DAC recommendations

willie45,

I have heard (briefly in my system) the Shiit Gungnir, and it sounds very nice; $750 in US.  

My favorite, which I use is the Naim DAC.  It's best feature is the Burndy jumper on the back which, when replaced by XPS2 or 555PS transforms it performance - even out of proportion to the seemingly high cost of these outboard power supplies.  So obviously you don't have to buy it all at once.

Cheers,

Charlie

John Atkinson  found the Weiss 202 to be the best measuring piece of equipment in his 25 yearclog career.

H.

The obvious suggestion (especially you will get here) is the Naim DAC...

Looking away from Naim my favourite DAC currently is the Chord QuteHD - 95%+ of the quality of the "grown up" Chord QBD76 at a 5th of the price (and half the cost of the Naim DAC).  There are reports that the QuteHD improves significantly if you replace the basic SMPS with linear PSU.

Eloise

Thank you for your help. It seems apart from the Chord and Weiss options, Naim is looking like a good bet. I would baulk at the cost of the PSU but maybe I will be content with the straight DAC ( Maybe !)

Willie

If you are committed to Naim for amp/pre long term, the synergy the Naim DAC and ND products offer is compelling, and worth paying something extra for.  In my system, with modest, very forgiving speakers I happen to love, I do not hear a huge benefit from a separate PS; both with and without the 555PS-DR, to my ears, it tops the Rega DAC, and those onboard the Sonos, Squeezebox Touch, and AirPort Express, which it should for the money.  I have not tried any of the other many worthy contenders.  

I suspect if I ever find more discerning speakers I actually like, the perceived difference will only increase for the better, based on my own experience at home and in shops, and testimony of many others here.  YMMV, of course.

Best of luck,

Nick

If available, a listen to the Berkeley Audio "alpha dac" might be interesting.  I believe it's priced slightly higher than the Naim.

If a dac is improved by a change of power supply then it is a poor design.

H

Than everything is poorly designed

Well, let's say it is designed to optimize sales and margins at Naim. It COULD be designed so that a PS upgrade would be senseless.

Everything is a compromise between technical possibilities, saleability and profit margins.

If the design criteria is that the performance can be increased by optional bolt ons so as to give a range of price / performance points, I would say the range of off board PSU 'upgrade' to the DAC/ND? /NAC etc is a good and effective design that means its design requirements.

Simon

Hi Simon,

Much prefer your Hood avatar!

Cheers

Bill.

Bill, thanks.. That's one plus for the space hopper and one for the Hood so far... Must admit I think I prefer the Hood as well...

Hi Simon,

+1 for the Hood. He just  e x u d e s  authority .

Back to the topic :

+1 for the Naim DAC

+1 for the Berkely Designs Alpha DAC (heard one of these fed by iTunes + BitPerfect, fronting a Spectral system. Mmmm, music.

Bill the Cat.

My local dealer, if you walk in off the street, would want to sell a Berkeley dac + Spectral every day of the week.  And Magico speakers.  That's their target.  They put up with me and Naim  

Bring back the Hood or the teddy bear gets it!

The WWF thanks you Simon.

Nice eyebrows.

Thanks Simon - the teddy is safe... for now

Willie45

The Naim DAC is very good without an external PSU.  I enjoyed mine that way for quite a while. The option of PSU upgrades is just that - an option.  The Naim DAC amply justifies itself against the competition at that price point.  

Simon-in-S - yes, I like the return of the Hood, too

MDS     

Chaps, ok by popular demand the Hood returns, space hopper kicked off field. Btw earlier post should have said 'meets it's design requirements'....

Pev I can sleep easy tonight now, you really have quite an evil streak in you.. 

Looking much better Simon! Hopefully this will entice Mr. Fawkes back as well 

Thanks folks. The Berkley DAC interests me. I looked at their site but can't see any UK dealers. I suppose it would need to be a US import then? Bit of a gamble is the problem there.

Willie

...and all that matters.  Ive never been so musically happy.

Hi Simon,

That's better, the Hood definately gives your post a certain authority. Good to know democracy is alive and well.

Cheers

Bill