what is the best, least costly DAC...?

To add...

Rega is releasing a DAC soon that is rumored to be better than the Saturn. Preliminary price is $995. Google Audio T Rega DAC for specs, pics, etc.

I haven't heard the V-DAC with a PSU, only without one. If you like what the Saturn does, I highly doubt you'll be a V-DAC fan. The V-DAC sounds very dull and lifeless to my ears. It does the hifi stuff, but I view it as Musical Fatality, along with the rest of their gear.

I know it has it's fans. People rave about it and say it betters stuff that's 10x more money. I have no idea what they're listening to that the V-DAC is trouncing it. It's good for $299. It is in no way shape or form better than a Saturn. Not even close.

My Theta Cobalt 307 from around '96 beat up on a V-DAC in my system.

Everyone's ears and systems are different. Everyone likes what they like. I'm sure some people will strongly object to what I've said. Just my experience with it. Take it as you will.

The V-DAC was demoed in several systems that are anything but dull and involving. I know the room very well too, and that wasn't the issue...

Mac seperates and transport with Sonos Faber Cremonas, and BAT and B&W 800 something or other towers. I didn't check the cables, but I'm sure that wasn't it either. When the CDPs' analog outs were used, the life came back.

Everyone likes what they like. What one finds dull and lifeless, another revels in its glory. There's no right or wrong. The V-DAC does a lot of things right. It's very good for it's price. If it had a boogie factor to it, I'd be all over it. It's no Rega in that regard. Rega's typical customer is looking for more than just soundstage, imaging, etc. Is there a way to quantify groove?

And yes, I'm a Rega owner and fan. I haven't heard a budget, so-called giant killer DAC that I would contemplate selling my Rega Apollo for. Not even close IMO.

I heard the V-DAC in a shop with the Mac and BAT systems I talked about earlier. Those systems are sonically different than what I own, but I've heard them a million times. Maybe when I can afford one of them, I'll buy one. I've never heard either sound dull and lifeless, until then. We tried all inputs including USB fed FLAC files.

My home system was built around a Rega Apollo. The Cobalt was bought used from a dealer as a stop-gap. My system is a Bryston B60 and Audio Physic Yara Evolution bookshelves. They're a very revealing combo. I feed the Theta Cobalt with an Apple TV using Apple Lossless files.

The V-DAC sounded the same at home. It sounded a bit smoother and fuller than the Cobalt, but that's about it. It sounded a little better using the coax out from the Apollo with a Tara Prizm cable (discontinued), but so does the Cobalt. USB didn't fare any better.

I really wanted to like the V-DAC. Who wouldn't want a $300 DAC to get them off the merry go round? If I didn't want it to work out for me, I wouldn't have taken it home. Every system I tried it in had the same end result - uninvolving sound that had no emotion or soul to my ears. It may have done the technical stuff well, but that doesn't mean much to me if it doesn't carry a tune.

To bring it back full circle, if the OP has a nodded Rega Saturn, I think he's looking for some groove in his gear. Basically the flat-earth philosophy as the Naim, Linn, and Rega guys have. If it doesn't swing, nothing else it does really matters.

Everyone has different priorities. Everyone listens for what they like in their system. If it doesn't boogie to my ears, I don't care what else it does.

Just my experience with it. That was my only intent.

The rDAC sounds very promising. I'm waiting for my Rega and Arcam dealer to get the Rega DAC that is reportedly coming within the next few weeks to do a side by side comparison of the two. Should be very interesting. Arcam and Rega both make great sounding sources IMO. The Rega will Be $995 vs about $500 for the rDAC, so maybe not the most fair comparison in that regard. The feature set is a little different and the Rega is made in the UK vs China for the rDAC, so it would be stupid to expect the Rega DAC to literaly sound twice as good. Not that that's really quantifiable anyway.

Ballywho -

Why do you doubt it could be dull and lifeless in someone else's system or to someone else's ears? Have you heard my system in my room? Do you have my ears?

I have no prospects of financial nor personal gain here. It amazes me how people can't accept it when something they love isn't everyone else's cup of tea.

It's pretty obvious that it's a great DAC to your ears and many others' ears. I'm not doubting you or anyone else find it anything but dull and lifeless. It's also pretty obvious that not everyone shares your opinion. I know several people who feel the same way about it as I do. I'm not the first one to call Musical Fidelity "Musical Fatality" by any means.

Phasecorrect,

Very interesting hobby indeed. I've not found that with Rega CDPs, but have found what you describe with Rega amplification, mainly the Mira and Brio (all generations). Have you heard their CDPs without their integrateds?