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DAC's Made in the USA

I am shopping for my very first dac and the sheer number of product available is bewildering.Unlike many members, I have never owned an outboard dac for a 2 channel system, my budget is extremely limited and my technical knowledge of the product is low.
Further I am committed to purchase a dac made in the USA, or at least a friendly democratic country. 
You can see by my equipment list that I have nothing of any great quality or renown and much of this inventory is likely to be sold to partially pay for the dac. 
I am 80 years old, wear hearing aids and I am pretty satisfied with the sounds I presently hear and really wonder if I can enhance the sound quality of my CD collection (Jazz, blues and classical). 
Would appreciate it if I can get some real help, i.e., people who have actually used their recommendation/not read about it.  Also please remember my spending limitation, more is impossible.
Many thanks 

New (not used)
Made in the USA 
Ideally less than $1500 
Headphone jack is not necessary
Two channel analog output 
Optical and digital coaxial input 

Accuphase E-202, 
Adcom GFA 555, 
McCormack TLC-1, 
Pioneer SA-9500II,
McIntosh MA-6100
Sony DVP S9000ES (DVD, CD, SACD),ADS 910,Klipsch Forte II
stebut

Showing 4 responses by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
4,463 posts
 
While I like the Delta Sigma DAC I am slumming with now it is not fatigue free like the DAC3B. No pain no gain in my audio journey but I will have to get the DAC3B again (for 3rd time) later next year.
yyzsantabarbara
4,463 posts
 
I think you should consider buying used since a DAC is something that really does not wear out that much.

A used Benchmark DAC2 would be the same as the DAC3. I have owned both and even Benchmark says that are essentially the same conically (I agree).

yyzsantabarbara
4,463 posts
 
I just sold my Benchmark DAC3B but I highly recommend that DAC as a great USA made DAC. I will likely buy the DAC3B in late 2021 for the 3rd time. 

I am now using a DAC from communist China, Matrix Mini-i-3 Pro,  and it is not bad at half the price of the DAC3B. The DAC3B was better but the Matrix maybe still breaking in with little over 100 hours.

I am saving my pennies to get a Romanian DAC in the Spring.

I am doing the United Nations of DACs.
yyzsantabarbara
4,463 posts
 
@arafiq I want to buy the Romanian AudioByte VOX | ZAP | HUB. It is $6k and I am pretty sure I will be able to turn that DAC3B sale dollars into the AudioByte stack. You ever read Jack and the Bean Stock. I like to also invest in magic beans. If you see me with the AudioByte in 6 months then I was successful.

I initially thought the 1/2 the price Matrix Mini-i-3 Pro was almost identical to the DAC3B. I was using the Matrix with headphones on my bedroom system and it sounded great with a Topping A90 DAC. However, on my office system with the Thiel CS3.7 the magic is not 100% the same. Something feels a bit lacking. Everything in the office system is uber revealing so the deficiencies with the Matrix are likely being shown on the office system. I cannot really pin it down but the DAC3B was better with my speakers and all Benchmark stack.

The Matrix will be OK for the short term. I think it does about 85% of what the DAC3B did but there definitely is a bit more hardness on the top, while the DAC3B has none. The Matrix is amazing on the headphone system though. I am pretty sure I will get the DAC3B again, a great DAC on my system. The HUB is a streamer so I can have 2 DACs easily on the office.
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