USB DAC Recommendation

Yea, it’s becoming an increasingly target-rich environment when it comes
to USB DACs. Just so happens that I got the Ayre, after spending a bit of
time comparing it to the new Bel Canto 3.5. They’re both right nice, but
the Bel Canto – with all of the extra fangles, optional battery supply, and a
proprietary USB to something-or-another glass converter – will run you
close to twice the price. To clarify, Bel Canto does not have a USB input,
and you need a special converter to use a USB output into it. Now, this
converter is supposed to be special in its own right, but it’ll cost you an
extra $500. To my ears, preferred the Ayre, but a very subjective
question.

Regarding Wavelength, they are indeed meant to be very wonderful. I
didn’t compare them, though, (although it was sitting right next to the Ayre
and Bel Canto when I was listening) because I had decided that I was
done with tubes and thus didn’t really want to know one way or the other.
For what that’s worth, which is admittedly not much.

Also for what it’s worth, the proprietary Wavelength asynchronous USB
clocking bits are exactly the same bits that drive the Ayre. Wavelength is
strictly tubed gear, and they have for the first time licensed their tech to
Ayre for use in their (solid state) DAC. So, as far as that goes, the Ayre
and Wavelength likely share more in common than you might otherwise
find in comparing tubed and solid state gear. (A little more background: all
the fuss is over “jitter” messing with your digital signal coming from the
source to the DAC. The Wavelength / Ayre asynchronous USB tech is
meant to be one state-of-the-art means of licking that issue. The Bel
Canto USB converter is another solution designed for the same issue.
Each – among others – has its share of proponents. Fortunately, or
unfortunately, you get to decide which you prefer.)

There are many others, to be sure, just beyond my ken.

One more thing to consider, though, is how much functionality you’re
looking for in a DAC-like package. Some (more and more it seems) can
do multiple inputs, source selection, volume control, etc. So, the
functionality / connectivity package is also important. Returning to what I
know, for example, the Bel Canto has multiple inputs and volume control (I
believe), so you can run more than one source into it, use it as you might
a pre amp – even in place of – and so forth. You could, for instance, run
a CD transport and a computer into the same DAC. If that’s of use, then
it’s of use. The Ayre, on the other hand, has a single USB input and that’s
it. It can sit there passively between one USB source and an amplification
stage, one or both of which must have their own volume control as the
Ayre doesn’t do volume, full stop. If you want anything more, Ayre doesn’t
make the DAC for you. (And if you are looking for more, hear that Naim
has made a recent foray out from is Naim-incestuous world with a well-
received multi-source DAC that I meant to, but never did, hear).

As for NOS DACs, spent about a year with a MHDT Havana before
moving to the Ayre. It’s right nice, really sings with some volume behind
it, and there’s something inherently and undeniable sensible about running
redbook CD material (assuming that’s what is at hand) at native
resolution. But, I ultimately found myself wanting for more detail and the
Havana seemed to require some real volume behind it before it got to
swinging – could be a little flat of lower volume levels (which is the end of
the volume range I tend to play in thanks to the old living arrangement).
So, if you’re already inclined away from the NOS world, I wouldn’t be the
one to convince you different. A great option, but ultimately not the
answer for me. Best of luck.

Tubegroover, don't mean to suggest that the Havana isn't fantastic, 'cause
I think it is and thrilled that it scratches your itch. Listened to mine all the
time for a year, and was perfectly happy. What ultimately sent me looking
for more (at admittedly three times the price) was a comparison with my
old CDP (Meridian 508.24). In particular, friend brought over the full Miles
Davis live at the Plugged Nickel set and we spent a fine afternoon
switching back and forth between the (upsampling) Meridian and the
(NOS) Havana. Through the Havana, it sounded great. On the Meridian,
it sounded like you were in the audience in the club. And it was all in the
smallest ambient details: glasses on tables, murmurs among the crowd,
the scrape of a chair, a sense of space created by the hint of an echo.
Once you knew it was there and listened for it, with enough volume, you
could make out all of this info through the Havana; but with the Meridian it
was just there, effortless like.

It was this one afternoon that spun me out of the NOS camp and off on a
frolic that ended with the Ayre. But, definitely, an entirely system-
dependant, subjective thing. Given the rest of my gear (largely Rowland
and Thiel), I'm (self-diagnosed) prone to come out on the side of detail
when given the old "detail v. musicality" tipping point choice
with gear. All my idiosyncrasies -- well, not actually all, not by a long shot
-- confessed, this was just one of those times.

True that. It's always something, though -- even if just the desire for simple stuff like, you know, food -- that draws one back out into the world. And one you're out there, you never know when those insidiously irrational upgrade gremlins are going to pounce and make you their bitch. Think the single greatest upgrade / tweak for any system would be the equivalent of garlic-a-la-vampires to keep the spiteful little bastards at bay. Let us all know if you find their magic bullet (although I suspect it's just a mental fortitude which I seem to demonstrably lack...). Meantime, enjoy.