Best DA/C for under 1000. (With Balanced Out)

[Ashtangi]

Hi Computer Audiophile Community,

 

 

I'm in the market for a new DA/C, and I was wondering if the forum had any suggestions for a well-made component under $1000 that has balanced outs. One, of course, that would go well with my current setup.

 

 

Current setup:

 

Macbook Pro + Audirvana

Moon 340i

Vienna Mozart Grand SE

 

 

 

Best!

Anthony

[esimms86]

I've never heard one and there are no reviews out yet but the PS Audio Nuwave DAC sounds promising. PS Audio is also running a promo whereby they'll accept DAC as trade in through december 31st to effectively lower the price of the DAC from 995 USD to 665 USD.

 

NuWave DAC | PS Audio

 

Esau

[Ashtangi]

I've never heard one and there are no reviews out yet but the PS Audio Nuwave DAC sounds promising. PS Audio is also running a promo whereby they'll accept DAC as trade in through december 31st to effectively lower the price of the DAC from 995 USD to 665 USD.

 

NuWave DAC | PS Audio

 

Esau

 

 

Thanks so much! Is it a reputable company?

 

Best,

Anthony

[esimms86]

Thanks so much! Is it a reputable company?

 

Best,

Anthony

 

Yes, they're highly reputable. Chris Connaker has a review on this website of the far pricier PS Audio Perfectwave DAC. BTW, what I meant to say was that they'll accept any DAC as a trade in for purchasing the Nuwave DAC at the aforementioned discounted price.

 

Esau

[mwheelerk]

Thanks so much! Is it a reputable company?

 

Best,

Anthony

 

Though I have never owned their DACs I have owned and do own their power conditioners and power cords. I believe their DACs are well thought of. I think they are a very solid company.

[wisnon]

I hear good things about the IDac/iUSB Power combo. $500 retail.

 

Ooops, no balanced out and my other suggestion is the Metrum Octave, but that may have the same issue.

[mantis]

Cambridge Audio Dac Magic Plus sounds really nice and has balanced outs.

[jackfish]

Schiit Gungnir

[jtwrace]

To the OP, are you looking for XLR outs or a truly balanced dac? Big difference.

[Ashtangi]

To the OP, are you looking for XLR outs or a truly balanced dac? Big difference.

 

 

Hmm... not sure. I'm new to this whole audiophile thing.

 

I previously owned a Moon 300 DAC, but I recently sold it when they upgraded the model to fully asynchronous. I think it was balanced XLR?

 

 

Thanks for the help!

Anthony

[Ashtangi]

Awesome, thanks Esau!

[Ashtangi]

Schiit Gungnir

 

I've never heard of this company, but it looks really intriguing! I love the weirdness of the website ha. How do you like your product?

[jackfish]

The Schiit Bifrost is not the end all for high frequency resolution when compared to pricier DACs. My hearing is limited above 15kHz, but my wife tells me she enjoys our system's overall clarity. From what I have gathered, and one of the reasons I chose the unit, it is one of the best at its price point.

[Boris75]

The Hegel HD11 is a ~$1000 DAC with balanced outs. I have its predecessor, the HD10, which also has balanced outs, though I personally use the asymmetric RCA output as my pre does not have balanced inputs. I am extremely pleased with my HD10 (fed on its coax input with an Audiophilleo AP2).

[wisnon]

If balanced out is not a necessity, you could seriously consider this from their FB page:

 

"We compared the iDAC to the Lindemann, Wavelength, and AMR CD-77. The results were interesting... We spent 5 hours listening to all of these DACs but our main focus was on the new iDAC from iFi Audio.

 

Our conclusion was that the iDAC is a transformative device with the ability to convert a humble computer into a wonderful music player. It proves to us that you don't need to spend megabucks to he

ar good music. Nor do you have to put up with edgy sound to hear detail, as the iDAC's high resolution is accompanied by silky smooth transitions and rich tones. The sound stage is bold, open and deep.

 

In Bellini's "Norma" we heard the soprano walk in front of the alto while they both sang. In Patricia Barber's "Winter" we finally discovered that the strange sound that accompanied her, the piano and the bass, was the finger slide on the bass fret, not a plaintive cricket. And to top it off, China Forbes' tongue clicking start to "Una Notte a Napoli" suggested we run for cover lest be drenched in saliva.

 

This not to claim that this little device bested AMR's CD 77 or the Wavelength Cosecant, far from it. But to get into that league you really do have to spend megabucks."

 

==================================

 

This was orginally originally posted below and on the wall.

 

I am re-publishing this so it can get the attention it deserves, thank you Joe and Felicity Adler for your help.

[ehb_dave]

 

"We compared the iDAC to the Lindemann, Wavelength, and AMR CD-77. The results were interesting... We spent 5 hours listening to all of these DACs but our main focus was on the new iDAC from iFi Audio.

 

Our conclusion was that the iDAC is a transformative device with the ability to convert a humble computer into a wonderful music player ....

 

I'm surprised that Peachtree Audio is allowing the use of the name "iDac" since they came out with a very high-quality product with that name a couple years ago.

[Audio_ELF]

I'm surprised that Peachtree Audio is allowing the use of the name "iDac" since they came out with a very high-quality product with that name a couple years ago.

I suspect IDAC Ltd or IDAC media have prior claim to the name before Peachtree Audio. Presumably it's not a trademark.

 

Eloise

[Ashtangi]

Where can I find a link to this product? Many thanks!

[untangle]

Where can I find a link to this product? Many thanks!

 

iFi-audio Jumping...

 

Terrific product, especially when paired with iUSB. Consider spending some of the remaining $500 on USB cables.

 

(Note: Not balanced out.)

 

Bob

[Decodering]

I'm surprised that the Audiolab M-DAC hasn't been mentioned:

 

M-DAC Series audiolab

[wisnon]

"Terrific product, especially when paired with iUSB. Consider spending some of the remaining $500 on USB cables.

 

(Note: Not balanced out.)

 

Bob "

 

They are coming out with a quality USB 2 head cable in January for a lot less than the iUSB Power costs. I figure it will be about $40 to $100, anywhere in that range, probably a round $50 price.

[Daudio]

I'm surprised that the Benchmark DAC-1 hasn't been mentioned. You can get them used for as little as $600 these days. Great price/performance ratio IMHO.

[hionhifi]

The Emotiva XDA-2 has balanced outputs. It also does 24/192 on all inputs including the Asynchronous USB. It's on sale now for $349.

 

shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/xda2

[sawdin]

As noted above, Emotiva has an attractive price.

 

The Parasound ZDac ($475) is another option that is priced well below the NuWave:

http://http://www.parasound.com/ParasoundZ/zdac.php

http://http://www.avguide.com/article/parasound-debuts-zdac

[Mark Wieman]

I've never heard one and there are no reviews out yet but the PS Audio Nuwave DAC sounds promising.

 

I did a quick review of the PS Audio NuWave DAC and compared it to its predecessor, the PS Audio Digital Link III, which I had been using with the Musical Fidelity V-LINK 192 USB/SPDIF converter. I found the NuWave to be a small but real step up. See details here:

http://www.dailyaudiophile.com/ps-audio-nuwave-dac-review-on-daily-audiophile/