Request Gyan On DACs

Chord DAC 64 is a must hear. With a decent transport can give Wadia 861 a real fight.

Regards
Anil

Thanks for the pointer, ani.

I have heard and liked the DAC 64. A touch warm sounding.

Your suggestions for a decent transport ?

Thanks

Amp Nut,

Last week i got the eval board of TI for Burr Brown PCM1704. I added a few PSU with LM317 and blackgate.

The quality of the sound was in the same league as my Reimyo. The sound was not as warm as Remiyo, but more resolving; Also the Reimyo seems more powerful with a slightly bigger stage....which i think is primarily due to the output stage. Hence, I'm working on adding a valve output-stage....

The DAC module consists of best quality componnets you can get your hands on...CS8414, 1706 filter, OPA627 & 2xPCM1704. The board layout cannot get better than this...

The TI Shop was not very responsive and i do not think they have it in stock. I paid $511 from Digikey + $68 shipping + Rs.8k import duty. For this price, the performance is a bargain. Eval boards are very difficult to source...so you need to hurry.

I think you will have to spend atleast 4 times the money to get performance like this from any commercial product. The label on the end product is important for many of us...so that choice is finally yours

Regards
Siva.

Another vote for the PCm 1704. The Elektor Audio DAC2000 that i have is a great design. I would highly recommend it.

The Scott Nixon DAC is also one of the best bang for buck DACs i have heard.

The elektor DAC costa about 1k$ to build and the Scott nixon about 250 (150 for kit). Both are excellent buys.

The Bel Canto DAC2 however was not upto the mark and i preferred the Scott Nixon to it.

I briefly heard the Musical Fidelity KW series DAC and it certainly makes the must hear list.

Thanks Siva.

VERY informative.

Anyone have a first hand opinion on the Benchmark DAC-1 ? ( Preferably in its USB avtaar ?

I guess that this complete DAC - pre owned could be bought for approx US $ 600 ?

No way for 600..YOu could probably get the non USb version for about 650. The USB version would cost atleast 800.

Where did you see it for 600?

You are correct, Savyasaachi.

Your thoughts on the Benchmark DAC-1 ?

What did you hear it with ?

Would appreciate yr feedback.

Hi Amp Nut,

Do have a look at this review. Should be value for money though I have not heard it.

http://www.audiorevi..._401292_2738crx.aspx

Behram schrieb:

Hi Amp Nut, Do have a look at this review. Should be value for money though I have not heard it. http://www.audiorevi..._401292_2738crx.aspx

Is this the same one covered earlier on the forum?

Monica 2 DAC kit

Savyasaachi schrieb:

Another vote for the PCm 1704.

a 3rd vote for the BB PCM1704-K (K-grade) DAC chip. My Wadia 861 has 4 of these as this design is fully differential inside. This is an older DAC chip but is counted among the very best that were made for audio.

Savyasaachi schrieb:

The Scott Nixon DAC is also one of the best bang for buck DACs i have heard.

agree!
there are several inexpensive models to choose from but the most popular in the USA seems to be the TubeDAC in its USB avatar.
This is a non oversampling DAC. SO, a diff architecture to what most are used to (upsampling with very high rate clocks - 192Khz & higher).

The key DAC block inside is the Philips TDA1541. This is a 1980s design that is counted among the very best made for audio.
Alsmost every DAC unit made w/ the TDA 1541 or 1543 DAC IC is a hit. Highly sought after DAC IC.
it's no wonder that the Scott Nixon DACs use this IC!

Savyasaachi schrieb:

The Bel Canto DAC2 however was not upto the mark and i preferred the Scott Nixon to it.

this one has me confused, Saavya! I had the BC DAC2 & my Scott Nixon Saru DAC+ in the same setup side-side for a comparison. They were equivalent in the mids. The DAC2 had more fortifed bass due to its much better power supply (despite the Saru DAC+ having an upgraded supply) & the Saru DAC+ has more sparkle in the highs.
So, this was a comparison between a upsampling & non-OS DAC - the Saru DAC+ more than held its own but the DAC2 was better by a small margin. The DAC2 was stock. If modified, I understand that it is a killer.



Another great sounding DAC is the Birdland Odeon Lite. Dated by now but very good sounding. Mods for it used to exist but I do not know now.

