Forums - DACs for Around $1000

Fireblade Seasoned Member Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. A.L.Tennyson Posts: 628	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #15 - 10/19/12 at 21:59:16 Check out John Kenny's JKDAC32. Combines USB asynch. with I2S transmission, and out of grid battery power. Impressive reviews. Also, JPLAY mini (hibernation mode) in Windows is really the best USB-based high-end streaming media right now. JPlay by itself apparently beats any JPlay plug-ins (to Foobar or JRiver, etc.) ... $0.02
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beowulf Seasoned Member Posts: 237	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #16 - 10/20/12 at 05:55:33 I will check them out, thanks Fireblade.
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Longbowbbs Verified Member Life is a journey, not a guided tour. Posts: 34	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #17 - 10/20/12 at 12:58:22 Now that my CSP2+ is here I am really enjoying it together with my Cambridge Dac Magic Plus. It also sound really nice when I use my Audioquest Dragonfly though I prefer the DMPlus between the two, Considering the DMPlus can be had for $599 and the DF is $249 I am glad the DMPlus is showing stronger...
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Donnie Seasoned Member Why does it hurt when I pee? Posts: 574	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #18 - 10/25/12 at 01:23:16 This one is just coming out. DAC and preamp. http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/803982
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beowulf Seasoned Member Posts: 237	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #19 - 10/25/12 at 08:05:05 Donnie, thats a really good price for what you get. Hey guys, have you seen this page yet? http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_SPDIF.htm This is a nice resource for a lot of DAC's that are out.
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Longbowbbs Verified Member Life is a journey, not a guided tour. Posts: 34	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #20 - 10/25/12 at 12:25:43 Wow that link has a ton of converters. I wonder how they all stay in business....
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beowulf Seasoned Member Posts: 237	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #21 - 10/26/12 at 04:18:01 Longbowbbs, you said it!!! And that's just the tip of the iceberg!
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Longbowbbs Verified Member Life is a journey, not a guided tour. Posts: 34	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #22 - 02/10/13 at 01:42:05 I upgraded to the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 from the Cambridge DacMagic Plus....Better bass and wider soundstage. The journey continues! :)
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DBC

Senior Member

Posts: 64

Re: DACs for Around $1000
Reply #23 - 02/10/13 at 17:09:47

OK, I know this does not fit the traditional definition of DAC, but check out the New Oppo BDP-105 audiophile Blue Ray player. To call this a Blue Ray player does not do it justice. Oppo has morphed this product into something entirely different with all of it's input and output connections. It's really more of a state of the art digital to analog processor which is getting a lot of good press for its features and sound.

I own the Oppo BDP-83SE which is now two generations old and it sounds great. Sold my $1,200.00 Bel Canto DAC and have not looked back. The 105 is supposed to sound even better and has many new features.

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Oppo BDP-83SE, SE84CSP pre, SE84CKC amp, Klipsch RF-7 mains, HSU MBM-12 MK2 mid bass module, HSU ULS-15 sub

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Longbowbbs

Verified Member

Life is a journey,
not a guided tour.

Posts: 34

Re: DACs for Around $1000
Reply #24 - 02/10/13 at 17:39:35

Lots of good things are being said about the BD-105. What I have not seen is direct comparisons with dedicated audio dac's specifically for 2 channel use. My Wyred 4 Sound DAC also is using the Sabre DAC's (9018's). It is amazing with the CSP2+.

I do won a BDP-83 and it has been a stellar video performer for many years. At the moment, my systems for video and listening are separate. Should logistics suggest a merger, I may have to take another look at the 105.

Let us know how it is performing for you as an audio DAC!

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Pale Rider

Seasoned Member

Posts: 1271

Re: DACs for Around $1000
Reply #25 - 02/10/13 at 19:44:48

I can attest that the BDP-95 audio section is in fact very, very good. The 105 by all accounts is indeed that much better. And one of the things that intrigues me about the 105 is using it as a full-on processor. It appears that it could accept the HDMI or other outputs from my DVR and AppleTV, and then feed into the Ultra when she returns from Decware. As I have mentioned elsewhere, I am currently using an Outlaw 975 pre/pro in the absence of the Ultra, and while it has the advantage of simplicity, and really quite good cinematic performance, if I were to continue using it, I would have to split the audio and home theater. So, the 105 is getting a hard look right now as a potential integrator for me. I love the 95, but the 105 solves some problems that have heretofore required other devices.

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JasonGmt

Verified Member

Posts: 20

Re: DACs for Around $1000
Reply #26 - 02/10/13 at 20:10:53

I do not have experience with any other DACs, out there, but can say that I have been listening to my new DAC and hearing so much more detail then ever before and have been thoroughly happy with it's cleaner, more natural sound.

I usually use my sound card's added software to make the low end a little more aggressive which fits my music tastes, however, I have been loving my new set up with the Asus Xonar Essence One, Muses' Edition. I would highly recommend it.

More info on it here.

http://www.asus.com/Sound_Cards_and_DigitaltoAnalog_Converters/Xonar_Essence_One...

Got mine for $874 shipped to my door. If you like Tube rolling, this has replaceable Op amps to alter the sound signatures of the DAC output, Or the Headphone Amp separately. I went for the Muses Edition as these are supposed to be superb sounding Op amps, and I do not have the experience, patience or $ to try all the different Op amps out there to find the best sound for me, this ones sounds, pretty expectional to me out of the box.

Looking forward to getting a CSP2+ in between this and my amp some day soon.

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Pale Rider Seasoned Member Posts: 1271	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #27 - 02/10/13 at 23:24:43 I am not a big fan of Asus design (can you say "ugly"?), but the quality of this DAC appears worth checking out for anyone in the <$2k range. Check out the very favorable 6 Moons review.
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Pale Rider

Seasoned Member

Posts: 1271

Re: DACs for Around $1000
Reply #28 - 02/16/13 at 16:02:08

As noted above, I took a good look at the Oppo BDP-105 and decided to buy it. Have been running it for about 4 days now, straight into Decware amps, in effect using it as disc player, signal process, and preamp. It is indeed very good. While it has some video/audio sync issues, well-publicized on the net, on which their engineers are working, the quality of the video and audio are excellent. If you can only have one source unit in your system, this may be the one to have.

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5232	Re: DACs for Around $1000 Reply #29 - 03/26/13 at 21:19:25 Review of PS Audio NuWave DAC: http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-accessories/acoustics-eq-room-tuning/ps-audio-...
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