Cheap Blu Ray Player + DAC for hi fi ?


Hi Guys,

I posted several weeks ago about advice on picking out a system. After much gnashing of the teeth and lots of auditioning - I've settled on the PSB Alpha B1 and NAD 316BEE to drive them.

Now it comes to picking out source options.

I have a Mac Mini which will double as a HTPC, storing all my lossless tunes.

I need to get a Blu Ray player for some of the Blu Rays, DVDs and redbook CDs I have as well.

I plan to get a DAC to hook both of these components to as well (tiny budget so a DAC that's about 300 bucks used)

My question - would a Blu Rayer player from big box stores (the cheap ones that cost 100US-200USD) be any good when hooked up with a budget DAC?

I don't have superlative requirements - my budget kinda explains it no? haha - just something that puts out decent audio and video.

Btw pls do let me know what DACs I should be looking at. Preferably with optical inputs and something I could get for less than 300bucks. Lower the better =)
milesandcoltrane
I have been Using a Musiland Monitor 02US, It has a built in power supply (not through USB), it has optical, spdif and USB inputs, it will out put all rates from 16/44 to 24/192 through all inputs and after burn in sounds very very good. It is noticeably better than my NAD 515BEE cd player. Be aware that if used for computer audio that it will not run MAC, has proprietary windows drivers only. This is around $150 on ebay. At $300, I would recommend the Musical Fidelity VDAC 2. I don't believe either will work with a BluRay. I would guess that if you got a cheap cd player and deadened it with lots putty or other dampening material, then ran through an optical or spdif, you would have very satisfying results. Good Luck, Tim
My PS3 has extensive audio output choices.
For my Optical? I chose PCM at 48 or 44.1 which gives me FINE stereo sound thru my DAC to stereo.
If I had an HT receiver? some of the multichannel choices would be obvious.
Thanks guys. Just wondering... To circumvent the no audio thru Blu ray problem - since I'll be plugging my Blu ray to the LED TV thru HDMI, and since my tv has a Toslink out, can I plug an optical DAC to my TV instead? Will Blu Ray audio work this way via the DAC.
If your are lookin to watch Blue-ray movies oin your Mac sysytem, then why don't you just try Mac Blue-ray player. It will only cost you 39 USD. It is cheap and best.

Read more here - http://www.softwaredownloadcentre.com/software/mac-blu-rayplayer.php