One very nice sounding 1-box player - the AudioAero Prima & Prima SE. Tube output stage - even tho I do not prefer tube output stages, this CDP was very emotionally engaging. Could find very little fault w/ it.

ani schrieb:

Chord DAC 64 is a must hear. With a decent transport can give Wadia 861 a real fight. Regards Anil

I have used [& owned] both the above mentioned machines;

Must say I liked the Chord more than the Wadia.

That DAC 64 is the cheapest bargain in the audio market. The Wadia 861 B does not have a digital out, so it cannot be used as a transport.
However, the Chord with its 'Buffer' enabled works well with any low fi cd transport [sans the 3K dvd players].
All said the Chord 64 works best with its Blu Transport - Very Very Expensive - not worth the money !!!!

One very nice sounding 1-box player - the AudioAero Prima & Prima SE. Tube output stage - even tho I do not prefer tube output stages, this CDP was very emotionally engaging. Could find very little fault w/ it.

I may have to disagree with you on this one;sorry.
I never liked this particular model from AA.
The Capitole is nice, the Prestige is good, but the Prima is just about OK at its best !!!

Have auditioned them [all 3] extensively @ home and in different set ups.

Bombaywalla said

the most popular in the USA seems to be the TubeDAC in its USB avatar.

Thanks for the pointer.

Can you provide some link on the product / price / sourcing ?

Thanks

I recently bought a used Birdland Audio Odeon Lite 24/96 DAC for US$350 in the U.S.

Before buying this DAC, I was using a DIY Monica 2 Dac with my Denon Receiver as a preamp feeding to an Odyssey Stratos power amp and the sound was nothing much to talk about. For a while I thought, it was pointless investing any more money into this hobby as I didn't have audiophile ears.

Boy was I wrong. Now with the Odeon DAC and my new Odyssey Candela tube preamp, there is a huge difference in the number of hours I am spending each day listening to music Need I say anything about the sound.

While I don't need another DAC, I am considering building an active solid state I/V stage for my Monica 2 dac available as a kit and see how that sounds in my new rig.

bhagwan69 schrieb:

One very nice sounding 1-box player - the AudioAero Prima & Prima SE. Tube output stage - even tho I do not prefer tube output stages, this CDP was very emotionally engaging. Could find very little fault w/ it. I may have to disagree with you on this one;sorry. I never liked this particular model from AA. The Capitole is nice, the Prestige is good, but the Prima is just about OK at its best !!! Have auditioned them [all 3] extensively @ home and in different set ups.

no problem re. the disagreement, Bhagwan69!
I heard the AA Prima by itself in a system & it was very nice. I'm sure that it would have shown its faults had I compared it to the Capitole & Prestige but those were not available at that time.

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Bombaywalla said the most popular in the USA seems to be the TubeDAC in its USB avatar. Thanks for the pointer. Can you provide some link on the product / price / sourcing ? Thanks

sure, chief!
here it is:

http://www.scott-nixon.com/dac.htm

These guys have DAC and single box CD players using the same technology used in Chord DAC.

http://www.tubetechnology.co.uk/tt.htm

Would like to hear views from those who have listened these products.
Thanking you
Anil

Hi Ani,

Thanks for the link. Interesting, well made procucts. I wonder what that knob is for... a Volume control ?

I wonder if that Volume Control is in the asnalog or digital domain ?

The website is clearly incomplete, and the data sheet provides little more than the Front and back panel views

Any idea of the price ?

The Chord DAC was available here in India for approx Rs 100K thru Soundsmiths. I believe the new disty has hiked price substantially.... ( 20% ? )

May be a good idea for me to look out for a pre-owed Chrod DAC if available for substantially less.....

sure, chief! here it is: http://www.scott-nixon.com/dac.htm

Thanks, Bombaywalla.

Very interesting and Informative link, with Lots of product options.

The finished products look VERY VERY amaturish

They are priced at almost US $ 550... the enclosures at this price are ABSURD.

Bombaywalla, have you heard any of these ? Your thoughts / views apprecaited..

Amp_Nut schrieb:

The Chord DAC was available here in India for approx Rs 100K thru Soundsmiths. I believe the new disty has hiked price substantially.... ( 20% ? ) May be a good idea for me to look out for a pre-owed Chrod DAC if available for substantially less.....

