MEH Synergy Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Hello all. As the title says, I am looking for a sub $1000 DAC, new or used. Interested in recommendations. I made a new klipsch purchase (won't share yet) and already got a new wyred 4 Sound integrated amp to power. Let's hear what your choices are. Micromega mydac looks interesting for the price and has great reviews. I have always used benchmark in the past, but I am not looking to spend that kind of coin right now. Thanks for your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codewritinfool Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 I’m happy with my Emotiva Stealth DC-1. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 In communication over a Wyred 4 Sound piece, may or may not go for it. Great ratings on the unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjptkd Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Benchmark, PS Audio and Oppo all make great DAC's I'm using the Oppo Sonica right now and love it-- good deals can be found on mid line / top models if you keep watch and have patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 I pulled the trigger on the wyred 4 Sound DAC2. I got a pretty decent deal. Benchmark is my go to, but they are expensive for anything modern. The DAC is bought isn't the latest but it's not ancient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Check out my Havana for sale. It is an excellent sounding DAC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 Couple hours too late. Thanks anyways man. Was hoping for a quick response on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I have the earlier HDACC, now only $399 with HDMI. Their newer one uses an ES 9028 Pro and is still only $599 w/ HDMI, USB and other inputs. http://www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/hdacc-ii-4k/ Can't figure out why so many companies using similar configurations charge so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 14, 2018 Author Share Posted October 14, 2018 They charge more for hardware and software from my understanding. The DAC chip alone doesn't determine the resulting sound. I had a (not cheap whatsoever for me) PS Audio DAC I Hated it. I bought another DAC with the same chip and the sound couldn't have been any different. I was amazed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 3 hours ago, Westcoastdrums said: They charge more for hardware and software from my understanding. The DAC chip alone doesn't determine the resulting sound. I had a (not cheap whatsoever for me) PS Audio DAC I Hated it. I bought another DAC with the same chip and the sound couldn't have been any different. I was amazed. Of course. You need to listen though. Some you have to question, price vs sound. As you said, PS Audio are highly rated and not inexpensive. That's why it's worth trying something more inexpensive. The other issue is when you look at the ESS dacs, many have most of the function, including volume control so you have to also question how much ancillary hardware goes with it. Headphone amp and things I can possibly see though I don't care about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 14, 2018 Author Share Posted October 14, 2018 Yeah I hear ya. Tough to demo a DAC, especially if it's not in your own system. The DAC bought is not new, in more way than one, and I got a great price on it. If it doesn't work for me for some reason, I'll pass it along and try a current model. Certainly a DAC of even decent quality is always better than none has been my experience and I have compared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaman Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I really liked my Emotiva XDA-2, followed by the newer DC-1 which codewritinfool posted. Very versatile DAC's with pleasant sound. You can use them as a preamp or headphone amp in addition to the use as a dedicated DAC. It offers two digital toslink, two digital coax plus balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs. Plus all four outputs are active which means you can run the signal to your amp via XLR plus the signal going out via the RCA to a sub, or pair of subs. Good luck! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 14, 2018 Author Share Posted October 14, 2018 That's two votes there... Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadBlue Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Also using a Emo DC-1,xlr's to the amp and rca's to a pair of subs,very happy with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaman Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 3 minutes ago, Westcoastdrums said: That's two votes there... Thanks. Just to add, if you can figure out which DAC options there are that use the Cirrus Logic chips....you will be amazed with the clarity they present, especially in the vocal regions. I have the Twin Cirrus chips in my Sherbourn PT-7020C4 preamp/processors and I enjoyed the sound so much I have replaced all of my two channel set ups with these same processors. Nothing short of amazing in the reproduction of instruments and vocals. Not sure if their homepage links any of the DAC products they are involved with. https://www.cirrus.com/index.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanKasper Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 (edited) I recently acquired a used Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11 (can be had on the market for ~200-250), upgraded the single tube in it to an Amperex 6DJ8, and am blown away by the quality at this price point... really exceptional value, would highly recommend to anyone! Edited October 23, 2018 by JonathanKasper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panelhead Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 My system is best served by a four channel dac with a single volume control. Use a subwoofer whether using active speakers, normal efficiency speakers, or horns. Used a KRK Ergo for many years. It also provides Room Perfect digital room correction from Lyngdorf. Used many units, a stock unit and modified ones. I do surface mount board surgery. Only downside is this is a FireWire dac. An Apple FW to Thunderbolt adapter kept this as an option. Switched to a Focusrite Clarett 4Pre a couple years ago. Also four channel monitor output and Thunderbolt connected. Did a little work on decoupling and opamp swaps. Bought another as a reference. Paid 400.00 each for them 2 years apart. I have bought and borrowed several expensive dacs and none could replace these pro dacs. Suspect it is the USB interface they used. They make 100’s of USB cables, dozens of USB reclockers, filters, dongles, and dangles. Plus expensive power supplies just to power the USB cable. If there were not issues these addressed no one would ever buy these bandaids. Never seen any of this for FireWire or Thunderbolt connected dacs. Oyaide makes some 100.00 FW cables. I liked 10.00 Pearstone cables from B&H better. Corning makes some expensive optical TB and USB cables. Cannot speak for the USB cables, but the optical Thunderbolt cables are the bomb. Has galvanic isolation to prevent computer noise from entering the dac. 1,000.00 will buy a Corning cable and Clarett dac. With plenty of money left over for either an iFI iPower switching supply, or the new iFI iPower Plus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share Posted October 24, 2018 Thanks @Panelhead. Quite interesting post. I read the entries thing and haven't heard that viewpoint as of yet. Def something for me to read up on and consider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 Anyone know much about or have an opinion on the Gustard X22 DAC? I bought one on a limb for the pricepoint/performance. What say you positive or negative? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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