I'm not a big fan of blind listening tests. I rarely put myself through blind tests when reviewing products. My standard reviewing methodology is to listen to familiar components for a few hours, or even days, then place the piece of reviewed gear into the system. No matter the price difference between the components I can at least identify sonic differences as a starting data point. Sonic differences are much easier for me to identify after long listening sessions as opposed to short A/B type sessions. After listening to my system for a few hours I switched preamp inputs to hear what the Peachtree Audio DAC•iT had to offer compared to other components. I was immediately and thoroughly impressed by the DAC•iT's performance. There were no glaring and easily identifiable deficiencies. This first impression had such an impact on me that I conducted a blind listening test between components costing thousands of dollars and the paltrily priced Peachtree Audio DAC•iT at $449. The unscientific blind, and sighted, test results were unflattering of my ability to differentiate between these components over a short period of time. Following prolonged listening I was able to identify a couple small imperfections in the DAC•iT but not a single showstopper. Peachtree Audio's DAC•iT is an overachiever that has definitely out-punted its coverage.
DAC•iT - Not DACiT, DAC-iT, or DAC-$#!T
The DAC•iT is Peachtree Audio's least expensive Digital to Analog Converter. The unit is without bells, whistles, and audiophile grade gold plating. The DAC•iT has a surprisingly nice fit and finish for a $449 high performance audio component. The metal chassis rests on a sensibly designed rubber bottom so as not to scratch the component or the supporting structure. There are four buttons on the front panel, all of which illuminate upon selection. One button for power and the remaining three buttons to select the appropriate digital input. Peachtree Audio wisely designed the buttons without needless over-engineering. I've used components in the recent past with buttons that looked great and lit up like a Christmas tree but were simply unacceptable for daily use. Operating the DAC•iT's buttons requires a simple push of a finger. The ease of use and corresponding light leave no ambiguity as to whether or not the button has been properly selected. Trust me I am not making something out of nothing. Readers willing and able to attend CES in January should walk the Venetian halls and press a few buttons on the components. Some designers outsmart themselves with overcomplicated buttons. Peachtree Audio has always been prudent with its designs.
As Peachtree Audio's base DAC the DAC•iT doesn't offer everything, it simply offers enough for many listeners. Three digital inputs covering coaxial S/PDIF (electrical), TosLink S/PDIF (optical), and USB are enough inputs for a number of different listening scenarios. I can think of five great uses off the top of my head, AppleTV, Squeezebox, Sonos, PC/Mac, and a server such as the Aurender S10. One of the main uses Peachtree envisioned when designing the DAC•iT was to pair it with components like a Sonos, AppleTV, or Squeezebox. The DAC•iT enables users to upgrade the sound quality substantially in one or more zones without replacing the complete system or spending a small fortune.
The DAC•iT doesn't offer analog input, volume control, or balanced XLR analog output. None of this should be a surprise to astute Computer Audiophile readers. The chances are very high that DAC•iT users have a volume control elsewhere in their systems whether digital through a Squeezebox or analog through a preamplifier. As the name implies the DAC•iT is a DAC, that's it.
Internally the Peachtree Audio DAC•iT offers a more robust analog output stage compared to nearly all streaming devices. It also makes use of the highly praised ESS Sabre 9022 DAC chip. Part of the Peachtree Audio mantra is its components use great ESS chips as one critical piece in components designed for use in computer audio systems. Peachtree uses the ESS Sabre 9022 to re-clock all incoming digital signals. According to Peachtree Audio's David Solomon this re-clocking in combination with transformer coupled digital inputs, including USB galvanic isolation, play a much greater role in a DAC's sound quality than its USB transfer mode (adaptive or asynchronous). I don't completely agree with David's assessment as I believe asynchronous USB is required for reference quality USB DACs to reach the highest levels of performance. Even though the DAC•iT is an adaptive USB design, as is the Stereophile Class A rated Peachtree iDAC ($999), Peachtree Audio hasn't shunned asynchronous USB all together. Peachtree Audio's new Grand Pre ($2,999) offers an asynchronous USB input. However, Peachtree says async is used more because of consumer demand than greater performance.
Included with the Peachtree Audio DAC•iT are a switch mode power supply and a remote control with discreet input selection.
The Daily DAC(•iT)
Peachtree Audio's DAC•iT is not only a great component for streaming based systems but nearly all types of computer audio systems. I used the DAC•iT with my C.A.P.S. v2.0
server and the Aurender S10 music server for most of the review period. Using the C.A.P.S. v2.0 server with J River Media Center 17 I thoroughly tested each digital input to determine the supported sampling frequencies and audio output modes.Inputs & Sampling Frequencies
- USB -> Supports 44.1, 48, and 96 kHz. Does not support 88.2, 176.4, or 192 kHz.
- TosLink S/PDIF (optical) -> Supports 44.1, 48, 96, and 192 kHz. Does not support 88.2 or 176.4 kHz.
- Coaxial S/PDIF (electrical) -> Supports 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz.
Audio Output Modes
- WASAPI - Event Style -> Worked without issues.
- WASAPI -> Worked without issues.
- ASIO -> Unsupported.
- Kernel Streaming -> Problems changing tracks, static.
