunity to listen to the Bryston in my room next to the Ayre. Bryston won out. I recently put together a second system where I stream files from my Mac Mini to an Airport Express plugged into a Paraound Z-dac. This new system build has thrown my attention back into the hobby, and I purchased the Schiit MODI USB only async Dac. I have listened to it next to the Bryston and it holds it's own. For $99 it is a steal. And it is powered over USB so no power cord.

so you were able to replace the function of the AEX and Z-dac with the MODI? that alone has gotta be worth the price of admission for a budget / second system

K Shep · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Feb 2013, 02:19 am »

Quote from: chrisby on 12 Feb 2013, 07:41 pm

so you were able to replace the function of the AEX and Z-dac with the MODI? that alone has gotta be worth the price of admission for a budget / second system

No. The Aex is audio via optical only. But it is nice to have the MODI as a second Dac and it's a great little party favor.

jarcher · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Feb 2013, 03:02 am »

Don't know what your budget on the DAC is, but I'm very happy with my Bel Canto 1.5, which is also a versatile piece as it has multiple inputs (two coax, one aesbu, one optical, and one USB) as well as dual outputs (RCA + XLR), and is a digital pre-amp to boot. This means that you can really use it for multiple sources + with long interconnects, potentially for another system in another room. The USB is not asynch + only up to 24 / 96khz & doesn't sound as good as the other inputs, so I would favor those.

When I bought it I compared to a few DAC's in the $500 - $1500 range, and it was my favorite by far. It has a very smooth / clean / clear sound and plenty of detail without getting harsh / clinical / fatiguing, which I found the Benchmark 1 could become with the wrong material.

About the only negative along w/ the older USB is that it comes w/ a cheap switching supply, so you really are better off getting some aftermarket upgraded power supply.

I use it w/ a Mac Mini running Pure Music and a HiFace2 USB / SPDIF converter & Wireworld starlight USB + SPDIF RCA cables. Will soon get & evaluate the new Bel Canto mlink USB / SPDIF converter.