[mca]

I'm not asking for you to tell me what DAC to buy. I just am looking to narrow down some DAC's that I should look at and try to audition. My system:

Von Schweikert VR33
Moscode 402AU w/factory cap upgrade
Belles 22A preamp
Bolder modded Touch and Jerome power supply
All Morrow level 3 cables

I listen to a wide variety of music, metal, jazz, blues, old rock, acoustic, etc. Have dabbled in some 24/96 downloads and would like to add more to the collection.

Thee are so many DAC's out there in the 1k range. Will I get a better musical experience if I step up to say the 2-2.5k range?

[Big Red Machine]

I'm considering one of these this spring:  April Music Eximus DP1

Nice 6Moons write-up

[eclein]

Antelope Zodiac- There are nice ones there, the newest Eastern Electric, Wayne has experience tweaking them if you go that route like with the Touch etc..

[bhobba]

Yes indeed you will get a better musical experience with DAC's in the 2-2.5K range.

Most certainly you should hear DAC's before buying, but the best DAC's are made by the small guys IMHO and going down to your local store will not allow you to hear them - but many do offer a free home trial which is what I think you should avail yourself of - if possible.  For example I recently compared the BDP-1 to my slightly cheaper PDX DAC (its the other way around price wise in the US - even with the strong Australian dollar what SOME importers do as mark-up's is unbelievable - the Brysyon sells for a bit under $3.5k here in Aus - $2195 in the US - completely unjustified IMHO) and my PDX simply blew it away - the Bryston was dry and uninvolving.  The person who lent me his Bryston got a loan of my PDX and and said the same thing.  I won't suggest the PDX though because it is well outside your suggested $2.5K.

My suggested DAC's are:

Metrum with Steve Nugent Off-Ramp or Audiophellio - you must get something like the Off-Ramp or Audioplilleio to unlock the potential of this DAC
http://www.nosminidac.nl/Octave_English.html
http://www.audiophilleo.com/
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/off-ramp-converter

The trouble here is you will not be able to do an in home audition.

The other DAC is the Tranquility DAC:
http://www.dbaudiolabs.com/signatureDac.html

A free in home audition is available

Steve Nugent (Empirical Audio) is working on a new DAC called the Hot-Rod DAC that might suit you at about $1.5k - a free home audition will probably be available.

Thanks
Bill

[bhobba]

Antelope Zodiac- There are nice ones there, the newest Eastern Electric, Wayne has experience tweaking them if you go that route like with the Touch etc..

Be careful with the Zodiac - be 100% sure you listen to it first - the treble I hear from some guys that got one is its a bit overdone and they wished they didn't get it - but the reports are it does reduce with break-in.  Everyone I know who has heard the EE likes it - although I have not had the pleasure of hearing it yet.

Thanks
Bill

[vhiner]

Given your equipment, I wouldn't recommend cheaping out (you'll hear the difference) nor would I recommend going much above the 2.5k range because of the pace of change in digital. I'd suggest buying a brand that plans for user upgrades. Wyred4Sound, PSAudio, Bel Canto and MSB come to mind.

I believe the best buy in digital right now is a used PS Audio PerfectWave DAC. You can get one used  for 1700 to 1900. When you want to step up to SOTA, buy their MKII upgrade for a grand ( you install it yourself). I own the MKII and I'm officially off of the merry-go-round for a while. It's the most detailed, analog-sounding digital I've ever heard.

[toddbagwell]

I like my W4S DAC-2.

didn't listen to anything prior to buying it, so I don't have any valuable comparison for you.

todd

[wisnon]

Why not the Mytek DAC? If you eventually want to play DSD, this is the way to go...sub$1.7K and uses Sabre chips. A bit of future proofing, as there is talk that DSD download may become the audiophile standard in the coming years...

Downside is there is a waiting list.

[Noseyears]

The DA-160 by the guys of burson is getting some attention in the audio community. If you have a retailer near, you may be able to audition it.

[mhconley]

I'd consider this M2Tech Young DAC for $1080: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=102549.0

Martin

[Vincent Kars]

A first is how you are going to connect the DAC.
If it is USB, look for an asynchronous one.
If you plan > 96 kHz, look for a USB audio class 2 implementation.