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Best non-USB Dac for $3k, computer as source?

Hi There:
I'm shopping for a good DAC for my system as I'm currently winging it with an iRoc USB Dac connected to my PC via USB, using iTunes. It sounds pretty good to me but I want to do justice to the rest of my system which is more high-end.

I'm not sold on USB as the connection of choice to the PC, and I have a nice Juli@ Soundcard which got very good reviews, so hope to use that as source via SPDIF to DAC.

Do folks have any strong recommendation on a DAC at or below $3k or is there any strong reason to spend a bit more? I'd rather keep it below $3k if possible. I'd like to play 24/192k files and will try some hi-rez downloads but most of my collection is Apple Lossless via iTunes.

Thanks!
128x128outlier

Showing 2 responses by loftarasa

loftarasa
171 posts
 
Um, I'll try to clarify - it's my assertion that a PC is a bad base on which to have a high-end transport based on S/PDIF.

If keeping the PC, I'd contend that an async USB DAC capable of 24/192, which the latest revision Ayre is, will outperform any of the other DACs listed + the Juli@ + the normal PC.
loftarasa
171 posts
 
Eh, some of the suggestions you got so far are strange cause you said you want 24/192 out your PC, which would only do it if using S/PDIF out your Juli@.

The PC/transport side of things is quite problematic for good sound cause of noise from all kinds of software subsystems, hardware peripherals and general nastiness. Conflate that with S/PDIF's problems, and you have a problem!

If you wanted to keep your PC, I would look at an Ayre QB9 (async USB up to 24/192) and a SotM tx-USB PCI card that helps reduce noise on the USB output. Total is well under your budget.

Another alternative - look at an Auraliti PK90 USB headless player and forget about most the problems introduced by using a normal desktop.
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