The Chord DAC 64 has a list price of 2000/- Pounds. About 160/- K. Soundsmiths used to sell it in India [2 years back]. They had sold 1 @ 135/- [names I shall not get into]. That DAC got resold @ 100/- & then again to someone else @ 80/-. Now @ 80 K [although 3rd hand] was a bargain !!!

Now Pro FX Sells it @ 225/- K +++ to the best of my knowledge. Not sure. Will have to get that checked.

I really liked this DAC. Was seriously considering it @ 1 point in time. But it needs its own Transport - Blue. Now that is where the problem lies. The Blue is very very expensive. Hence, I dropped the plan.

I think the DAC 64 in its current avtar is different from its original, 2 years ago.

The Blu Transport Upsamples to 176.4 kHz (optional) and feeds it to the new version of DAC64.

When upsampled to 176.4 Khz, the SPDIF interface cannot handle all those bits, hence it uses 2 SPDIF outputs - One for each channel.

The New DAC 64 has options to accept 44.1 or 88.2 or 176.4 KHz signals, so will work with other transports too.

I suspect that the Older and current DAC64s are 2 Totally different animal, hence the huge dirrefence in price too...


P.S: Yes, I remember how that old DAC64 came VERY close to the Nagra DAC which cost more than 3x the price.

Amp_Nut schrieb:

sure, chief! here it is: http://www.scott-nixon.com/dac.htm Thanks, Bombaywalla. Very interesting and Informative link, with Lots of product options. The finished products look VERY VERY amaturish They are priced at almost US $ 550... the enclosures at this price are ABSURD.

oh gosh!!
for God's sake do not judge a book by its cover! This is the typical reaction that I've been fighting w/ so many audiophiles on both sides of the world - they won't buy a piece unless it looks like a million bucks. that's exactly playing into the hands of the manuf who is very willing to make a mediocre sounding product in a VERY nice box & sell it to you for the price of your 1st born!

the casing might look amateurish but the performance will knock your socks off!

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Bombaywalla, have you heard any of these ? Your thoughts / views apprecaited..

yes, I own the older (now discontinued) Saru DAC+ with upgraded power supply.
It's a keeper for me & it's never going on sale as long as I can help it.
It's one of the best non oversampling DACs out there. The Tube DAC is smoother because of the tube output stage that rolls off the high end & a lot of people seem to prefer that. My friend owns the Tube DAC in its USB input avatar. He, too, is not letting go of this DAC. In fact he has owned several iterations of the Tube DAC with the USB avatar being his latest.

Search the archives here & you will see several of my posts talking about the Saru DAC+.

Also contact Saavyasaachi & ask him about the Scott Nixon Chibi DAC kit that he bought. Ask him how much he likes it.

The only reason he can offer it at this price is because he sells direct. The casing is now metal. Mine is the older plastic casing that was $350. Once a distributor or dealer gets his hands on this, the DAC price will shoot up to over $1000.
IMHO, these DACs are worth their weight in gold.

Thanks for your feedback, Bombaywalla.

VERY encouraging.

Let me check out the product range more closely... particularly if the USB DAC will also accept a SPDIF input....

bombaywalla schrieb:

Amp_Nut schrieb: sure, chief! here it is: http://www.scott-nixon.com/dac.htm Thanks, Bombaywalla. Very interesting and Informative link, with Lots of product options. The finished products look VERY VERY amaturish They are priced at almost US $ 550... the enclosures at this price are ABSURD. oh gosh!! for God's sake do not judge a book by its cover! This is the typical reaction that I've been fighting w/ so many audiophiles on both sides of the world - they won't buy a piece unless it looks like a million bucks. that's exactly playing into the hands of the manuf who is very willing to make a mediocre sounding product in a VERY nice box & sell it to you for the price of your 1st born! the casing might look amateurish but the performance will knock your socks off! Amp_Nut schrieb: Bombaywalla, have you heard any of these ? Your thoughts / views apprecaited.. yes, I own the older (now discontinued) Saru DAC+ with upgraded power supply. It's a keeper for me & it's never going on sale as long as I can help it. It's one of the best non oversampling DACs out there. The Tube DAC is smoother because of the tube output stage that rolls off the high end & a lot of people seem to prefer that. My friend owns the Tube DAC in its USB input avatar. He, too, is not letting go of this DAC. In fact he has owned several iterations of the Tube DAC with the USB avatar being his latest. Search the archives here & you will see several of my posts talking about the Saru DAC+. Also contact Saavyasaachi & ask him about the Scott Nixon Chibi DAC kit that he bought. Ask him how much he likes it. The only reason he can offer it at this price is because he sells direct. The casing is now metal. Mine is the older plastic casing that was $350. Once a distributor or dealer gets his hands on this, the DAC price will shoot up to over $1000. IMHO, these DACs are worth their weight in gold.

