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What's the greatest bargain in DAC's these days?

Hi, Gang,
I am currently running my Music Hall CD 25.2 CD player as a transport through my Musical Fidelity M1 DAC. I also have the Musical Fidelity V-Link 192 for playing hi-res files from the USB port on my laptop.
DAC's are such a fast-moving market segment that I started to wonder whether there was a "stupid good" DAC, even better than the MF M1 DAC, that could be had for well under $1000.
I started a thread in the Amps/Preamps forum called "What's The Greatest Bargain in SET These Days" that yielded tons of great info. I hope this thread does, as well!
rebbi
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Johnjc,
I can't find references to either of those DAC's. Can you provide any links?
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
I have narrowed the field to wanting a DAC with variable level analogue outputs. In the sub $1000 category, I see the Parasound ZDAC v.2 and the Jolida FX Mark III. Anybody have thoughts about the relative merits of these two units?
ait
480 posts
 
I built a Buffalo IIIse into my 26 tube preamp, using the 26 tube fed by Lundahl LL1676 transformers as its output stage, and added a Sonore asynchronous USB board in there as well. Salas Reflektor-D regulators supply power for the DAC and USB board, fed from a choke input LCLC power supply. So now I can plug S/PDIF, USB, and six conventional sources all into the same box and switch between them. The combination of the Buffalo IIIse with 1920's tube technology is very nice, indeed!

If you already have a tube preamp with some room in the chassis and some DIY skills, adding the Buffalo IIIse board for $279.00 (with TP regulators included) is a great bargain! Excellent sound as well.

The Preamp that became a DAC
dgarretson
2,594 posts
 
Ait, thanks. Amazing the various approaches taken by DIYers with the Twisted Pear kit.

I'm also using a transformer output from a battery-powered BIIISE, a 1:2 Audio Consulting Silver Rock transformer into balanced SS buffers. I may try a balanced 300b buffer as an alternative to SS. I have a Paul Hynes master regulator chassis on order to compare to battery power and to provide more rails for transition to CPU audio.

I was unaware of the Sonare USB board. What is its current requirement?
after_hrs
128 posts
 
Hey Rebbi,

I like what Melbguy1 shared about the Vitus product. Upgradability and versatility are where its at. On the lower budget side of things...a good friend uses an FX in a second system with great results. Rolled in some better tubes and it sounds very dimensional and natural with good dynamics for the $$. The downside is it needs to be on for 10 hrs before sounding its best. I recently bought a brand new Music hall dac myself from CL because it was such a good deal. 15.2 model for $100. w/box perfect. It really didn't sound very good except... it had better than average resolution, huh.
I will have to add to this story later...need to stay after another project here. It has a very happy ending!
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