New DAC recommendation $1K, hopefully tube.

If I were to get a Havanna, I'd have to get a Monarchy DIP as well to reclock the SPDIF. I think if I would pick them up used I'd be able to spend less than $1K.

Add a couple hundred dollars to the Monarchy DIP and I can get a Mac Mini and use either USB or optical out.

Either way, I'm just trying to come up with some options since I'll be relocating the DAC1 to the desk.

FWIW, I had the Benchmark and in my system, the Havana was better. I know people feel the Benchmark and Bel Canto sound similar, but in my system the Benchmark was just too analytical. The Bel Canto has better sound-staging, better bass, and is less diffused than the Havana in my system, but I kept the Havana because it does breath a special organic quality into the music that I want to hear sometimes. It's not goopy or syrupy, but isn't hyper-detailed.

I too have been considering the Havana DAC for use with
an AppleTV connected via glass Toslink.

Have any of you Havana owners tried the AppleTV with it
to see if jitter is an issue??

Thanks!

I only used my Havana with an AppleTV and it was great. That said, I did find a big improvment by using a really good TosLink cable, and I am imfamously anti-crazy-cable improvments. But in this case it made a very big differnce.

Thanks Macdadtexas.. I will be on the lookout for a
used Havana now. I can't wait to get my hands on an AppleTV
so I can disassemble it to paint it matte black to match my
Krell gear.. I may even get fancy and air brush a little
silver apple on the front.

ejlif replied in different post that he tried the Van Den Hul,
Wireworld, and Audioquest Toslink cables. He ended up
liking the Audioquest Optilink 5 best of all 3 so I have my
cable picked out also.