Firewire DACs?

Timztunz,

You have a great looking room, there. I haven't heard all of the USB Dacs, but I have heard many. I have also done extensive research with the USB protocal since, well, the beginning. I fault its inherent limitations, specifically it's transmission method and taxing of the cpu. I have not yet heard the Tranquility yet. It has gotten rave reviews and was also a best of show at RMAF. I am certain it sounds excellent in your system. I am at a point where I have just abandoned the interface. Perhaps if I ever hear this dac, I will change my mind. The best USB DAC I have heard so far is the Ayre, which I thought sounded thin, not too great in the dynamics and just didn't bring the emotion home. Again, I fault the protocal, not the hardware. Enjoy your beautiful system.

Cerrot,

Thank you for your kind words. And my goodness, talk about a beautiful system! The only thing more beautiful than the view of your system is your view of "the view".

M-Audio makes a firewire 410 that you can still get for around 300.00. They also make a new 600 model that costs around 400.00 retail. For the money both of these interfaces/DAC's have excellent sound quality. Obviously, you can do better but it will cost much, much more.

These both have 8 analog outs too so you could do multichannel out or even active crossovers.

check out this site:

http://www.home-speaker.net/diyhometheaterspeaker.html

If you read down through that page it eventually discusses firewire DACs. It works really well. This is the type of setup I use with active digital crossovers. That site helped me do it.

mikal

I forgot here's a link to that interface/DAC.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProFire610.html

hope this helps!

mikal

Can somebody give me some impressions on the older dCS DACs using Firewire (Delius, Elgar)?
best regards
André