[S Clark]

There are several dac kits out there.  Can anyone recommend one?

[BillB]

I just purchased a Buffalo last night...when I get around to building it I will let you know!

[BradJudy]

I just purchased a Buffalo last night...when I get around to building it I will let you know!

Cool - I've been tempted to do a Twisted Pear DAC. 

[S Clark]

That one, the Scott Nixon tubedac, and the Diyparadise Monica II are the options that I am looking at.  Prices range from around $125-$250, so all are cheap enough- just trying to get an idea of where they stand against the commercial dacs that run $700 up. I'm not afraid of kits, and don't want to spend a lot to try an outboard dac.

[BillB]

I think the Buffalo will slaughter most DACs but this is just speculation on my part...from what I read it will be incredible.

[SET Man]

Hey!

   OK, I will chip in on this. Here is my cheap NOS DAC....

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=32778.0

   Not bad at all for $40 a kit, well $42 now

   They do make other NOS DACs and a one or two 24/96+ with USB also...

http://us.hifidiy.net/index.asp

   For 16bit CD play back I prefered NOS DAC. Their tubed NOS DAC is very interesting and I might consider it if I ever upgrade the little DAC I have now.

Take care,
Buddy

[S Clark]

Well, $40 plus jacks and switches is definitely cheap, but I am looking for something to step up from the sound of my Cambridge Audio 640C.  I'm leaning toward the Buffalo.

[BillB]

Nice!

[SET Man]

Well, $40 plus jacks and switches is definitely cheap, but I am looking for something to step up from the sound of my Cambridge Audio 640C.  I'm leaning toward the Buffalo.

Hey!

    Did I mentioned they have other DAC?

    Yes my DAC is cheap and hard to take seriously.

   If I had more money there is one NOS DAC that I would seriously consider is the Audio Note DAC Kit 2.1
 
  http://www.audionotekits.com/dac2_1.html

    Anyway, good luck on your search.

Take care,
Buddy
   

[S Clark]

Hey Buddy,
I definitely looked at that AN dac, but the price for a kit!
If I was going to spend that kind of dough, I'd get Danny Richie's that I am familiar with for less $
http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=122

Ahhh, the old conundrum, champaigne taste, beer budget.

Scott

[S Clark]

When looking through the Audio Note website, I saw that they sell speaker kits.  I don't know much about DACs but I have learned a thing or two about speakers.  Looking at their crossovers doesn't build confidence- definitely not high quality parts.  Hmmmmm, high price, cheap crossovers.. .. even though their prices took me out of their market, looking around their site definitely sealed the deal.  Their dac may be a fine product, but I am not likely to ever know for sure.

Has anyone heard this dac?

Scott

[jrebman]

Take a serious look at the Peter Daniel Audio Sector NOS DAC.  It's available in spdif or usb versions, gets a lot of excellent reviews, is pretty minimalist, and the full kit with the power module/transformer and RCA jacks costs $300.  Tons of quality parts.

-- Jim

[audio-heaven]

I built a Buffalo DAC from TP and I am thrilled with it, I also own a RAKK DAC MKII and a Benchmark DAC1 and IMO the buffalo is by far the best of that bunch.

It has a lot of resolution great dynamics it's very musical and totally fatigue free in my system, I am so pleased with it's performance that I'm just not interested in other DAC's - it is the best sounding DAC I have ever heard.

There may well be other DAC's out there as good but 'I know' I couldn't afford them.

I highly doubt anyone who builds a Buffalo DAC would be disappointed it is AMAZING value for money I couldn't be happier.

Just my two cents

[SET Man]

Hey Buddy,
I definitely looked at that AN dac, but the price for a kit!
If I was going to spend that kind of dough, I'd get Danny Richie's that I am familiar with for less $
http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=122

Ahhh, the old conundrum, champaigne taste, beer budget.

Scott

Hey!

   Totally different animal there and different DAC type (NOS vs 24/96)

   I can't afford those top AN kits right now and yes the price seem high for a kit. But looking what it is there I think it is not that bad.

   Of course will is sound good in my system is another story. And this is the down side of buying kit because you can't really try it first.

Take care,
Buddy

[Jon L]

I built a Buffalo DAC from TP and I am thrilled with it, I also own a RAKK DAC MKII and a Benchmark DAC1 and IMO the buffalo is by far the best of that bunch.

It has a lot of resolution great dynamics it's very musical and totally fatigue free in my system, I am so pleased with it's performance that I'm just not interested in other DAC's - it is the best sounding DAC I have ever heard.

There may well be other DAC's out there as good but 'I know' I couldn't afford them.

I highly doubt anyone who builds a Buffalo DAC would be disappointed it is AMAZING value for money I couldn't be happier.

Just my two cents

I would appreciate a little more particulars of Benchmark vs. Buffalo vs. RAKK.  I have heard rumors Buffalo has great resolution but "light" bass..  I am personally looking forward to their Counterpoint discrete output stage, which should make Buffalo only so much better.  

Was your Benchmark the recent model or older, and is your RAKK passive or active version?  

[audio-heaven]

I would appreciate a little more particulars of Benchmark vs. Buffalo vs. RAKK.  I have heard rumors Buffalo has great resolution but "light" bass..  I am personally looking forward to their Counterpoint discrete output stage, which should make Buffalo only so much better.  

Was your Benchmark the recent model or older, and is your RAKK passive or active version?  

No problem my Benchmark DAC is an older model but I have heard a new model so I am familiar with the newer sounding unit, my RAKK DACMKII is the active version and is a really great DAC I think it beats the Benchmark DAC1.

I personally hadn't heard anyone say the Buffalo has light bass but speaking for myself the bass from the Buffalo has been tremendous and easily beats the other 2 DACs for depth resolution and control - I am using ATC speakers btw.

I am just stunned at what this DAC did for my system I was hoping for the best after reading the ESS Sabre DAC's impressive specs and I was not disappointed, Thanks to Russ and Brian at twisted Pear I have what I consider to be a state of the art DAC chip in a DIY package I can afford and was very easy to build. As well as the Counterpoint they are working on a lower noise and higher spec power supply for the Buffalo called the Placid to make the Buffalo sound even better.
I am using the IVY output stage at the moment but I am very interested in the counterpoint when it is ready.