Need help matching DAC to speakers and amp

Have you listened to any of this stuff yet? I would suggest that you take your time and get to know your equipment first. This will allow you to make a much better choice. Also, you can get a DAC card for the B100. If you can get your dealer to let demo one, I would start there. I've actually heard B&W with Bryston and I thought they worked very well together.

I understand what you are trying to do. That said, you might mess up the way you are going about it here. First is with the pricing. Quite often, price plays absolutely no part with regards to sound quality. You might love something that cost a small fraction of what you were willing to pay or buy something really expensive that you will end up hating. You can look no further than my own system. I have somewhere around $25-30k in electronics for a pair of $2000 speakers. I made my choice based on results, not price.

Second, I feel its a big mistake to buy components to compensate for others. (Understand, though, very few people on this website would agree with me on this). If you bought an amp and speakers that come up short for you in some areas, I would recommend that you deal with that first before you move forward with other purchases. Let's say you decide keep the components, instead, and get some tube components and cables to balance the system out. It sounds like a very reasonable thing to do, but, in practice, is very difficult. Doing that is like buying an EQ with 1 setting. The worst part is that yo have no idea what that setting is until you buy the item, hook it up, and then cross your fingers when you listen and hope you guessed right. That's not all, either. Lets now say you get lucky and guess right and the system sounds pretty good (not at all likely, but maybe). Change 1 piece, and its likely that the whole system will fall apart because instead of buying neutral, you bought to compensate.

So, I still stand with my original recommendation. Listen to your amp and speakers and just take some time to see what you like or dislike about them before you jump into something new. If you don't have a DAC and you need to get something, I feel your safest bet is the card for you B100. If you end up selling it for some reason, it will go very quickly on Audiogon and for a good price.

Chesebert,

Your Ayre and Harbeth are an interesting combination. Do they go well together? I'm using Ayre myself and getting extremely good results.

You'll get no argument from me about being careful when dealing with an aluminium tweeter on a B&W speaker. You can even say that B&W tweeters made me the audiophile I am today. Just to note, you were very clear in your original post; your concern is very legitimate.

You are also right about something else. (And this is what really makes audio fun.) You state this:

"I know the price of a component is not the whole story.....but you will be hard pressed to convince me that price is not a good indicator of the quality of the equipment. Sure there are exceptions, and that's what makes them great buys.....but those are exceptions."

I disagree with that statement, but you are right. I would have a very hard time convincing you otherwise. Unfortunately, this is one of those things you will have to figure out yourself as you gain experience. One last comment: Just because you may pick a less expensive product does not, necessarily make it a good deal, or an exception. For example, if you get something for $3000 as opposed to $10000, the one for 3 is not, necessarily a good deal. Compared to similar products for $3000 it may be overpriced. That said, it just might be the right thing for you, that works in your system.

I just thought of 1 last thing that may help you out. You may, very well, make all good choices, set your system up, and still have an issue with your B&W tweeter. I just happened to come across a speaker cable made by Synergistic, called the Signature 10. Its a biwire cable that uses a different metal for the tweeter. Whatever it is, it works and is not that expensive. I really dislike making cable recommendations as a means to fix a problem and not just for signal transfer. Given the cost and how well it targets the problem, it makes more sense than buying new components. Also, I know it is no longer in production. You would either have to find one used or call Synergistic to ask what they currently make to replace it. Anyway, I hope this info helps you out.