Sir, Please please give this DAC a listen. I would actually recommend this as a direct buy because it is that good.

Given Bombaywalla's insistence about how good the tube version is, i may eventually end up buying a tube DAC kit. But for now, the USb chibi is my most trusted source.

Do they have a DAC with SPDIF and USB ?

That would be ideal for me... use in my main system and with the laptop...

No, i don't believe so. Scott's DACs have either a USB or Coaxial input.

You could buy a DAC with SPDIF input and go for an external USB to Co Axial Converter such as the M-Audio Transit or HAgTech's USB.

http://www.hagtech.com/hagusb.html.

They are both pretty inexpensive.

Got this list from a friend in singpore...couple of months ago...i have not really seen the list fully...

Regards
Siva.

List of Digital to Analogue Converters:
Dac in Box $60http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Code:
Battery powered
Oversampling
CS4397 D/A
Output: LT 1364C opamps
Optical and Coax inputEntech Number cruncher 203.2 ~$80-299 http://www.entech-tradeshow.com/article32.html

Quote:
Oversampling
CS4329 D/A
Optical and Coax input

Trends Audio UD-10 90$ http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Produc...Audio_desc.htm

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: PCM2704
input: USB

Silverstone Ensemble EB01 $100 [/url]http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-eb01.html[/url]

Quote:
Non Oversampling
Brown Burr PCM2702 D/A
USB Powered
Output:OPA604 op-amp
USB input

Firestone fubar II $120 [/url]http://www.firestoneaudio.com.au/products/products/products/fubar.html[/url]

Quote:
Non Oversampling
brown burr PCM2702
USB input
Output OPA2604

Monica 2 Dac $125 http://diyparadise.com/dackit/1545bdackit.html

Quote:
Dac: CS8412
Opamp: TDA1545A

Diyeden SAVAC04-U ~$150 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
Oversampling
D/A: PCM1716
output: NE5532*2
input: usb, coaxial, optical

Diyeden SVUC01 (tube) ~$150 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
oversampling
Tube output
USB input

HIPPOhifi The Bloat $169 http://www.hippohifi.com

Quote:
Oversampling
PCM1794 or PCM1798 D/A
Output: OPA2132, OPA2107, AD823 or AD8620
Input: USB

Beresford TC-7510 $170 http://www.homehifi.co.uk/products/TC-7510.html

Quote:
Non Oversampling
input: 2 Toslink/ 2 Coaxial

Diyeden SADAC-01-Plus ~$170 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
Oversampling
AD1852 D/A
output: OPA134, OPA2228
input: Optical and Coaxial

Zhaolu Dac 2.0 AD chip- $178 http://www.ifiaudio.com/d2.html

Quote:
Oversampling
AD 1852 D/A
Output: opa2604
input: Coaxial and optical

Zhaolu Dac 2.5 AD ~$180 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
Oversampling Dac
AD-1852 D/A
output: 2604 opams
input: coaxial and Optical

Stereolink Model 1200 $189 http://www.stereo-link.com/

Quote:
Non oversampling
USB input
Solidstate output, unknown opamp

mood-lab concept dac $199 www.mood-lab.com/concept.htm

Quote:
Non Oversampling
Dac: TDA1543
receiver: CS8412
output: passive IV conversion
input: Spdif/Toslink

Diyeden SVDAC 01, Clear ~$215 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: AD1852
Input: Coaxial, Optical

Sterolink model 1300 $219 http://www.stereo-link.com/

Quote:
non oversampling
USB dac
free cables (apparently)

