Help with my first DAC under 2K.

Towards the top of the 2K limit I would check out the Simaudio Moon 300D. At a lower price I would try its little brother, the Moon 100D, or a used Apogee Mini-DAC. An Apogee Duet is an interesting option if you have a Mac, especially if you want to record as well.

However I have to agree with Larryken and Daverz: if better fidelity is what you want, you need to rip at the highest resolution you have room for. Any of the outboard DACs mentioned above will make you music sound *better*--even squished mp3s--but if you want *more* music you need higher resolution.

One last thing. Specialty playback software can make your music much clearer-sounding. On a Mac, these are the free (for now) AyreWave from sbooth.org/AyreWave/, PureMusic ($129) or Amarra (price varies depending on version).

Another last thing: don't forget a good USB cable. My stock cables sound lifeless compared to the silver one I bought from Audiogoner Acreyes, and there are many other good ones available too.

Get the Wyred DAC 2 and use the USB port from your PC. I heard it recently and thought it was stellar.

I play 256 kbps AAC files that I have downloaded through a Wadia 170iTransport and a Wadia 151PowerDAC mini and while I agree that at higher resolution more music info is available to both listener and equipment at my age (54) the result is more than satisfying - the newer AACs in particular especially from the jazz labels are very good- in fact to my ears the sonic results from those newer recordings eclipse lossless files ripped from many of my older CDs - just my 2 cents

Tranquility USB DAC... reconditioned units from dbAudiolabs under $1k... a complete no-brainer, new under $2k.

But you might want to seriously consider getting a Mac mini to feed it... will make a big difference. Doesn't have to be a 2010 Mac mini but something like a 2007 forward would be work better (IMHO) than a Windoz PC of some kind.

Give Eric Hider a call (see the dbaudiolabs website for a phone number).

Just my experience...

:) listening,

Ed

Agree with all the above posts. Re-rip to higher res, throw it on a NAS or MAC. Also, I just posted a new thred under Digital about Signal Path's iDAC. It will have an all-digital iPod dock with it. It comes out in January. No idea on pricing yet.

But there are literally tons of dacs under $2k. W4S DAC1 is a $1k. Bel Canto 1.5 is $1,500. You can get a Cary Xciter DAC for around a grand used. Retails at $1,500. Then you have the DacMagic and PS Audio DLIII for around $700 or less. Good luck.