DAC recommendations

nocrapman · « **on:** 29 May 2013, 01:31 pm »

I want to upgrade from my current DAC - the original CA DACmagic.
It clearly is not upto spec with the rest of the system - Bryston BP26 pre, 4BSST2, Maggie 1.7s.

I dont want to blow the bank with a DAC purchase but anything new/used upto 2K will work.

Please recommend.

Thanks!

2gumby2 · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 May 2013, 01:45 pm »

I own two Channel Islands Audio VDA-2 DACs with the VAC-1 upgraded power supply. They are by far the best DACs I have had in my systems. I'm not a big fan of DACs in general as I think the CD players being manufactured these days are quite good. My Arcam FMJ CD37 CD players are incredible! But I have the Channel Islands DACs being used with some lower end transports and it's amazing what they can do at that price point. I have five 2-channel systems at my house so I've gone through some equipment over the years.

genjamon · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 May 2013, 03:28 pm »

Are you using a CD or other disc player, or computer based playback, or both?

Channel Islands is a solid performer for coax and optical inputs. The db audio tranquility units are going really cheap compared to their original prices these days, and they are really excellent for computer playback through USB (their only input, though). Both of these would be somewhat smooth and analog sounding, rather than über detailed, but very dynamic and still very good detail. Seems like that might complement the rest of your system, but not sure.

There's tons of competition in the DAC world and hot performers one year are deeply discounted the next year on the used market. I wouldn't invest new if you're interested in preserving the value of your investment.

geowak · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 May 2013, 04:51 pm »

At the upper end, I like the Benchmark Audio offerings. At the affordable end, Schiit Audio makes very neutral and musical DACs. I have both, and the newest Bifrost with the current USB and and analog boards are just stunning. Schiit will be coming out with a upper end DAC soon....

DaveC113 · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 May 2013, 04:59 pm »

Quote from: genjamon on 29 May 2013, 03:28 pm

There's tons of competition in the DAC world and hot performers one year are deeply discounted the next year on the used market. I wouldn't invest new if you're interested in preserving the value of your investment.

I agree, which is why I went with a Schiit Bifrost, which is modular/upgradeable. They just came out with 2 upgrades that are affordable and very easy to install, so I spend $170 on upgrades instead of being stuck with an inferior DAC with older technology.

For the OP (as geowak said), they are coming out with a high end DAC that will be in the $1500-2k range. Not sure when it will be available as it was supposed to be released already. I am saving my pennies for this unit when it becomes available.

avta · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 May 2013, 06:19 pm »

A little over your budget is the Exasound E20. ( www.exasound.com ) I haven't heard it but some reviews are very positive. They offer a 30 day trial and are built in Canada. I have no connection with the company.

mswobo · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 May 2013, 06:38 pm »

I use mine with an Apollo R.

I have only heard 2 in my system first a tubed Jolida and saw some difference but didn't blow me away.

Put a Rega DAC in and am very happy. I only use it with cd's. have heard things i never heard before. trumpets dont blow my ears off, strings on stand up bass sound real. I don't do digital yet.

jarcher · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 May 2013, 09:39 pm »

Wise choice - the CA DAC MAGIC was a value leader in it's day, but it's far outclassed by a lot of low cost DACs today. And with the rest of the great gear you have, you definitely need something better. These days it seems that the Schiit Bifrost is the new Dac Magic - and there's probably some truth about not investing too much in a still rapidly shifting / improving DAC market. The Bifrost offers upgradeability - and surprisingly they've actually delivered on that promise already offering upgrades. If you're going to invest much over $1K, I'd make sure you've had a long demo + want to keep it for at least two years.

There are a boatload of very good options at your budget. I think you have to decide / discuss what you did / didn't like about the dac magic and sound in general to help guide initial recommendations. Having heard the DAC Magic I can say that the Rega Dac also having wolfson dac chips is perhaps sonically the most similar, although more refined, and w/ the selectable filters gives you some tweak-ability. I think they're availably for $700 or less used.

Another important consideration is whether or not your going to use a PC as a source or not. If so, I'd probably focus more on DACs which have an asynchronous USB input - and preferably can handle 24 bit / 192 to be on the safe side. That will likely limit / focus your search on newer offerings. Yes, you can always add a USB / SPDIF convertor to your PC, but that & the associated cables for decent ones is going to run you a couple hundred dollars.

