[Bigfish]

Guys:

My experience with DACs capable of playing Hi-Rez Files is limited to the Zodiac+ and The PS Audio Perfect Wave.  I am very interested in learning what are the best sounding Hi-Rez Capable DACs you have heard.

Thanks,

Ken

[catastrofe]

I owned an Esoteric D-05 and G-03X clock.  I sold the combo and moved to the Perfectwave DAC.  No regrets with that decision. . .

[roscoeiii]

I have heard and really liked the folowing DACS. I won't make any giant killer claims here. Rather, the performance does increase with price. I have found that each increase was worth it, but you are getting to some diminishing returns that may or may not be worth it to you. The difference between the Weiss DAC2 and W4S DAC2 came down to things I had difficulty putting into words. The 6moons comparison actually made more sense to me after A/Bing the two. All were listened to via USB via Mac Mini, except the EE DAC, which I used a Hiface with.

My list:
HRT Streamer Pro $500
Eastern Electric DAC $750
Wyred 4 Sound DAC2 $1500
Weiss DAC2 $3000

I briefly auditioned a Zodiac+ and would love to hear one of these for a longer stretch, especially with their linear PSU, or a Red Wine battery power suply. Metric Halo LIO8 also really intrigues and could be used as an active crossover...

[Stu Pitt]

Maybe this will help narrow down some suggestions people will have -

High-res through USB or other inputs?   A lot of DACs won't do high-res through USB, but will through optical and coax.

I don't have enough high-res experience to recommend anything. 

[face]

Hi res through USB if it's asychronous. 

I've heard the Wyred DAC-1, DAC-2, and Metric Halo. 

[Atlplasma]

I haven't been able to compare DACs but have owned the Pop Pulse 1796 for close to a year. In combination with a Mac Mini and a M2Tech Hiface, it provides a very affordable solution for outputting high resolution music. Of course, it's an inexpensive DAC and might want deliver the type of sound you are shooting for.

[Stu Pitt]

Now that I think of it, as long as the DAC will do high-res through coax, won't the M2Tech HiFace (or whatever it's called) convert USB to high-res asynch coax?   If that's the case, there are far more options.  James Tanner used one on his Bryston BDA-1 when he was demoing it at a show I believe.  If that's the case, it says a lot, as Bryston wouldn't use any piece of junk to show their gear IMO.

The Arcam rDAC has asynch USB licensed from dCS.  The rDAC has gotten great reviews, especially for it's USB input, and is $479.  Haven't seen one second hand yet, so I'm pretty sure it'll command most of it's full retail if it doesn't work out.