Hi,
Well, to be honest I vented by opinion this morning, but I scatched that because I didn't think you were interested in that, also looking at your budget issues ... So I started with "maybe I'm snobbish, but ..."
And then I said something like a "DAC" like a Fireface (it really being an external soundcard) not fitting in the row of, say, audiophile DACs. Nor the Lynx's, nor any of the other $500 the "AA people" often rave about. They are just in another leage, and "us" who use a Fireface, only use it to pass through (and reclock) SPDIF ...
Now, is that snobbish or what ?!
Furthermore, it needs the real experience with the DACs you mentioned to have a real opinion.
Anyway, also looking at your response in this other topic (
Question about direct I2S DACs) you seem to be a good candidate for my Audio Note Signature-3 double modded (tube) os-DAC. Hehe. It still would need an SPDIF connection somehow ...
I only replaced it with the (indeed very good TwinDAC+) because I specifically wanted non-oversampling.
Peter
Well, at least you did try the Fireface (as DAC) vs. an audiophile DAC, unlike most people that posts at audioasylum.
I spent all afternoon looking for alternatives in the sub-1000$ range (while checking out also more expensive gear like the Wavelenght Brick and Cosecant (sp) ), so I extend my list with:
-Apogee Mini-DAC (with firewire option)~ $1000
-Promitheus DAC (NOS, considered better than Benchmark and Lavry DA10) ~$400 ($700 tube version)
-Stello DA100 (US/OS) ~$700
-MHDT Paradisea (with tube buffer) ~$550
-Wavelenght Cosecant ~$2500
I dont have a personal opinion about tubes nor about upsampling and oversampling (through software or hardware), I need to try and judge for myself. If i get an os/us DAC i want the option to do it or not
So far what I "like" best in this list are the Bel Canto, because it is an integrated solution (= less money and less hassle) and the two tubed DACs Promitheus and Paradisea (funny names btw).
I own a T.A. 10.1 and one day i may just buy something in this pricerange to see how it sounds compared to whatever i'll get in 2 months (when i finish building my htpc and the new quad cores are out). Considering the €/$ current rate buying from the US has never been more convenient.