DAC Recommendation?

I've decided to get myself a Squeezebox. Any recommendations on a DAC to use it with it? Nothing DIY thanks as I'm completely cackhanded.

Anybody tried the RA DAC?

Thanks.

 

Yes, I would use a Transporter if I were getting a Squeezebox knowing I wanted a better DAC. Recent reviews in a Danish mag also agree saying the Transporter considered only as a DAC is better than the Benchmark DAC1.

 

Had a transporter along to a recent bakeoff of mine and for a giggle we plugged my Trivista DAC into it's digital output. WOW!

[shameless plug mode on] It's currently for sale on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MESE:IT&viewitem=&item=120127583465&rd=1&rd=1[shameless plug mode off]

If you want a REAL bargain in the DAC line then take a butcher's at this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=250125827564&rd=1&rd=1

This was my DAC before I bought the Trivista and after modding the power supplies it was awesome sounding with it's valve output. $8,000 when new, I kid you not. If I hadn't already bought the Trivista's replacement I would certainly buy this back without any hesitation

 

i thought everyone knew that the 'beresford' was simply the best dac ever made, yawn, laugh..

my matey has a transporter and he still has his benchmark, the transporter comes close-ish..

 

As you're not into the DIY scene how about a used Chord DAC 64 or meridian 263 or (my personal favourite) a Bel Canto DAC3? All would do wonders for the sqeezebox.

 

Thanks all for the recommendations. I shall put my thinking cap on now...

:MILD:

 

Hugely recommend the Electrocompaniet ECD-1 ... I was thinking of changing mine - but I love it too much, so I'm keeping it and changing the rest!

 

Sorry to be slow but what's the joke? It seems to have enthusiatic proponents and it is amazingly cheap.

 

If you're thinking of an SB and an expensive DAC, then consider the SB+, which has an uprated PSU, clocks and internal DAC. As the data source has a big impact upon how well the DAC does it's job, the SB+ makes a lot of sense.

 

if you want to go cheap....try the behringer src 2496....

a modded version will see off the benchmark dac1 [old one ?]
a standard one gets close for £90 .....

 

Re: Beresford DAC

Yup, it's a fine DAC. It works well in a lot of systems - although in some it sounds pretty bland. Worth a try for £100 or so with the money back offer, if that's the sort of money you're looking to spend.

My MF TriVista 21 and Burmester DACs sound better - but so they should.

 

Thanks mate. I see there a few second hand TriVistas for sale at about £550. A good deal?

 

I have sold my Trivista DAC on ebay for £550 so that's probably the one you have seen for that price - they are usually more. As it's replacement I have bought a Timbre TT1 DAC and it is THE best DAC I have ever heard bar none :MILD: Trouble is they are just too rare which is a major pity.

Rather than the Trivista, I would spend that sort of money on a Pepetual Technologies P3A, preferably with the Modwright upgrades. This sounds great on it's own, but add the P1A and the Monolithic power supply and POW! you are into another league.

 

Yup, £550 is a good deal for a MF TV21 DAC.

Up until a few months ago they went for £700-800 on eBay, but just recently that has reduced to abouut £550.

 

a DAC?

audio synthesis - get the best one you can though ultra analog come up s/h on e bay if on a budget

 

yeah audio synthesis gets my vote too - if you don;t need the volume control then the dax-2 with the alternate filter (can;t remember the nomencalture) is amazing and can be had for about 500- 700 quid.
the dax decade is just as good but a bit more tweakable and has volume control.

the cec dac is also pretty good (51 or 71 - 71 has volume) and worth seeking out.

 

Chord DAC64 gets my vote.

 

With so many recommendations maybe we need a bake-off.

Any volunteers? Or has it all been done before?

 

i would also suggest the cyrus dacX... i recently had the honour of hearing one against the bel canto dac3.. .and i must say it put up a good fight. The difference was barely noticeable and the cyrus put in a competent performance.

Given how cheap they can be had on the used market its a bargain compared to the likes of the benchmark and the bel canto.

I just purchased a bel canto S300i and had planned toget a dac3 to match it... but i was so impressed by the dacX that when one came along for £650, i just took it. Couldnt be happier.

 

Kinda-sorta.

https://www.audio-forums.com/as-rediect/showthread.php?t=8806