Which DAC should I go for ?

[simonpieman]

Hi everyone.

I am in the market for a DAC, so I can play my computer based flac files, through my hifi.

I have an Arcam Alpha 8 Amp / Power Amp and the Alpha 8SE CD Player. I have B&W 603 S2 speakers.

I love the Arcam house sound and would like to try to get a similar type of sound from my flac files.

Would an Arcam irDAC fit the bill ? Or would something else be better suited. I have a budget of around £500.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks.

Simon

 

[ID.]

Someone will be along soon to let you know that all DACs sound pretty much the same

As a fellow fan of the Arcam sound I think the irDAC would be a good proposition.

 

[cheeseboy]

Someone will be along soon to let you know that all DACs sound pretty much the same

hehehe. I'm not going to say that, but what i will say, is surely if the purpose of true hifi is to be transparent, then a) you shouldn't "hear" the dac as it were and b) any difference *should* be minimal, otherwise it's putting something in the signal path to colour the sound and isn't really hifi is it?

(tongue in cheek btw)