aquablue

I've narrowed it down to: 1) Linn Akurate DS 2) Ayre DAC 3) Metrum 4) Bel Canto 2.5 or 3.5 5) Mytek 6) Wavelength Audio DAC (Coescant)

Is the calyx rather clinical or harsh in sound due to its sabre dac?

Looking for a high quality DAC for use with my focal monitors and a mac mini system. Can you recommend some? I'm like a neutral sound, not too warm nor too sterile/harsh. I listen to electronic, rock, classical, world. Budget around 2$. May go somewhat higher if its worth it. Sound I like: Neutral, musical, rich, not hyped, but not overly sterile or precise to the point of harshness. Smooth highs, not harsh. DAC's I've heard are good: Calyx, Bel Canto, Ayer, Neko, EE, Perfect Wave, Weiss, Metric Halo. Any others? Which would suit me best? I'm also considering a Linn DS box instead, but I can't audition where I am and I dont know how they would compare with DACs in my range.

I'm searching for a DAC in the 2K range for use with a mac setup, however I'm intrigued by the Linn devices. Which offers better sound quality, a DAC like the Neko/Calyx/Ayre/EE/etc, or something like the Linn Magik/Akurate? Thanks Aqua

Focal CMS series. Neumann KH120.

So, given the large ammounts of DACs, what is the best possible DAC that would fit my sound preferences under 2K? W4S, Weiss, ? Of course, it would have to have either USB Async or Firewire

Hi, Since my speakers are rather revealing pro monitors, i would like a DAC that is musical and does not have an overly analyitical or harsh presentation. I'm looking for something on the neutral to warmish side while still being detailed and transparent (i.e., not overly colored or too slow/mush/warm). I'd like smooth treble and not over hyped highs. I'm looking at up to 1.5K max. any suggestions? I've heard the Weiss is pretty transparent and the Zodiac, while the W4S is rather very detailed. What others would suit me? thx aq

The computer options and interface options are open, i'm going to be replacing my current windows laptop soon. I'm in the US. I'm interested in a good desktop DAC that will work well with my focal monitors. I'm willing to look at over 1K but would prefer to spend less. I want to avoid an overly harsh digital sound and want to avoid something too bright and difficult to listen to. I like smooth and neutral/warmish sound.

Thanks.. Others I'm looking at... Zodiac, Apogee duet, Music Fidelity M1, Simaudio Moon...

I have a pair of Focal CMS 50 speakers and I want to set up a good computer desktop listening station. Can you suggest a good reasonably priced DAC of high quality that would improve my listening experience? I'm not sure if I should be looking at pro stuff or not. I have seen some music recording DAC's like the Apogee duet, but I don't know if one is wasting money buying these because you are paying for the ability to record. The one's I have heard of are the Weiss DAC2, Apogee Symphony, and Chord but they are rather expensive for a computer desktop, don't you think? I may keep the serious money for the main living room. What about other options then? Thanks Aqua

I asked this in the general forum, but I thought i could ask here too. If one, like myself, were interested in artists in genres not represented well with current downloads (tangerine dream, oldfield, jarre, vangelis, Schulze, radiohead, etc) wanted to benefit from Hi-Rez audio tracks beyond CD level for a hi-end DAC/streaming system (i.e, LINN ADS, other DAC), would ripping vinyl be a solution? Therfore, instead of buying CDs, should I buy vinyl and should I use a DSD recorder like the KORG device to rip and convert into 24/192? Would a vinyl rip from DSD and a conversion to PCM to play on a LINN DS be a better representation of the music than just playing the ripped CD directly? Thanks Aqua

I asked this in the general forum, but I thought i could ask here too. If one, like myself, were interested in artists in genres not represented well with current downloads (tangerine dream, oldfield, jarre, vangelis, Schulze, radiohead, etc) wanted to benefit from Hi-Rez audio tracks beyond CD level for a hi-end DAC/streaming system (i.e, LINN ADS, other DAC), would ripping vinyl be a solution? Therfore, instead of buying CDs, should I buy vinyl and should I use a DSD recorder like the KORG device to rip and convert into 24/192? Would a vinyl rip from DSD and a conversion to PCM to play on a LINN DS be a better representation of the music than just playing the ripped CD directly? Thanks Aqua

Hello, Dillema. I have an interest in Hi Resolution music, or playing CD's with a high quality DAC to improve their quality. I was looking at getting the Linn Akkurate DS streamer, but I have a few questions. Given the paucity of music titles and artists that exist on SACD and the superior DSD recording, I have little interest in investing into that area. Therefore, the LINN DS seemed a good way to go due to my abundance of CDs. However, the fact that there are so few available hi-rez titles to download and most are classical (which I like, but i prefer electronic or experiemental rock styles), I am wondering what is a good way to improve the quality of audio that I buy beyond the CD level and to utilize the HI=REZ features of the DAC? Is it worth buying future music, both recent and past releases, in vinyl instead of CD's and renting a hi-end setup to record vinyl using a KORG DSD recorder and converting into a high-rez PCM file to play on the LINN (or other DAC)? Does the Vinyl give me a better result due to the fact that it was mastered into analog from a hi-rez digital source or direct from the analog? Will that give me a better result that just using a ripped CD into the Linn? How much better are Vinyl rips in the area of music that most interests to the CD master? Most music I listen to is recent, but I do like many 70's and 80's electronic albums such as Tangerine Dream, Mike Oldfield, and Vangelis. I would also be interested in some soundtracks and some select classical such as Rachmanninov, etc.. Thanks Aqua