E.g. I like entry level Hegel and Bel Canto DACs, which are in your budget, but neither have asynchronous 24 / 192 USB that I'm aware of. The Bifrost, on the other hand, does. Benchmark gets a lot of attention, and their newest versions have asynch 24 / 192 USB, but the admittedly earlier version I heard sounded too bright & analytical, and with your gear (I have 1.7's as well), not sure it would be a good match unless the more recent versions have gotten more refined.

Best of luck. I think as always the key is to always audition as much as possible before buying - or choose places w/ a good return / trade in policy.

charmerci · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 May 2013, 06:07 am »

I'm very partial to AVA (Frank Van Alstine) equipment. www.avahifi.com All his stuff is up-gradeable.

neekomax · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 May 2013, 12:44 pm »

My current DAC is also a bass correction DSP unit, the DSPeaker Anti-Mode Dual Core 2.0. They are $1,200 new, in the $800 range used. It does 24/96, and has toslink and USB inputs, with both balanced and unbalanced outputs. For me, having a quality DSP unit and preamp integrated with my DAC, for the same money as many units that only convert signal, makes the most sense.

nocrapman · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 May 2013, 02:39 pm »

Thanks for all the replies and recommendaions made thus far!

I am using this with a Squeezebox and a CDP, so USB is not important.

The SHIIT DACs look very interesting. Both the Bifrost and the higher end Gungnir.

I have used and own the ASGARD (although very little) - and very much like their build and design.

I was thinking about W4S DACs as an option, but the SHIITs look like a bigger bang for the buck.

I have not looked at the DSP options out there but will read up on it... looks like a very interesting proposition.

geowak · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 May 2013, 04:36 pm »

I had been in email contact with Jason Stoddard of Schiit Audio, when I asked him about the Bifrost analog upgrade. He said it went very far toward the performance of the Gungnir. I am very happy with it, it sounds even more analog now than before the upgrade. But for the extra cash, the Gungnir would be superb.
I have a post here on AC about the Bifrost upgrades, you might want to look at it, since I inserted some comments Jason made about his products and DSD.

wilsynet · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Jun 2013, 06:41 pm »

I'm a big fan of the NAD M51. It is excellent. I prefer the M51 over the PS Audio PWD 2, and by a wide margin over the W4S DAC-2.

wisnon · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Jun 2013, 08:37 pm »

Quote from: nocrapman on 30 May 2013, 02:39 pm

Thanks for all the replies and recommendaions made thus far!

I am using this with a Squeezebox and a CDP, so USB is not important.

The SHIIT DACs look very interesting. Both the Bifrost and the higher end Gungnir.

I have used and own the ASGARD (although very little) - and very much like their build and design.

I was thinking about W4S DACs as an option, but the SHIITs look like a bigger bang for the buck.

I have not looked at the DSP options out there but will read up on it... looks like a very interesting proposition.

The DSpeaker is a whole lot more than a Dac and if you have bass node problems, this is an unbeatable buy, killing 2 birds with one stone.

kinku · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Jun 2013, 01:33 am »

http://www.rossmartinaudio.com/
I have read some good reviews about their DACS and apparently Sony recordings are using their products. Just something to consider...

ricardojoa · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 07:07 pm »

Quote from: neekomax on 30 May 2013, 12:44 pm

My current DAC is also a bass correction DSP unit, the DSPeaker Anti-Mode Dual Core 2.0. They are $1,200 new, in the $800 range used. It does 24/96, and has toslink and USB inputs, with both balanced and unbalanced outputs. For me, having a quality DSP unit and preamp integrated with my DAC, for the same money as many units that only convert signal, makes the most sense.

Arent those DSP, somewhat similar to emotiva umc200 in terms of fuctions, like bass managements, room correction..? Except that the DSP dont do surround decoding?

wisnon · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 09:40 pm »

Dspeaker is way more advanced and is a snap to use.

ricardojoa · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 02:23 am »

very likely, less problematic then the UMC200

drummermitchell · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 02:35 am »

Bryston gear,why not audition BDA-1 or 2

Napalm · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 11:57 am »

Quote from: neekomax on 30 May 2013, 12:44 pm

My current DAC is also a bass correction DSP unit, the DSPeaker Anti-Mode Dual Core 2.0. They are $1,200 new, in the $800 range used. It does 24/96, and has toslink and USB inputs, with both balanced and unbalanced outputs. For me, having a quality DSP unit and preamp integrated with my DAC, for the same money as many units that only convert signal, makes the most sense.

This makes most sense especially since you don't have any other component that would allow you to shape the tonal response.

On the same lines and less expensive side you may want to investigate the Behringer DEQ2496.