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How much do you need to spend on a DAC to...

How much do you need to spend on a DAC to get better sound than your headphone out on a MacBook using PureMusic? Or for that matter using the DAC with my Cambridge 340C?

Should I go with something inexpensive for now and then upgrade later or just hold off since a low priced one won't really help that much?

I have recently bought new speakers and integrated and am a bit cash-strapped, but really want to make the best use of the system possible.

All of the advice I have received and all the posts I have read here on A'gon have helped so much--thanks to you all my system is better than it ever has been!

Thanks!
gustav1
teajay
1,655 posts
 
Hey Gustav1,

Go look at my review on the Parasound Zdac on hometheaterreview.com, for details why this $470.00 dac competes with dacs up to at least 4k in its performance.It would be a major upgrade compared to what you now have in your system.
meiwan
399 posts
 
Any dac at about $500 or more will be a major improvement.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,756 posts
 
My experience has been that almost any external DAC will be an improvement over the headphone output of a Mac.

One good place to start would be with a Musical Fidelity VDAC, either the original or version 2. I use the original VDAC in my office with an iMac and like it a lot.
williewonka
3,072 posts
 
Teajay - would you know how the Schiit Bifrost compares to the Zdac?

Thanks
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