Zhaolu Dac 2.0, CS Chip- $225 http://www.ifiaudio.com/d2.html

Quote:
Oversampling
CS4398 D/A
Output: OPA2604
Input: coaxial and optical

a. Modifications by Ori for $225 http://members.ispwest.com/orim/audi...o/Zho_mod.html
b. Upgraded headamp for $50 http://www.ifiaudio.com/d2.html
Zhaolu Dac 2.5 CS ~$230 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
Oversampling
CS4298 D/A
output: 2604 opamp
input: coaxial and optical

Dac-AH, Pacific Valve mod $230 http://pacificvalve.us/LTDACAH2.html

Quote:
Non Oversampling
Philips TDA-1543 D/A
input: Coaxial and Optical
output: EL2044 OPAMP

Diyeden Great March $245 http://www.ifiaudio.com/gm.html

Quote:
Non Oversampling
AD1852 D/A
Output: OPA627 OP AMP
Input: USB, 2 coxial, optical

Firestone Spitfire $250 http://www.firestoneaudio.com.au/pro.../spitfire.html

Quote:
Coaxial and Optical input
Oversampling
Brown Burr PCM1793 D/A
Output: OPA2604 opamp

MUSILAND MD-10 $270 http://www.ifiaudio.com/md10.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac:CS4398
output: AD OP275

MHdt Constantine $280 http://www.geocities.com/mhdtlab/
M-Audio Flying Cow $289 http://www.maudio.co.uk/products/en_...gCow-main.html
Mhdt Dialogue II $289 http://www.geocities.com/mhdtlab/
Lite Dac-AM ~$290 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Output: NE5532- OP
input: Coaxial/Toslink/Balanced
Dac: AD1853
Receiver: CS8414

M-Audio Super Dac $299
Headroom Micro dac $299 http://www.headphone.com/products/he...-micro-dac.php

Quote:
Oversampling
Cirrus CS4398 D/A
input: USB, optical, coaxial

Xindak Dac3 MKII $300 http://www.xindak.com/english/produc...ail.asp?id=230

Quote:
Upsampling
input: toslink/Coaxial

RAKK Dac $305 http://www.kandkaudio.com/digitalaudio.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: BB PCM1794
receiver: CS8416
output: your choice, either passive IV or Class A Mosfet

Delta Sigma "white noise" $303.52 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220029331792
Rockna RD-2 $325 (estimate) http://www.audiokit.ro/dac_rd2.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Output: IV conversion discrete
Receiver: CS8416
Dac: PCM1796
input: Toslink/ Coaxial

BES Icarus Audio Dac $329 http://besaudio.com/

Quote:
Oversampling
Input: USB, Coaxial, XLR, Optical
Dac: PCM 1798, TDA-1543, CS4398

Meier Audio Corda Move $335 http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/index.htm

Quote:
Non Over Sampling
input: USB
output: AD8610
Dac: PCM2704

Channel Islands VDA-1 $350 http://www.ciaudio.com/vda1.html

Quote:
Oversampling
receiver: DIR1701
Dac: PCM1716
output: OPA2134
input: Coaxial/Toslink

Citypulse Dac 7.2 $370 http://www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Receiver: CS8416
Dac: PCM1796
input: Toslink/Coaxial

Moodlab $399 www.mood-lab.com/dice.htm

Quote:
Coax, Optical, USB IN
receiver: CS8414
D/A: TDA1543

Lite Dac60 ~$400 http://pacificvalve.us/LTDAC602.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: PCM1704
output: tube
Input: coaxial/toslink

Sweet Sound Dac $420 http://stores.ebay.com/eAudioguy-Online-Store
RDL RU-SPC1D $440
Corda-Aria $450 http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/index.htm

Quote:
Non Oversampling
Dac: PCM2704
output: LM6171
input: USB

Scott Nixon usb Tubedac $475 http://www.scott-nixon.com/dac.htm

Quote:
non oversampling
input: Toslink/Coaxial
output: Tube, 6922
Receiver: CS8412
Dac: TDA-1543

Music Fidelity X-Dac $475 http://www.musicalfidelity.com/produ...lx/xdacv3.html

Quote:
oversampling
input: coaxial/toslink
output: tube

Presonus Central Station $499 http://www.presonus.com/centralstation.html

Quote:
oversampling
input: toslink/coaxial

Mhdt Paradisea $499 http://www.geocities.com/mhdtlab/
Mhdt Renassiance II $499 http://www.geocities.com/mhdtlab/
Storm Digital D02a $512
Lite Dac38 $550 http://pacificvalve.us/LTDAC38.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: PCM1704
input: toslink/coaxial

