Buying my first Dac advice...

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

I'm wanting to buy a Dac which I can connect from my laptop (via USB), and then from the Dac to my amp (Nait 5i).

My Current source is a Naim CD5x/Flatcap2x CD player. How much would I need to spend on a Dac with the above set up to get a similar/slightly worse sound quality then the CDP?

I find I don't buy as many Cds any more so having a CD player isn't very practicial.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[quadpatch]

Hey Kiwi_jonno! Most of my DACs are quite a lot more reasonably priced than Naim gear and usually paired with headphones but perhaps something like an Audiolab M-DAC would suit your needs, it has an asynchronous USB, ES9018 Sabre DAC, tons of other inputs and can be used as a pre-amp /headphone amp as well. Everyone seems to love that one, including WHF (£600).

If that's not quite serious enough perhaps something like the Leema Acoustic Elements or NAD M51, both of which support 24/192 over USB! (£1200). Here are some links...

http://www.custom-cable.co.uk/audiolab-m-dac-digital-to-analogue-convertor.html

http://www.custom-cable.co.uk/leema-acoustics-elements-24bit-192khz-asynchronous-dac.html

http://www.custom-cable.co.uk/nad-m51-dac-24-192-asynchronous-usb.html

 

[Marie Antoinette]

You don't need to spend anywhere near that sort of cash to get a great dac.

I went from a £1700 Theta dac combination to a £200 Beresford Bushmaster dac, and to my( and many other expensive dac users) astonishment, was gob smacked to find the Bushmaster was superior.

 

[Scissor_digits]

A second for the Bushmaster but alas it does not meet requirements for OP for USB output

 

[pauln]

How about this - http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-products/dacs/e-dac-24bit-miniature-usb-dac/

I can recommend reading NwAvGuy's blog as well for some interesting stuff, mostly headphone amps but a lot about DAC's too. Especially if you don't like snake oil. http://nwavguy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/odac-released.html

 

[Anonymous]

Guys, here are some newcomers...

http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/news/article/teac-ud-h01--pound;300/9238

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/product-preview-micromega-mydac-the-399-miracle/

Op, the first one sells for 150£ instead of 300£ in richersounds!

 

[ISAC69]

Consider the MUSICAL DIDELITY M1 DAC as a very good option .