I will be buying a DAC this week, what one should I choose?

[falconcry72]

I currently own (2) of the Audio GD "Big Boys" (NFB-7 and NFB-8). I will gladly put either one of them up against any of the DACs mentioned in this thread. Who's down for a shootout???

[FTGV]

Huh? If he's running lossless files with a bitperfect media player, there's hardly a better digital source.

.

Agreed,loaded with flac using J River and a good USB DAC(preferably async) would make for a great source.

[falconcry72]

I currently own (2) of the Audio GD "Big Boys" (NFB-7 and NFB-8). I will gladly put either one of them up against any of the DACs mentioned in this thread. Who's down for a shootout???

Incase I'm being too shy...

I will ship you one of my NFB's for you to evaluate against another DAC!

All I ask is that you provide an honest comparison afterwards... and that you use its balanced outputs... these DAC's are meant to be run balanced.

[falconcry72]

In case I'm being too shy...

I will ship you one of my NFB's for you to evaluate against another DAC!

All I ask is that you provide an honest comparison afterwards... and that you use its balanced outputs... these DAC's are meant to be run balanced.

This offer goes for anyone reading this.. as long as you have halfway decent credibility here at CP.

[BlueFox]

This offer goes for anyone reading this.. as long as you have halfway decent credibility here at CP.

I don't know about the credibility part, but I will take you up on that offer. I was just looking at their web-site and am interested. It will replace my Bryston BDA1. However, it needs to have a balanced AES input since that is how the Bryston BDP1 digital file player is connected. It will have MIT Shotgun S1.3 balanced cables out, and a Shunyata Ztron Cobra power cable.

Is it burned in?

[polkfarmboy]

My Anthem D2 has balanced inputs for 2 ch stereo so would this at least sound better than the preamp capabilities of a DAC in my price range ? Is also jriver the best music software to use? My laptop does not have a any disk drives and just used hdmi to the anthem D2 with music and it sounds horrible. I do have a gaming rig coming from ZLTFUL that may pair up with a DAC better than my laptop.

[falconcry72]

I don't know about the credibility part, but I will take you up on that offer. I was just looking at their web-site and am interested. It will replace my Bryston BDA1. However, it needs to have a balanced AES input since that is how the Bryston BDP1 digital file player is connected. It will have MIT Shotgun S1.3 balanced cables out, and a Shunyata Ztron Cobra power cable.

Is it burned in?

Good. They both do better via AES. I will send you deets via PM>.

[BlueFox]

Okay. This should be interesting. Thanks.

[EndersShadow]

This offer goes for anyone reading this.. as long as you have halfway decent credibility here at CP.

Crap, I have NO CRED here .... oh and no gear good enough to run these

Carry on, felt like being a punk tonight

[SCompRacer]

Agreed,loaded with flac using J River and a good USB DAC(preferably async) would make for a great source.

Right now I have a laptop connected to my Amanero USB to I2S adapter in DAC. Using foobar with a 1TB external USB hard drive loaded with flac files connected to laptop via USB. Works great, sounds great, no hick-ups.

EDIT: Oh Fred, at long last...the Twisted Pear Asynchronous USB Audio class 2 module.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/twist...-2-module.html

[Thorton]

Good. They both do better via AES. I will send you deets via PM>.

This is pretty cool. I can't wait to here the comparison results.

[heiney9]

I agree with you Fred and Rich, except I guess I envisioned PFB using iTunes out of the USB. Set-up properly it can be a great source. But not many take the time to acquire the knowledge and take the time to do it properly. That's where my comment came from.

H9

[SCompRacer]

I agree with you Fred and Rich, except I guess I envisioned PFB using iTunes out of the USB. Set-up properly it can be a great source. But not many take the time to acquire the knowledge and take the time to do it properly. That's where my comment came from.

H9

I didn't even think about it as I knew you knew a laptop can be used if set up proper cause you have. I just wanted to add you can hook up an external USB drive to the laptop.

I was also gonna suggest black spray paint; you can make anything match.