Lucid DA9624 $599
CI Audio VDA-2 $599 http://www.ciaudio.com/
Quote:
Oversampling
Burr Brown PCM1794
input: coaxial,optical
output: discrete output stage

a. Power Supply $158
Audio Research Dac-1 $600 http://www.arcdb.ws/DAC1/DAC1.html
RME ADI-2 – $639 http://www.rme-audio.com/english/adi/adi2.htm

Quote:
Oversampling
input: spdif/ADAT/AES

Softone Model_2 Dac (tube) $650 http://www.icl.co.jp/audio/english/

Quote:
Ovesampling
receiver: CS8414
Dac: PCM1716
input: Toslink/Coaxial
output: Tube, 6DJ8

Stello DA100 $675 http://www.aprilmusic.com/products/products_da100.htm

Quote:
Optional Upsampling
input: USB/Toslink/Coaxial
Dac: "Delta-Sigma Dac"

Lite Dac68 ~$699 http://pacificvalve.us/LTDAC682.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Dac: AD1853
output: Tube 6DJ8
input: Coaxial/Toslink/AES

Altman Attraction Dac $750 http://www.mother-of-tone.com/attraction.htm
Aqvox DAC USB $775 http://www.aqvox.de/products.html

Quote:
Oversampling
input: USB/Toslink/Coaxial/AES
output: discrete
Dac: Dual mono PCM1794

Ack! dAck! 2.0 $795 http://www.ack-industries.com/dAck!.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: TDA1545
input: BNC (adapter to RCA included)
output: discrete class A

Perpetual Technologies P-3a $799
Entec 205.2 $799
Meridian 566.24 Dac $600-800 audiogon, http://www.meridian-audio.com/welcome.htm
IZO 24/192PC $900
Benchmark Dac-1 $975 http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac1/

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: AD1853
input: balanced XLR, toslink, Coaxial (optional USB for 300$ more)

Lavry DA10 $975 http://www.lavryengineering.com/index_flash.html

Quote:
Upsampling (optional)
Dac: AD1955
input: Coaxial/Toslink/AES

Monarchy M24 Dac $980 www.monarchyaudio.com
PS Audio Digital Link III $995 http://www.psaudio.com/products/digital_link_iii.asp

Quote:
Oversampling
input: Coaxial/USB/Toslink
output: discrete FET output stage
Dac: PCM1798DB
Receiver: CS8416

Perreaux $999
Kora Hermes Dac $1000 http://www.cadence-tech.com.sg/Kora%20Web/DAC.htm
Apogee Mini Dac USB $1050 http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/minidac.php

Quote:
Oversampling
input: USB/2 AES/ Toslink/ Coaxial

Corda Opera $1120 http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/index.htm

Quote:
Oversampling
input: USB/ Toslink/ Coaxial
Dac: PCM1794
output: LM6171
receiver: CS8420

Stello DA220 $1195 http://www.aprilmusic.com/products/products_da220.htm

Quote:
Upsampling, optional
input: AES, 2Coaxial/ Toslink
output: Class A Discrete
Dac: AK4395

Grace m901 $1200
Classe Dac $1300 http://www.classeaudio.com/index.htm
Lavry Blue $1325 http://www.lavryengineering.com/prod..._blue4496.html

Quote:
Upsampling (optional)
input: 2 AES/ Coaxial
Dac: DA1955

CEC DA53 $1399 http://www.cec-web.co.jp/products/dac/da53_e.html
Cal Audio Labs Alpha Dac $1495
Stello DA220 MKII $1495 http://www.aprilmusic.com/products/p..._da220mkii.htm

Quote:
Oversampling (optional)
input: AES/Coaxial/Toslink/USB
output: Class A discrete

Music fidelity XDac v. 8 $1499 http://www.musicalfidelity.com/produ...es/xdacv8.html

Quote:
SS output or Tube buffered switchable with button on the front
Burr-Brown SRC4392 Sample Rate Converter
Burr-Brown DSD1792 24bit/192kHz DAC
Burr-Brown PCM2706 for USB
2 Phillips 6922 Triodes for tube buffer before final SS output stage (can be bypassed)

