mandolinpoet

I would like something that falls inbetween what has been described with the Metrum and the Tranquility. From the reviews the tranquility sounds like it would have to much mid-range emphasis and the Metrum will reveal everything including the smallest flaws in the recordings. Some of my music is not the best recordings (they are from local artist, not professional studio stuff) Not really a big fan of the "liquid" sound, but I don't want it to be so revealing that it becomes like the bad relative who tells you like it is when sometimes you really don't want to hear it. What about the Bel Canto? Have you listened to this dac. I just read the review on this site. Would you say it would sonically fall inbetween these other two dacs? (provided you have auditioned it)

Bill, I think the PDX is too much of my budget. I am very interested in the Metrum. Have a few questions. Was the one you compared a Quad or Octave? And were you using the 7va or 14 va power supply? How long was the DAC burned in before the listening comparison? Do you think some of the brightness might go away with a longer burn-in? Can you give a more detailed comparison to the Tranquility SE? At around $1200 once euros are converted to US dollars it's less expensive than the non-SE version of the tranquility. From what you have already said this seems like a really good bang-for-buck product.

Ok, I should have been more specific in my details. No Tubes - Don't want to have to change them, maintain. DAC - USB connection, balanced output if possible but not necessary. Would like to be able to play High Res. files at native resolutions. Headphones - Balanced is prefered, but if I find an amp w/o balanced output that I like I'm willing to go without balanced. Computer - Yes this needs to be included. No extra comp laying around the house. Linux, Windows or Mac is fine. It will come down to which will give me the sound I'm looking for. Amp - Balanced input-output prefered. Sound - I don't like the word neutral. I'm NOT looking for "clear and detailed". The best way I can describe what I'm trying to obtain is a solid state sound with a slight nod towards the warm side without becoming so warm that it starts sounding like tubes. The best comparison that I can make is the Weiss DAC is to detailed and the Tranquility DAC is to warm. I want a sound that is in the middle. As far as the Headphones go I mentioned the Tesla 1's because they are said to be slighly more musical and less analytical than the HD800's. Hope this additional info helps narrow down (pinpoint) recomendations. P.S. I know I need to audition before buying. I need to find out what I should audition before driving a hundred miles. Don't want to be stuck in a store trying to audition 100 headphones in a single weekend.

Bill, Thanks so much for your sugestions. The PDX looks good. I've heard lots of good things about it on the forums on this site. There are a couple of drawbacks for me. 1) With the USB input it adds up to about $2400 (are the prices shown on their site in US dollars?) IF $2400usd then that is almost half my budget. I still need good headphones, headphone amp, comp or music server, and interconnects with almost half my budget already spent. In your opinion is the DAC a more critical part of my equipment link and needs a larger part of my budget alloted for it? My thoughts were somthing like this 1.5k for phones, 1.5k for dac, 1k for amp and 1k for interconnect and power conditioning 600-700 for comp or music server. I'm concerend with getting the PDX then not being able to afford an amp and headphones that would do it justice. 2) My second concern is that it has a tube. My only experience with tube products is with amps for my home speakers. The experience was frustrating. The sound of the amp changed week to week as the tubes aged. (of course this is the ONLY experience I have had with tubes and it could have just been that particular product brand.)How does the tube hold up in the PDX? Is the sound consistently the same over a long period of time? How many hours before tube replacement? Now that I have further articulated my budget concerns would you still recomend the PDX or should I consider the Metrum instead?

I recently sold my home audio system because I have to go with a headphone setup with my current living arrangements. I am familiar with some home audio equipment but nothing in the usb dac, headphone amp, headphones area. I have been reading a lot of forums and reviews but none are helping me narrow down my search enough. So looking for recommendations. Here is what I'm focusing on so accurate recommendations can be made. My budget is between 5k and 6k. Need HP amp, Headphones, DAC, Computer and interconnect. Music preferences are Some rock music - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince, Incubus, Coldplay Light rock - Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, REM Vocal Singer/Songwriter (this is the stuff I listen to most) Nora Jones, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Jason Miraz, Nickel Creek. Bluegrass (I listen to lots of bluegrass) Cherryholmes, Sam Bush, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sierra Hull. Some classical - (listen to classical more than rock) Tend to lean more towards classical pieces that have lots of horn, french horn, trumpet, baritones. Country Music - Kenney Chesney, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley (more male vocalist than female in this category) Jazz – (listen to lots of jazz) Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie. I have the Ken Burns Jazz Collection and listen to it often. I am looking for a dac that can play High Res. Files and has a usb input. In regards to looking for a USB DAC the Weiss DAC is mentioned often in reviews and recommendations as being a “clear and detailed” DAC. The Tranquility DAC seems to be one of the more popular DACS on the other end of the spectrum with a “warm and analog” sound. I would like a dac that is somewhere in between these two in sound. P.S. I don’t have anywhere near me to audition equipment. I have to go by what I learn online then purchase and audition in home.

I recently sold my home audio system because I have to go with a headphone setup with my current living arrangements. I am familiar with some home audio equipment but nothing in the usb dac, headphone amp, headphones area. I have been reading a lot of forums and reviews but none are helping me narrow down my search enough. So looking for recommendations. Here is what I'm focusing on so accurate recommendations can be made. My budget is between 5k and 6k. Need HP amp, Headphones, DAC, Computer and interconnect. Music preferences are Some rock music - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince, Incubus, Coldplay Light rock - Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, REM Vocal Singer/Songwriter (this is the stuff I listen to most) Nora Jones, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Jason Miraz, Nickel Creek. Bluegrass (I listen to lots of bluegrass) Cherryholmes, Sam Bush, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sierra Hull. Some classical - (listen to classical more than rock) Tend to lean more towards classical pieces that have lots of horn, french horn, trumpet, baritones. Country Music - Kenney Chesney, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley (more male vocalist than female in this category) Jazz – (listen to lots of jazz) Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie. I have the Ken Burns Jazz Collection and listen to it often. My system I just sold was a marantz cd player, rotel pre and amps, and B&W DM603 s3. Audioquest interconnects (ruby) I know headphone listening is different but I will make comment on some home speakers in hopes of getting more accurate recommendations for headphones. The B&W I owned had way to much slam, to aggressive. Vanderstien 12s, love the midrange, bass was week, tweeter just a tiny bit to laid back. (just a tiny bit) Magnapans. Listened to several different models at different times in my life and different places but from what I remember I really like the signature sound of the Magies. Martin Logans - did not like. No synergy between the bass and electrostatic drivers. Totem Model 1 - Listened to a long time ago but remember liking them. I'm considering Beyerdynamic Tesla 1's, Said to be like the HD800's but more musical. Based on my listed music preferences and what I've said about home speakers above what other Headphones should I consider. P.S. I don’t have anywhere near me to audition equipment. I have to go by what I learn online then purchase and audition in home.