Submitted by quadrant6 on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 15:16
Which of the following DACs is likely to give me the best sound and lowest chance of noise? I mostly listen to mp3s from itunes but have the occasional uncompressed file.
Proposed Setup:
New Apple Imac -> DAC -> Rega Brio Amplifier RCA inputs -> Rega Brio Loudspeakers
DAC Options arranged low->high $
HRT Streamer
KECES DA-151 MK2
Scott Nixon TD2.2 (tube) DAC
Apogee Duet
I've got a Mac Pro connected to an Apogee Duet via Firewire driving my Audioengine A5 active speakers and am VERY happy with the results. For your 30 watt system I think it would do nicely. However, the octopus of cables that it comes with might put you off a little when it comes to connecting.
You can get them at the Apple Store and returns are not a problem if you decide you don't like it.
My 2c.
The new HRT streamers use asynch USB. Looks promising.
In my experience, iTunes MP3 purchases do not gain anything and slightly sound worse when played through an upsampling DAC.
Bill
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
iMac->iTunes->AIFF->Toslink->Benchmark DAC1 USB->AKG 701/Sennheiser 600/Quad 12L Active
I just received this dac price is right $500. Yes I know not a very expensive dac. The reason as I'm being conservative so I can get a taste for pc audio. I can tell you this dac sounds fantastic. Apparently it compares to a benchmark dac if not better.
My setup: Mini Mac 2gigs ram> nuforce dac hdp> toslink nuforce cable> drobo harddrive machine> aesthitix pre amp> nuforce amps v3 >acoustic zen absolute speaker cables > nuforce single ended cables connected to my preamp. check it out you won't be dissappointed. Hell its only $500. Also check out pure music software there is a 15 day trail version.
Having heard both the apogee and benchmark dacs the apogee is certainly a fine dac for the price, but the benchmark is in a different league entirely.
If I may suggest another low cost dac: the Musical fidelity V-Dac, I have heard it in a rather expensive sytem and for the price I thought it was amazing.
EDIT
oops my apology fmer you were referring to the nuforce hdp dac
Mac Mini..>Amarra Mini..>..Firewire..>..Weiss DAC 2..>..Conrad Johnson CA200..>..Martin Logan Aeon I's
The V-DAC looks very good - in terms of comments posted around.
I think I'm getting closer to purchasing - between the HRT Streamer or paying the bit extra for the V-DAC.
Actually because of where I live, it's a difference of 100% – the V Dac will cost 2x but I'm suspecting it might just be worth it.