Sutherland 12DAX7 $1600
TwinDac+ $1600 http://www.twindac.com/
Grace m902 $1600 http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m902/m902.htm

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: USB/AES/Toslink/Coaxial

Wavelenght Brick $1750 http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html

Quote:
Non over Sampling
Dac: TDA1543
input: USB
output: Tube, 12AU7

Hagerman Technology Chime $1799 http://www.hagtech.com/chime.html

Quote:
Upsampling
input: USB/Coaxial
output: Class A Tube, 12AX7, 12AU7, EY3
Dac: TDA1545

Apogee Rosetta 200 $1900 http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/rosetta200.php

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: Spdif/MIDI

Stello DP200 $1995 http://www.stello.com.au/pi_DP200.htm

Quote:
Upsampling (optional)
input: Coaxial/ AES/ Toslink
output: Class A Discrete
Dac: AK4395

LessLoss Dac $2000 http://www.lessloss.com/users.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Dac: parallel PCM1704UK
Output: I/U conversion and OP2134

Slim Devices Transporter $2000 http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_transporter.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Dac: AK4396
Input: Optical/Coaxial/ BNC/ XLR/ Wi-fi
Output: OP-NE5534

Cyrus DAC-X $2200 http://www.cyrusaudio.com/product.asp?ProductID=5

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: 4coaxial/ 2 optical

SB+ Dac $2100
Electrocompaniet ECD1 $2250 http://www.electrocompaniet.com/

Quote:
Oversampling
input: Toslink/Coaxial

Bel Canto Dac-3 $2500 http://www.belcantodesign.com/prod_eOneDAC3.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: Coaxial/ BNC/ Toslink/ USB/ AES
Dac: dual PCM1794
Output: two stage, I/V conversion and class A balanced

Universal Audio 2192 $2800 http://www.uaudio.com/products/digital/2192/index.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: BCN/ XLR
Output: Class A discrete

North Star 192 $2800 http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/model192_e.html
Grace M904 $2800 http://www.gracedesign.com/products/.../m906_m904.htm
AUDIOMAT Tempo 2.5 $2975 http://www.bluemoonaudio.com/products_audiomat1.php
Apogee DA-16X $3150 http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/da16x.php
Lake People Dac F466-S $3200 http://www.lake-people.de/
Music Fidelity DM25 Dac $3250 http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/kw/dac.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: AES/XLR
Output: Tube and Class A “transistor”

Wavelength Cosecant $3500 http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html
Cyrus DAC-XP $4350 http://www.cyrusaudio.com/product.asp?ProductID=20
AUDIOMECA Enkianthus $4000 http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/enkianthus_e.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Input: Coax/BNC/ AES/ AT&T

Orpheus Labs Dac one $4800 http://www.orpheuslab.com/html/home.htm

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: AES/Coaxial/Toslink
Dac: proprietary dac board

Audio Aero Prima $5000 http://www.sigsound.com/PDFs/PrimaDacLit.pdf
Empirical Audio Spoiler USB Tube DAC $6000 http://www.empiricalaudio.com/

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: PCM1704UK
Output: Tube
Input: USB/ Coaxial

MSB Technology Platinum III $6000 http://www.msbtech.com/products/dac3.php

Quote:
Upsampling
Dac: proprietary dac, four modules
Input: Coaxial/Toslink/AES

Sonic Froniters SFD li mkii Tube Dac $6500
Chord Dac 64 $6500 http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/pr...tail.asp?id=33
Elise Dac LT $6600 http://www.artaudio.com/elise.html
Dodson DA-218 $8000 http://www.dodsonaudio.com/
Sennheiser HEV90 $8000 http://www.sigsound.com/PDFs/PrimaDacLit.pdf
Lavry DA2002 $8500 http://www.lavryengineering.com/index_flash.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: Coaxial/AES
Receiver: Motorola DSP56002 DSP
Dac: own creation using AD7538, BB OPA177, OPA627 and AD744
Output: BB OPA134

Spectral SDR-2000 $8999 http://www.spectralaudio.com/sdr-2000.htm

Quote:
Oversampling
Dac: proprietary design, four Dac modules
Output: discrete

Zanden Audio model 5000 MKIV $9800 http://www.zandenaudio.com/products/english/index.html

