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Looking for a great DAC for my Airport Express....

Hello all,
I'm looking for a DAC around $1000 to link my Apple Airport Express to my Unison Research S2K integrated amp. Right now I'm using an Audience Conductor mini plug to rca interconnect straight from the Airport Express, but I know I can do better. The Airport Express has a Toslink, Mini headphone plug, or USB outputs.
Right now I've been thinking about a Bel Canto Dac 2 using it's Toslink input, or perhaps a PS Audio Digital Link III using it's USB input. Other's that I've thought about are the Wavelength Brick, and Musical Fidelity XDacV3.
I'd like something small and unobtrusive as I live in a NYC apartment. And I'd prefer something with multiple inputs (ruling out the Wavelength), so I can try connecting my Meridian 596 DVD and see if I can improve the sound there also.
Any ideas would be appreciated. I'd prefer not to spend over $1000, but we all know how that goes.
Thanks,
Glen.
g_goodwin

Showing 3 responses by sfar

sfar's avatar
sfar
1,756 posts
 
I'm using a Benchmark Media DAC-1 connected to an Airport Express with a glass Toslink cable. The Benchmark goes into a Simaudio I-5 integrated.

I also connect a Denon 2910 universal player to the Benchmark with a Stereovox digital coax cable. There's also an XLR input on the Benchmark and a front panel toggle that lets you switch among the three inputs.

I'm extremely happy with the setup and the performance of the Benchmark. It's very small, well-built and within your price range, as well.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,756 posts
 
Rmiwa, you're right, the USB port on the Airport Express does not provide digital out for the audio stream, it's only for connecting a printer to the wireless network.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,756 posts
 
G_goodwin, you're right, a USB port is a USB port but the USB specifications are about the mechanical and electrical properties of the connection, not the kind of data that is sent through the port.
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