[FTGV]

EDIT: Oh Fred, at long last...the Twisted Pear Asynchronous USB Audio class 2 module.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/twist...-2-module.html

Wow finally!I don't really need it but I might have to if you know what I'm sayin.

[FTGV]

I was also gonna suggest black spray paint; you can make anything match.

Lol ,any suggestions as to where to find suitable black paint?

[SCompRacer]

Lol ,any suggestions as to where to find suitable black paint?

Wasn't there a thread here aboot dat?

I hear ya on the TP USB module. I'm thinkin' some OP influence in that design.

[FTGV]

Wasn't there a thread here aboot dat?

Yarp.

I'm thinkin' some OP influence in that design.

I can see why it took so long in development ,looks well thought out.

[headrott]

Right now I have a laptop connected to my Amanero USB to I2S adapter in DAC. Using foobar with a 1TB external USB hard drive loaded with flac files connected to laptop via USB. Works great, sounds great, no hick-ups.

EDIT: Oh Fred, at long last...the Twisted Pear Asynchronous USB Audio class 2 module.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/twist...-2-module.html

Enders, you should check this out. The Twisted Pear USB module should be outstanding!

[headrott]

I currently own (2) of the Audio GD "Big Boys" (NFB-7 and NFB-8). I will gladly put either one of them up against any of the DACs mentioned in this thread. Who's down for a shootout???

I'd be interested in a shootout after BlueFox is done if you are looking for a follow up comparison. You can find the DAC I built that I will compare it to here: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...r-tube-output.

If you are not interested in sending the DAC to multiple people, it's no biggie though.

[steveinaz]

You can run a TT preamp into the Benchmark DAC/PRE or HDR flavor thru it's analog input. I'd recommend either the DAC/PRE or HDR to get the upgraded op-amps. Been very satisfied with Benchmark DAC's for over 8 years.

[ZLTFUL]

My Anthem D2 has balanced inputs for 2 ch stereo so would this at least sound better than the preamp capabilities of a DAC in my price range ? Is also jriver the best music software to use? My laptop does not have a any disk drives and just used hdmi to the anthem D2 with music and it sounds horrible. I do have a gaming rig coming from ZLTFUL that may pair up with a DAC better than my laptop.

Also, bear in mind that the PC does have a SPDIF out as well as optical out. But the on-board soundcard, while adequate and *decent*, is definitely not a standalone audiophile grade soundcard.

I have played with the Wadia 121 (bottom of this page) http://www.audiovideologic.com/cdpla...transports.php and really liked it. But I haven't had a chance to compare it to much.

I have a Peachtree DAC iT but it isn't in the ballpark of other mentioned in this thread.

[Face]

I may have a DAC-2 available...

[blairfrischx]

I'd recommend getting a USB->SPDIF converter instead of a dedicated DAC. The Stello U2 and U3 are both good. The KingRex UD384 is also pretty well-regarded.

This offer goes for anyone reading this.. as long as you have halfway decent credibility here at CP.

I'd be seriously interested in hearing how the more expensive Audio-GD products compare to my Stello DA100 Signature. They're pretty similar in price, both balanced, and both from Asian manufacturers.

I don't know about credibility, though. I don't post much; I just hang around.

[Lost240]

W4S Dac2

[RamZet]

Bryston DAC.
http://bryston.com/products/digital_audio/BDA-2.html
or the BDA-1

The Bryston preamp has the same DAC built in so you get the DAC and Preamp for a better deal.

Why Bryston?
http://www.stereophile.com/content/b...nverter-page-2

[polkfarmboy]

I went with the ps audio perfectwave dac

[Ducati Guy]

Any thoughts on the new Parasound Zdac?
Just read a rave review in HiFi Choice about it and Parasound always seems to build high quality stuff.
$475 is a reasonable real world price.
Anyone on here recently bought one?

[Habanero Monk]

If all you have is a laptop for a source, don't waste $2K on a dac.

What? For $2K the OP could get a Macbook and Apogee Duet 2.