Alright everybody, I've been diving into this for almost two weeks now and it's starting to become unhealthy at this point(I tend to push the limits of obsession if I don't check myself). So in an effort to save my sanity, I have decided to solicit some help/input on the subject. I have found this forum to contain posters with that rare mix of both quality experience/knowledge and open mindedness(low bias) so I am confident I will get some helpful information.
With all that said: I am looking to purchase a DAC and integrated amplifier(stereo), and I am looking to do it for under 500 USD. I am willing to push it as high as 650 USD or so, but for that it really needs to represent significant value. I will be using my laptop as my primary multimedia hub for the next few years, as I will likely being moving around as many as 6 or more times a year.
Absolute requirements are USB input for the DAC and amplified headphone jack. Other than that, all emphasis is purely on sound quality. Ideally there would be a subwoofer output on the amp, but it is not a dealbreaker without it. All other features would really only come into play in a situation where everything else is too close to call.
Where I am really running into problem in this process is whether or not to go with a separate DAC. All else being equal, I would prefer a portable DAC with built in headphone amp for flexibility to use while commuting/traveling, but I am not sure that is going to be feasible at my price point if overall sound quality while at my desk is the priority.
At the moment, the front runner is the NAD D 3020. By most accounts it is a fabulous unit that meets my requirements(and bestbuy sells it, I get a very significant discount there so I will come in under budget), but the quality of the DAC has been questioned by many people.
The TEAC np-h750 is interesting on paper now that it is only 400 USD, but the lack of reviews(both professional, and customer) seems rather suspicious. If anyone can lend an opinion here specifically, it would be quite helpful. My gut tells me overall performance would still go to the D 3020 and that the NP-H750 is still more about all of the bells and whistles even at the reduced price.
If the Marantz PM6005 only had a USB input, it would make the list as well since I could likely get it from Bestbuy at a significant discount.
On the separate DAC front I run into way more problems. There are just so many options its daunting. In the highly portable camp is the Meridian Explorer. As far as I have seen at this point it seems to be the highest rated in sound quality that I could realistically afford and still have money left in my budget for an amp of any kind. My other concern is that, while it might be considered great sound quality for its class, it might not sound as good compared to some of the similarly priced desktop units(I mean how could it?) If there is a significant performance drop off from this to a desktop unit(with more inputs/features as well), I would rather go with the desktop unit and give up the portability.
Yikes, this is already probably too long as it is so I'll leave it here by saying that any opinions on my specific questions above would be very much appreciated, and any suggestions for combonations of separate DAC and integrated amplifiers would also be very helpful! Thank you for even reading this, this process is really driving me nuts.
With all that said: I am looking to purchase a DAC and integrated amplifier(stereo), and I am looking to do it for under 500 USD. I am willing to push it as high as 650 USD or so, but for that it really needs to represent significant value. I will be using my laptop as my primary multimedia hub for the next few years, as I will likely being moving around as many as 6 or more times a year.
Absolute requirements are USB input for the DAC and amplified headphone jack. Other than that, all emphasis is purely on sound quality. Ideally there would be a subwoofer output on the amp, but it is not a dealbreaker without it. All other features would really only come into play in a situation where everything else is too close to call.
Where I am really running into problem in this process is whether or not to go with a separate DAC. All else being equal, I would prefer a portable DAC with built in headphone amp for flexibility to use while commuting/traveling, but I am not sure that is going to be feasible at my price point if overall sound quality while at my desk is the priority.
At the moment, the front runner is the NAD D 3020. By most accounts it is a fabulous unit that meets my requirements(and bestbuy sells it, I get a very significant discount there so I will come in under budget), but the quality of the DAC has been questioned by many people.
The TEAC np-h750 is interesting on paper now that it is only 400 USD, but the lack of reviews(both professional, and customer) seems rather suspicious. If anyone can lend an opinion here specifically, it would be quite helpful. My gut tells me overall performance would still go to the D 3020 and that the NP-H750 is still more about all of the bells and whistles even at the reduced price.
If the Marantz PM6005 only had a USB input, it would make the list as well since I could likely get it from Bestbuy at a significant discount.
On the separate DAC front I run into way more problems. There are just so many options its daunting. In the highly portable camp is the Meridian Explorer. As far as I have seen at this point it seems to be the highest rated in sound quality that I could realistically afford and still have money left in my budget for an amp of any kind. My other concern is that, while it might be considered great sound quality for its class, it might not sound as good compared to some of the similarly priced desktop units(I mean how could it?) If there is a significant performance drop off from this to a desktop unit(with more inputs/features as well), I would rather go with the desktop unit and give up the portability.
Yikes, this is already probably too long as it is so I'll leave it here by saying that any opinions on my specific questions above would be very much appreciated, and any suggestions for combonations of separate DAC and integrated amplifiers would also be very helpful! Thank you for even reading this, this process is really driving me nuts.
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