@kjl1065 here’s another valuable option in your price range
https://tmraudio.com/fresh-arrivals/dcs-bartok-apex-dac-d-a-converter-1-13/
Asynchronous USB vs. SPDIF with regard to DAC upgrade
My system consists of the following:
Seeking a dac upgrade with a budget of $14,000.00. (new only)
At first I was only looking for Coax via SPDIF, but then an audiogon member educated me to the fact that with a USB Audio connection the internal clock is controlled by the Dac and not the streamer as streamers usually will not have the same clock quality as a high end Dac. I should mention do not use my computer in my system. The two candidates are the Weiss DAC 501 MKII and the Berkely Audio Alpha Series 3. I was advised that the Berkely does not come with a USB port and this is an add on. I believe Berkely did not want to put the USB intterface in the Dac itself to avoid USB noise that comes from a computer. My reading and research tells me a asynchronous USB port will sound better, less jitter than a coax SPDIF. Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestion? Thank you.
@kjl1065 here’s another valuable option in your price range https://tmraudio.com/fresh-arrivals/dcs-bartok-apex-dac-d-a-converter-1-13/ |
This is to lordmelton. I have no doubt that there are better dacs. I believe in dealer service. My dealer is always there for me and supports everything he sells and is always a phone call away to come to my premises and work on any issue that I may have, I find this invaluable. Both the Weiss 501MK II and the Berkely Alpha Dac series 3 are both excellent. The Mola Mola Tambaqui, T&A200, and Bricasti, as well as others, may be better. But I believe that it is not worth giving up superior service for a slightly better DAC.
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I moved from Lampizator to SW1X but both are great. If with Lampi, a very high quality USB cable can get you there. If you go with SW1X, it is designed primarily to be used with SP/DIF. I love the sweet tone and details of the SW1X and they have a number of models that go up in price, giving you an obsessively designed DAC in a multi-tiered pricing. I swapped out my streamer for an SW1X as well, which optimizes the SP/DIF across the two components. Since the setup about a year ago, I haven't heard a DAC that interests me more. I use them with high-end horn speakers so proof of quality in the DAC is telling. Gestalt Audio always uses them in the trade shows to rave reviews. |
I do not agree with this. I owned the Lumin U2 (full version) and ended up selling it, because I preferred the sound of my purpose built PC with linear PSU, especially with the Matrix converter, but even without it. A streamer is essentially a low powered PC with a decent power supply running a single application. Other than this, there is usually not much substance to the "optimised for audio" claim. In fact, I have found that higher powered CPUs in NUCs and other PCs generally sound better than the very low powered CPUs used in most streamers and "audiophile" PCs. I also forgot to mention the Bricasti M3 in the list of DACs that I have owned. It is a very good DAC, but in my opinion the Weiss is significantly better. I have also spent time with a Meitner MA3 on dealer loan, and again felt that the Weiss was better. But I would not discourage the OP from listening to any of these DACs, because personal preferences vary.
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