Differences between Link 1, 2 and 3 DACs?


I am looking to buy a Link DAC, but I'm not sure which model to buy, the 1, 2 or 3. I understand version 3 is the easiest to upgrade, but I'm not really looking to upgrade it. The only thing I would want to add would be just an AES/EBU input, not the upgrade with the upsampler board though. Wouldn't it be better to go from a Monarchy DIP to the Link DAC using the AES/EBU jacks rather than Coax?

I can get a Link 1 DAC for about $80, or the Link 2 DAC with a Monolithic HC-2 PSU for about $150... so I'm wondering if I should save the extra money for cables or buy one of the newer DACs.

Thanks
jcdem

Showing 2 responses by jcdem

If I had a Link III with the AES/EBU socket would it make a difference if I used it or Coax? You said it connects internally to the 24/96 upsampler, but doesn't optical and coax as well? I'm just trying to find out if there would be a significant improvement to using a certain cable type going from a Monarchy DIP to the Link.
Well I plan on using the Link DAC with 2 different sources, so I will need to run optical to the DIP and coax out, then into the Link, as well as optical straight into the Link from my other source.

I hope going from optical to DIP to coax and into the Link won't hurt the signal... too much.