Listening to the $449 DAC•iT was real pleasure. I frequently enjoy items more, whether audio related or not, when they are such an incredible deal. The entire review period I thought to myself, this thing is such a guilt free purchase for music lovers and audiophiles alike. Many CA readers likely have more money invested in their remote control (iPad).
The more hours I put on the DAC•iT the more familiar I became with the device. I enjoyed all types of music through the unit but enjoyed rock and jazz more than the other genres. There was something about solo horns and the complete horn sections of my favorite jazz recordings when played through the DAC•iT. The horns sounded so appealing as if they were jumping out of my TAD CR1 loudspeakers and into my lap. Throughout the review I had two albums in heavy rotation. First, the newest version of The Dave Brubeck Quartet's Time Out (2011 Sony K2HD Master
), second Harry James and His Big Band The King James Version (Sheffield Lab). The horns on both 16 bit / 44.1 kHz albums were fantastic through the DAC•iT.
24 bit / 96 kHz rock music from Pink Floyd was also on the DAC•iT review menu. Both The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here sounded great. The bass was as wall-shaking as it should be during Welcome to the Machine. David Gilmour's infamous cough, sniff, and deep breath at the beginning of Wish You Were Here were very evident and the opening guitar solo was as lifelike as I've ever heard through such an inexpensive component. In fact, I'd put DACs worth thousands of dollars more than the DAC•iT up against this thing and expect very little difference. Oh wait, I already did. At any given time I have ten or more DACs in my listening room for review, evaluation, or simply my listening pleasure. I don't want to embarrass any manufacturer or unduly influence people not to purchase a product they truly enjoy. Plus, my results are valid only in my system, in my room, with my ears, on the days I listened to the DAC•iT. Therefore I'll withhold the details of my comparisons. The takeaway from this should be to audition a DAC•iT in addition to much more expensive DACs. There's no right answer or correct selection. It all comes down to what people like.No DAC is perfect and certainly not a $449 DAC. Design compromises must be made to keep the price reasonable. I found three main imperfections with the DAC•iT after listening and comparing for many hours. There is a strong likelihood these imperfections wouldn't be noticed by listeners without other high performance DACs on hand for comparison and certainly not by listeners upgrading devices like the AppleTV, Sonos, and Squeezebox.
Low level resolution was not on par with my best DACs, but was certainly better than any DAC I've heard around this price range. Listening to the Dallas Wind Symphony Crown Imperial track 8 Michael Daugherty: Niagara Falls at 24 bit / 96 kHz
required a major volume adjustment to hear the low level details present in the recording. This track has almost no dynamic range compression and a dynamic range score of 17
. The track requires very resolving systems to bring out every detail without adjusting the volume up and down for quiet and loud passages respectively. This leads me into my next imperfection, a slightly rolled off very top end. Listening to the same track through the DAC•iT there was a tiny lack of detail at the very top. This track has information all the way to 35 kHz. There's no way I can come close to hearing that high of a frequency. The highest audible frequencies lacked a crispness that was present through my other available and much more expensive DACs. The last imperfection I found with the DAC•iT was an every so slight thickness in male vocals. Listening to Ray LaMontagne's God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise tracks 5. Are We Really Through, and 6. This Love Is Over were just a skosh more chesty than through the other more expensive DACs in my comparison. Again, I want to stress not a single one of these imperfections is a showstopper.
Conclusion
The Peachtree Audio DAC•iT is not without faults but is with many attributes of much more expensive DACs. In fact I am so impressed by the DAC•iT, it's now the least expensive DAC ever placed on the C.A.S.H. List
. The sound quality available through this DAC may fool even the most knuckle dragging, card carrying audiophile in a short term blind or sighted listening test. I encourage readers to find another DAC of this quality anywhere near this price. The DAC•iT is not for listeners who require analog input(s), balanced analog outputs, or volume control. The DAC•iT may be the component of choice for readers seeking a low cost, high performing, overachieving DAC from a company created solely to meet the needs of computer audiophiles. The DAC•iT is highly recommended.
Product Information:
- Product - Peachtree Audio DAC•iT
- Price - $449
- Product Page - Link
- Where To Buy - Link
- User Manual - Link (PDF 2.3MB)
Associated Equipment:
- Source: Aurender S10, C.A.P.S. v2.0 Server
- Remote Control Software: Aurender iPad App, BitRemote
- Remote Control Hardware: iPhone 4, iPad, MacBook Air
- Playback Software Windows 7: J River Media Center 17
- DAC: Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 2, Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB
- Preamp: Audio Research LS27, TAD Labs C2000, EMM Labs PRE2
- Amplifier: Bel Canto Design ref1000m, McIntosh Labs MC275
- Loudspeakers: TAD Labs CR1 Compact Reference
- Cables: AudioQuest Redwood Loudspeaker Cable, AudioQuest Niagara Balanced XLR Analog Interconnects, Mogami W3173 Heavy Duty AES 110 ?, AudioQuest NRG-100 Power Cables , Wire World Silver Starlight USB Cable, AudioQuest Diamond USB Cable, Kimber Select KS2020 S/PSIF Coax Cable, Generic TosLink S/PDIF Optical Cable
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