Looking for Suggestions on DAC Under $3K

Lee · Mar 24, 2013

A good friend of mine and I are both looking for a new DAC in the under $3K range. I was wondering what folks here would suggest we look for in terms of features?

How important, relatively speaking, are the following...

1. DAC chip?
2. Analog output stage?
3. Designer or brand?
4. USB Implementation?
5. HF openness?
6. Resolution?

Or do we just focus on certain brands and products? Any specific recommendations helpful. We are both quite familiar with Ayre, Benchmark (I'm looking closely at DAC2), and PS Audio units (He's looking closely at latest version, owns current one). We both like a good bit of detail but not at the expense of musicality. Goal is to buy something really nice so we can keep for 4-5 years before next upgrade.

DSD ability nice to have but not essential. USB connectivity strongly preferred.

Any suggestions welcome! Thanks.

mep · Mar 24, 2013

I went with Bruce's recommendation for what he felt was the best sounding DAC under $10K, the Mytek Stereo 192. It has the USB implementation and will output 24/192 and both DSDx1 and DSDx2 over USB. I think it sounds great.

jap · Mar 24, 2013

http://www.audiostream.com/content/dsd-ready-dacs-short-list

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

Lee said:
A good friend of mine and I are both looking for a new DAC in the under $3K range. I was wondering what folks here would suggest we look for in terms of features?

How important, relatively speaking, are the following...

1. DAC chip?
2. Analog output stage?
3. Designer or brand?
4. USB Implementation?
5. HF openness?
6. Resolution?

Or do we just focus on certain brands and products? Any specific recommendations helpful. We are both quite familiar with Ayre, Benchmark (I'm looking closely at DAC2), and PS Audio units (He's looking closely at latest version, owns current one). We both like a good bit of detail but not at the expense of musicality. Goal is to buy something really nice so we can keep for 4-5 years before next upgrade.

DSD ability nice to have but not essential. USB connectivity strongly preferred.

Any suggestions welcome! Thanks.

I give my very highest recommendation to the Bryston BDA-2 at $2995.

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

Lee said:
A good friend of mine and I are both looking for a new DAC in the under $3K range. I was wondering what folks here would suggest we look for in terms of features?

How important, relatively speaking, are the following...

1. DAC chip?
2. Analog output stage?
3. Designer or brand?
4. USB Implementation?
5. HF openness?
6. Resolution?

Or do we just focus on certain brands and products? Any specific recommendations helpful. We are both quite familiar with Ayre, Benchmark (I'm looking closely at DAC2), and PS Audio units (He's looking closely at latest version, owns current one). We both like a good bit of detail but not at the expense of musicality. Goal is to buy something really nice so we can keep for 4-5 years before next upgrade.

DSD ability nice to have but not essential. USB connectivity strongly preferred.

Any suggestions welcome! Thanks.

I just spent a month with it.

Pros:
Extremely high in resolution. Amazing amount of features. Bass
is among the best in have heard in a $1500 DAC.

Cons:
Somewhat hard and unforgiving on top. A bit lacking in dimension.
A bit fatiguing in long listening sessions. However a detail freaks dream.

mep · Mar 24, 2013

Andre Marc said:
I just spent a month with it.

Pros:
Extremely high in resolution. Amazing amount of features. Bass
is among the best in have heard in a $1500 DAC.

Cons:
Somewhat hard and unforgiving on top. A bit lacking in dimension.
A bit fatiguing in long listening sessions. However a detail freaks dream.

Which DAC?

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

Andre Marc said:
I just spent a month with it.

Pros:
Extremely high in resolution. Amazing amount of features. Bass
is among the best in have heard in a $1500 DAC.

Cons:
Somewhat hard and unforgiving on top. A bit lacking in dimension.
A bit fatiguing in long listening sessions. However a detail freaks dream.

Oh sorry, I meant to reply to your post. The MyTek.

mep · Mar 24, 2013

It's hard to believe that you think it sounds hard and unforgiving on top. My experience is the exact opposite. Maybe it is the difference between our systems.

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

mep said:
It's hard to believe that you think it sounds hard and unforgiving on top. My experience is the exact opposite. Maybe it is the difference between our systems.

Could be the systems. I used Carver and ARC amps, plus Harbeth
and Thiel speakers with Transparent cables.

That is what I heard across the board. Compared it to 3 other DACs.

Bruce B · Mar 24, 2013

Mytek sounds great here as well.

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

Bruce B said:
Mytek sounds great here as well.

It is an impressive product but is for a certain type of listener.

mep · Mar 24, 2013

Andre Marc said:
It is an impressive product but is for a certain type of listener.

And what type of listener would that be?

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

Andre Marc said:
It is an impressive product but is for a certain type of listener.

Some prefer cappucino, some prefer tea, some prefer black coffee.

the MyTek is definitely black coffee.. Maybe even black espresso.

mep · Mar 24, 2013

Andre Marc said:
Some prefer cappucino, some prefer tea, some prefer black coffee.

the MyTek is definitely black coffee.. Maybe even black espresso.

I don't get the analogy, but that's ok. Maybe your unit was defective as your opinions are 180 out from what I hear. Did you listen to primarily PCM?

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

Lee said:
A good friend of mine and I are both looking for a new DAC in the under $3K range. I was wondering what folks here would suggest we look for in terms of features?

How important, relatively speaking, are the following...

1. DAC chip?
2. Analog output stage?
3. Designer or brand?
4. USB Implementation?
5. HF openness?
6. Resolution?

Or do we just focus on certain brands and products? Any specific recommendations helpful. We are both quite familiar with Ayre, Benchmark (I'm looking closely at DAC2), and PS Audio units (He's looking closely at latest version, owns current one). We both like a good bit of detail but not at the expense of musicality. Goal is to buy something really nice so we can keep for 4-5 years before next upgrade.

DSD ability nice to have but not essential. USB connectivity strongly preferred.

Any suggestions welcome! Thanks.

I was hugely impressed by the Rein Audio X3-DAC. At $1280
is is a downright steal.

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-preamplifiers/stereo-preamps/rein-audio-x3-dac-review-2.html

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

mep said:
I don't get the analogy, but that's ok. Maybe your unit was defective as your opinions are 180 out from what I hear. Did you listen to primarily PCM?

No the unit was not defective. Of course mostly PCM. Across all inputs.

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

mep said:
I don't get the analogy, but that's ok. Maybe your unit was defective as your opinions are 180 out from what I hear. Did you listen to primarily PCM?

Are you using it with a preamp or integrated amp with volume control in Bypass?

That could explain a few things.

mep · Mar 24, 2013

Andre Marc said:
No the unit was not defective. Of course mostly PCM. Across all inputs.

16/44 primarily?

Andre Marc · Mar 24, 2013

mep said:
16/44 primarily?

I am not sure what you are getting at. No, actually equal amounts of every sample rate up to 192khz including 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192.

Lee · Mar 24, 2013

Interesting suggestions.

I'm hearing good things about the T+A DAC8 as well. Any thoughts on that?

Looking for Suggestions on DAC Under $3K

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