Arcam irDAC
Posted by: J.N. on 24 November 2013
Any thoughts, knowledge or experience with regard to the new model DAC please folks?
I'm looking to replace my Lavry DA-10 with a better quality USB input DAC costing around £400.
Ta.
John.
Have you considered the Rega DAC (circa. £500)? I had one pre-DAC-V1. Better than a CA DacMagic.
Of course, with your iMAC, you could go the whole hog and get the DAC-V1/NAP100, but I guess that makes your CD5i redundant.
IMHO.
Or just a USB > S/PDIF converter. The Lavry is a very good DAC.
James
Agreed the Lavry's not bad but can easily be bettered these days and unless the USB implementation is poor you're better off not converting to spdif. A good async. USB DAC will IMO be a worthwhile upgrade.
I had the Dac V1 & Nap 100 until the former developed a fault. My local Audio T kindly offered to exchange however they did not have a replacement in stock so I opted instead for the Nait XS2 and the irDAC. For me I prefer this combo to the V1/Nap100 as the music is much cleaner and more detailed whilst the bass remains deep yet still controlled. I looked at the Rega Dac however the USB input (which is a must for me as I do not wish to use an SPDIFF Converter) is the weak point and is not async. The irDAC however is async and partners extremely well with the XS2. Some say that the irDAC is only a DAC and offers nothing else such as pre amplification etc however surely this is a plus as all you are getting is a decent DAC with all of Arcam's technology going into providing a damn good sound and nothing else. IMHO the irDAC give's it's more expensive competitors a serious run for their money!