[hmen]

It's time to replace my Monarchy Audio DAC 22.  The Benchmark seems like the popular, safe choice although I've read some good things about TADAC. Any other suggestions in the $1K price range? I'd put the Lite DAC 60 with the GR/Sonicraft mods on the list but it doesn't have balanced outputs.

[Housteau]

I like the Benchmark DAC1 and found it to work well in my system.  However, I picked up the newest version of your Monarchy, the NM24 and find it better than the Benchmark and much more versatile.  I do wish it had a USB input though.  I did email Monarchy about updating their Classic DIP with one and the response was that they will work on it.  So far they have not been pleased with their USB experiments saying that they didn't feel the sound was up to high end standards.

[jbsl]

I have had the TADAC for about 4 months now and have been very pleased with it.  First DAC so I cannot compare it to others. 

The TADAC does not have  USB either so I bought a external Soundblaster live 24 sound card and run a USB from my computer to the external sound card and then to the TADAC which works great!

I almost got the Monarchy also but had bought a tube int amp from Paul and when he came out with the TADAC I figured it was worth a try and really glad I did.

[BrianM]

In that price range you might consider the Van Alstine OmegaStar DAC ($899). It'll drive the $%^& out of your downstream gear.

http://www.avahifi.com/root/equipment/dac/omegastar_dac.htm

[NealH]

I would vote the TADAC, new Monarchy, Van Alstine, Bel Canto, or virtually any other dac over the Benchmark.  I never liked it's sterile and bleached sound, regardless of it's dynamic and wide frequency response.  I found it to be the anti-thesis of "hi-end" sound.   

[vman71]

If you are looking for something that is warm, smooth and musical, I loved the Bel Canto DAC2.  Fantastic, you will not be disappointed!  The reviews on this DAC are right on.  You can find a used one for $700-750.

[tanchiro58]

I would order the Promitheus DAC (special order with balanced output) for $385 then later after breaking in I would get a pair of Burson Audio Discrete Opamps ($105.00) to replace the stock opamps. You will not regret the sound of that combination. 

[doug s.]

shameless plug - make me an offer!     i know two folks (one on this forum) who kept their modded di/o's in lieu of the benchmark dac1

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=49382.0

doug s.

[Ron Stewart]

Nobody has mentioned the Lavry DA10 yet. It's worth a look if you don't need a USB connection.

Here's an interesting and entertaining comparison between the DAC1 and the DA10: http://www.studioreviews.com/dac1-da10.htm

Ron

[doug s.]

also worth looking into, from what i have read, would be the mytek stereo96 dac.  according to some pro-audio forums, it is better than both the lavry & benchmark.  mytek has some comparison files they have run between their da & ad conwerters and other brands on their website:

http://www.mytekdigital.com/compare/index.htm

i'd love to try one, but i am still not ready to actually shell out the cash - i suspect that if it's better than my art di/o's, (and it may not be), it will be a miniscule difference...  some day, i may stumble across a good deal on a used one...

doug s.

Nobody has mentioned the Lavry DA10 yet. It's worth a look if you don't need a USB connection.

Here's an interesting and entertaining comparison between the DAC1 and the DA10: http://www.studioreviews.com/dac1-da10.htm

Ron

[BrianM]

Since I mentioned the Van Alstine OmegaStar DAC before, I notice there is one for sale at Audiogon for only $350.

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1205616377