With the plethora of DACs on the market it's very difficult to choose one just as it is with other high end equipment. (without being able to connect it and hear in your system) You can't know what a DAC will do in your individual system. But with the majority of maunfacturers, you buy it, you own it. If you are willing to go with a less expensive DAC there are a few manufacturers who sell with a 30 day money back through online dealer/retailers, otherwise you buy and try and have to resell here if you dislike your results. You might be able to resell and take minimal loss in some cases. If you want to go lower price DACs, Wyred has a 15% restocking fee on return, Centrance can be had on a 30 day audition, Rega has a 30 day audition. Audio Advisor and Music Direct have various DACs that you can audition and if needed return within 30 days. But if you go for the premium higher end DACs, in the majority of cases you will not have return priveleges. It's my opinion that you can come close to high end performance with some less-than high end DACs. Let us know of your experiences.
Too many DAC decisions
Yes, I know, you just have to hold your nose and jump in the water, sooner or later. But in this case, we’re talking not chump change when investing in a venture in computer audio. I will commit to the Mac Mini, a Raid or Drobos backup, various cabling….but the dac! I’m not especially ‘digital’ literate, and cannot fathom the different sampling rates, connections (USB 2, and future 3, fire wire, I2s, thunderbolt, etc.). But my main expense will be a decent dac. I’m 200 miles away from a major metropolitan area. Even if I could get someone to send samples of dacs, setting up individual software/cabling/drivers would be beyond my means. What to consider?
Young, Weiss, Berkley, Zodiac, Invicta, Meitner, and on, and on, until next week, when a bevy of high-end dacs will appear to muddy the picture (and decision making process).
I am sure I’m am not the only one to be in this quandary; I read on this forum and others (Asylum, Computer Audio, several manufacturers web sites) similar rants but I can’t seem to see the best solution to making an informed decision. Listening to dacs in dealer’s showrooms is an artificial evaluation, compared to your home environment. Sorry for the verbosity, but I am ready to make to leap but don’t know which way to jump.
Young, Weiss, Berkley, Zodiac, Invicta, Meitner, and on, and on, until next week, when a bevy of high-end dacs will appear to muddy the picture (and decision making process).
I am sure I’m am not the only one to be in this quandary; I read on this forum and others (Asylum, Computer Audio, several manufacturers web sites) similar rants but I can’t seem to see the best solution to making an informed decision. Listening to dacs in dealer’s showrooms is an artificial evaluation, compared to your home environment. Sorry for the verbosity, but I am ready to make to leap but don’t know which way to jump.