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Thread: Budget DACs

  1. #1
    Join Date: Mar 2013

    Location: West Sussex

    Posts: 195
    I'm Chris.

    Default Budget DACs

    Hi Guys ,

    Looking for a good DAC up to £200 to use in my small computer room system running off an Apple iMac. Just wondered what experience/recommendations you might have? Above all I am looking for clarity, detail and dynamics.


    cheers


    Chris

  2. #2
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Coventry

    Posts: 3,039
    I'm Will.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cjm123 View Post
    Hi Guys ,

    Looking for a good DAC up to £200 to use in my small computer room system running off an Apple iMac. Just wondered what experience/recommendations you might have? Above all I am looking for clarity, detail and dynamics.


    cheers


    Chris
    Hi Chris, how do you want to listen, via headphones or speakers, or both?
    Cheers, Will

  3. #3
    Join Date: Mar 2013

    Location: West Sussex

    Posts: 195
    I'm Chris.

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    Hi Will,

    It is for a desktop system with speakers (I dont like headphones) in a near field environment.

    all the best

    Chris

  4. #4
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Coventry

    Posts: 3,039
    I'm Will.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cjm123 View Post
    Hi Will,

    It is for a desktop system with speakers (I dont like headphones) in a near field environment.

    all the best

    Chris
    Beresford do some very nice VFM DACs, I have a Caiman II on a secondary system which is excellent...

    I was then about to say it's a bit above your price bracket and suggest its little brother the Bushmaster II

    However it looks like Stan's slashed his prices the Caiman II is only £166...

    http://www.homehifi.co.uk/PP/cartlist.html?cat=10

    I paid £265!!! However it's still excellent VFM

    I presume you could use either Mac's digital out, or USB...although I'll leave other Mac users to advise the best connection method...
    Cheers, Will

  5. #5
    Join Date: Jul 2009

    Location: stoke-on-trent

    Posts: 647
    I'm andrew.

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    I presume you could use either Mac's digital out, or USB...although I'll leave other Mac users to advise the best connection method..
    .
    It depends on how good the usb input on the dac is, if it's a isolated/async type I would go with usb if not then stick with the Macs digi out.
    Andy.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Mar 2013

    Location: West Sussex

    Posts: 195
    I'm Chris.

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    Thanks guys really helpful. I will have to research the iMacs digital output some more.

    Chris

  7. #7
    Join Date: Jul 2009

    Location: stoke-on-trent

    Posts: 647
    I'm andrew.

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    It's the headphone socket which doubles up as digi out, you will need a mini toslink to toslink optical cable.
    Such as http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fisual-Stand.../dp/B003NT7C2E
    Quote Originally Posted by cjm123 View Post
    Thanks guys really helpful. I will have to research the iMacs digital output some more.

    Chris
    Andy.

  8. #8
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Coventry

    Posts: 3,039
    I'm Will.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cjm123 View Post
    Thanks guys really helpful. I will have to research the iMacs digital output some more.

    Chris
    ...worth checking out the Beresford Banter sticky, there'll be some Mac users on there...
    Cheers, Will

  9. #9
    Join Date: Dec 2014

    Location: UK, inactive

    Posts: 1,570
    I'm inactive.

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    I use an Audiolab Q-Dac with my Mac-Mini with great results. Bought when the price was reduced to £200 a short while back but unfortunately it seems to have gone back up again

    Best results I've found are either via toslink from the digital out or USB (both I find about equal but my Q-Dac offers asynch USB - not sure about the Beresford if you go for that option.

    I use Fisual optical cables for best results at a very good price, either their Pearl or Hollywood model depending what length you want; the Pearl can be had with 'built in' adapter for the Mac which makes it an even cheaper bet

  10. #10
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Coventry

    Posts: 3,039
    I'm Will.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikmas View Post
    Best results I've found are either via toslink from the digital out or USB (both I find about equal but my Q-Dac offers asynch USB - not sure about the Beresford if you go for that option.
    Hi Mike, there's no mention of asynchronous with respect to the USB link, I use mine via the optical link (Belkin AV Pure) to very good effect, however there is a reference to an asynchronous SPDIF implementation;

    "Asynchronous SPDIF to I2S signal transferIn order to correct timing and data speed transfer errors the TC-7534 uses a asynchronous buffer with a length of 1024 bits to take care of time period related errors."

    http://www.homehifi.co.uk/S/7534f.htm

    Presumably someone using one via USB, I'd be interested in their thoughts...
    Cheers, Will

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