DAC recommendations

Posted by: willie45 on 24 February 2013

HI

I'm sort of settling into my Hard Disk music system now. I still listen to CDs but I'm transferring the music to a mac mini set up plugged into the DAC on my Supernait. I have a Stello U3 between the computer and amp. I will be looking to sell my CD3.5 once my music transfer is complete and at that time I will upgrade to an external DAC. I have to say though, that the difference between my current setup with the mac mini as a source, and the CD3.5 is not an unpleasant one.

 

I am trying to find out whic are the best DACs to consider. I will of course give the Naim DAC a good listen and I am expecting that to be front runner, however, I fear treading the inevitable upgrade path with an expensive PSU in the future and I am looking at alternatives.

 

I have heard good things about the Eximus DP1 from April Music ( makers of the Stello ) as well as Bryston, Antelope, and others.( though the other seems to want you to buy a separate PSU too)

 

Anyway, I wondered if any of you good folks have recommendations as to DACs that should be on my audition list at around the same price as the Naim.

Posted on: 04 March 2013 by Eargasm
Originally Posted by willie45:

Eargasm, I'm not sure how the T. Dac performs. Have you heard it outperforms the Naim somewhere reliable? The problem I have is that it seems to quote "reviews" on the site which are forum posts on a few places generally made by people with only a very few posts on those sites Puts me off a bit.

 

Also Dan43 the dealer you mention I did try to contact a while back. Their phone didn't work and they didn't answer my mail query. I decided to avoid.

 

I notice at least one member here has had a very positive experience with their DAC so I might be tempted to give them a mail order trial from Israel.

 

Willie

Yeah i was also thinking of that mail-order trial, sounds as a fair deal, but the hazzel with it puts me of a bit :[

From what i have read regarding the performance i have found healthy, critical thinking and an open mind which i think is pretty rare to find when it comes to hi-fi, so that got me more interested, but as i said, i have a problem with the design, i just don't like the way it looks and i know myself and i would sure find it irritating to look at in the long run

Maybe i should just wait for a classic-series NAC with onboard DAC, i wonder when that is due?

Posted on: 05 March 2013 by Louis-Andre

I also got my TeddyDAC from Israel.

 

The website of Teddy Pardo is terrible and does not do them justice. But their DAC sound very good. I have only compared teh TeddyDac to a bare nDAC and my ears slightly preferred to Teddy Dac . But the Naim DAC is still very, very good.

Posted on: 06 March 2013 by Eargasm

I think i`m going to give the DAC V1 a shot, and if i like it, sit still in the boat, i am convinced Naim will release a "bare" DAC V1 without the volume control, a few hundred cheaper and maybe the ability to cap it.

 

If the V1 does not do it for me i must consider a Israel-trial, my Rega DAC still sounds good so no hurry.