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DAC Recommendations

I'm looking for a DAC to use with my Bolder modded Squeezebox, that I run into a Behringer DEQ, then straight to my amps. I will also connect my Oppo 970 to it for movies.

I've tried a couple of the current "favs" without much success.
-Lite DAC AH, it was okay, not great. But it won't decode 2 channel info from DVD's
-Mhdt Paradisea, great midrange, but rolled off extremes and no "punch"
-Benchmark DAC-1, too bright/harsh for me

I also tried a TacT 2.0 digital pre with room correction and absolutely loved the DAC section. It was airy & detailed without being harsh. It threw a huge soundstage and had great dynamics. The problem with it is, I need a PC to run the room correction software. I only own a Mac and it's a desktop in another part of the house. As much as I liked the sound, I'm not going to buy another computer/OS just to run the room correction software.

Any ideas on where I can get a sound similar to the TacT, in a DAC for around $1k?

Thanks
ecruz
chazzbo
1,007 posts
 
How much woud a a used lapotop cost?$300 would solve your issues.Don't throw the baby out with bathwater.Your price point would make it dificult to get beter than what you found problems wih so just get a dedicated laptop.Plus you'll have possibility of Internet audio.A squeezebox and two $150 500 Gig HD's gives you music server ability to add lossless audio your record with second HD to back it up.For more than a used laptop a $600 Mac Mini add's ease and what many 'Philes are using for day to day play.Don't give up sound you like is my vote.Think of it this way you'll pay twice as much for a product that might not be as good as one you have found you like.
Cheers
Chazzbo
Ag insider logo xs@2x
drubin
3,265 posts
 
How old's your Mac? If you have one of the new ones with an Intel chip, you can run the TacT software on it. Or, as Chazzbo suggests, get a cheap used Windows laptop and away you go.
restock
831 posts
 
Benchmark DAC-1, too bright/harsh for me

I can't say the latest DAC1 USB is harsh or bright, even compared to a Wavelength Brick.

Otherwise a Lavry DA10 might do.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
This is a tall order. I don't know how you can find anything better than the Benchmark DAC-1 for $1K.

Benchmark shouldn't be bright. If you feel it is, maybe something else is wrong in your system. Have you tried driving your amp directly from DAC-1 bypassing the preamp? That will give you a good idea of its sound. Also, have you tried feeding it a different digital source?
ecruz OP
402 posts
 
I don't currently own a pre, so I am driving the amps directly from the DAC.

Maybe "bright" wasn't the correct term. At louder levels and with more complex music, everything gets congested and a little hard to listen to. This definitely did not happen with the TacT in the system.
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