Quote:
Non Oversampling
Dac: TDA 1541
Receiver: proprietary
Output: IV conversion, Tube: 6922
Input: AES/Coaxial

Wadia 27ix $9950 http://www.wadia.com/products/products_main.htm

Quote:
Oversampling
Input: 2 Toslink/ AES/ 2 Coaxial/ 1 Plastic Toslink
Output: Class A discrete
Dac: Four PCM1702S

Emm Labs Dac6 $9995
Theta Digital Generation VIII $10,000 http://www.thetadigital.com/product/gen8/prod-info.htm
Wavelength Ultimate DPU $11,000 http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html
Nagra Dac $13,000 http://www.nagraaudio.com/highend/index.php
Esoteric D-03 $13,200 http://www.teac.com/esoteric/D-03.html

Quote:
Upsampling optional
Dac: Dual differential AD1955
Input: Coaxial/ AES/ I.link/ Toslink

Emmlabs Dcc2 Se $13,500 http://www.emmlabs.com/html/audio/dcc2/dcc2.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: coaxial/ toslink/ OptiLink/ AES/ PCM
Dac: proprietary design, Dual differential discrete design

Zanden Audio 5000 signature 15470$http://www.zandenaudio.com/products/english/index.html

Quote:
Non Oversampling
Dac: Two TDA 1541
Receiver: proprietary
Output: IV conversion, Tube: 6922/ 6CA4 (power)
Input: I2S/AES/Coaxial

Burmester 970 SRC reference da converter $16,000 http://www.burmester.de/english/prod...970-infos.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Dac: proprietary dull differential
Input: Toslink/ AES/ Coaxial/ AT&T (ST)

dCs Elgar Plus Dac $17,495 http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/index2.html

Quote:
Oversampling
Input: AES/ Dual AES/ RCA/ BNC/ Toslink
Dac: proprietary, “ring dac”

Stax X1T Dac $20,000 http://www.highendpalace.com/
MBL 1611E - $21,450 http://www.mbl-germany.de/Reference_html/1611_d.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Input: 2AES/ 2 Coaxial/ 2 BNC/ 2 Toslink/ 2 plastic Toslink
Dac: CS4396-KS
Receiver: CS8414

Wadia series 9 $27,850 http://www.wadia.com/products/products_main.htm

Quote:
Oversampling
Output: Class A discrete
Inputs: 2 glass Toslink/ 2 BNC/ 1 fiber Toslink/ 1 AES

Esoteric D-01 $32,000 http://www.teac.com/esoteric/D-01.html
Audionote Dac 5 $33,000 http://www.audionote.co.uk/
Boulderamp Dac2020 $35,000 http://www.boulderamp.com/
GTE Trinity Dac 42,000 Euros http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/trinity_tech_e.html

Quote:
Upsampling
Dac: PCM1704
receiver: AKM 4112B

Gaku-on $250,000

Siva, Most of the DACs listed in the beginning are very mediocre, hardly worth your time and money.

The Presonus is a great suggestion though. A very versatile and excellent sounding DAC too(could not notice a huge difference between this and the Bel CAnto DAC2). It is more than just a DAC though.
An all in one masterpiece.

The RAKK DAc and the Ack! dack! are supposedly quite good.

Guys, any one here who has actually Heard this product :

"Slim Devices Transporter network music player"

http://stereophile.com/mediaservers/207slim/



Anyone knows if its available in India ?

Slim Device - The company has been bought out by Logitech..


IF the review is anything to go by, the Transporter is worth its price as a DAC alone.

Its wireless ( WiFi ) connectivity and Volume contol are just Bonus...

OK, noob query time

The transporter uses the AKM4396 dacs. Same as my $100 sound card.

So what other components are present for it to cost almost $2k? I suppose it must sound better than my card as it is not susceptible to the noise and disturbance which my card has to face inside the PC cabinet. But a 20x price difference?

1. Typically the electronic component cost totals 10% of tyhe selling price for small scale produced products ( audiophile for example) and almost never more than 25% in most consumer products.

2. The Power supply typically will cost as much as if not more than the cost of all the other electronic components put together.

3. The Chasis, meters, switches, potentiometers and connectors typically cost more than the power supply !

Yr sound card does not have items 2 & 3 !