The best digital source I have heard is the Chord QBD76. It has since been my dream Dac, and I am sure that when I find one at a price I can afford I will buy it.
Its a few years old now tho, and I keep reading rave reviews about significantly cheaper dacs. Can anyone who has heard offer some insight into whether the rega or audiolab dacs can compete? What about the naim? Technology moves on after all!
As an aside, how much would I need to spend to improve on the dacs built into my arcam av9 (as in my main system my primary surce if currently sonos feeding the arcam directly). I am keen to get a separate dac so that the arcam can be in direct stereo mode, as this is when is sounds best apparently, but not really sure whether there is any point getting a middle of the range dac now, or wait for the chord. I could probably get the naim sooner, but can't help feeling that it might not gel so well with the arcam av9 p7 combo.
Anyones thoughts greatfuly received. I know I should demo, the problem is finding somewhere with the arcam equipment I have for comparisons. My local naim dealer doesn't do arcam, and I don't think I can lug my equipment to him on a whim! Other decent dacs for demo are very thin on the ground.
Its a few years old now tho, and I keep reading rave reviews about significantly cheaper dacs. Can anyone who has heard offer some insight into whether the rega or audiolab dacs can compete? What about the naim? Technology moves on after all!
As an aside, how much would I need to spend to improve on the dacs built into my arcam av9 (as in my main system my primary surce if currently sonos feeding the arcam directly). I am keen to get a separate dac so that the arcam can be in direct stereo mode, as this is when is sounds best apparently, but not really sure whether there is any point getting a middle of the range dac now, or wait for the chord. I could probably get the naim sooner, but can't help feeling that it might not gel so well with the arcam av9 p7 combo.
Anyones thoughts greatfuly received. I know I should demo, the problem is finding somewhere with the arcam equipment I have for comparisons. My local naim dealer doesn't do arcam, and I don't think I can lug my equipment to him on a whim! Other decent dacs for demo are very thin on the ground.