DAC with volume control

[Stranraer]

Morning all.
I'm looking at retiring my Mark Levinson 390S which I use as a DAC into a Croft preamp.
The Croft doesn't have remote control so using the Levinson allows me to change volume from the sofa and brings some real quality to the party.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a quality DAC which would sit between a CD transport and the Croft Pre and which could control volume ?
I'm thinking a budget around £1,500 if required.

Thanks in advance.

[Barry]

I'm surprised you are only using the DAC section of your ML390, and using a separate transport. The ML390 uses one of the best CD readers available, and in general CDTs are more or less as good as each other.

However I am flirting with the idea of using a separate DAC, as my only criticism of the internal DAC of the Levinson player is that it gets upset if you play any CD that has video extras or extra information that can be read by a PC.
What happens is the ML390 will play the audio tracks with no problem, but when you go to on play another disc afterwards the disc will not load and the display reads "no disc". The only way to 'reset' the player is to switch it off at the mains and switch it on again. With the physical arrangement of the electronics of my system, this is very inconvenient and awkward, requiring the equipment to be pulled out so I can reach around the back to access the mains switch.

So given that, I would be interested in any recommended DACs for about a similar price.

[Stranraer]

I'm surprised you are only using the DAC section of your ML390, and using a separate transport.
Mine's started skipping every now and then, so I run a Transport into it otherwise I'm on a knife edge when listening, anticipating a blip.
A real shame, as you say. When it's working it's amazing and as bizarre as it sounds, seeing that wafer thin drawer slide out so majestically, all adds to the thrill.
It's gonna take some beating, That much I know.

[Ali Tait]

Gustard R26, very happy with mine.

[Lawrence001]

Would you like to pay much less? As I have an Audio Gd NFB-10 dac in the classifieds with a remote control relay based resistor ladder volume control built in for £250. It uses 2x WM8741 chips which were used in a lot of high end dacs.

Edit: just looked at the ML and my dac is not a million miles away in looks with the black fascia, round chrome buttons and blue display so you won't even miss having the ML in the rack [emoji23]

[Stranraer]

Thanks Lawrence.
Looks good but I'm after factory fresh unless something truly exceptional and Nearly New comes along.
I'm hoping that whatever I get will be my last on the digital front.
GLWS.

[Stranraer]

Gustard R26, very happy with mine.

Thanks for the word Ali.
Not familiar with this at all but the reviews are impressive and it ticks all the boxes, best I can tell.
Can I ask how you bought it ? I can't seem to find any UK stockists but definitely intrigued.

[Macca]

Thanks for the word Ali.
Not familiar with this at all but the reviews are impressive and it ticks all the boxes, best I can tell.
Can I ask how you bought it ? I can't seem to find any UK stockists but definitely intrigued.

New one here, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226912165128?

Seems to be an 'A30' widely available, maybe that's the replacement model?

[Ali Tait]

Thanks for the word Ali.
Not familiar with this at all but the reviews are impressive and it ticks all the boxes, best I can tell.
Can I ask how you bought it ? I can't seem to find any UK stockists but definitely intrigued.

Bought mine from Tony at Coherent secondhand. Might be worth giving him a shout, he may be able to source one for you. There is however a new version just out, the R30-
https://soundnews.net/reviews/sources/gustard-r30-dac-review-the-r2r-perfection/

[Stranraer]

Thanks Macca, thanks Ali.
You've read my mind here. Was very interested in the R26 having read a few reviews / forums so of course looked further into their range :doh:
It's all a bit confusing, R26, R26PRO, R30, A30, but the R30 really has caught the eye.
A bit nervous about buying unseen so think I'll sit on this for a while but suspect I'll be doing something at some point soon.
Still interested in some version of the TEAC 701 too, so disappointing if I can't do a side by side taste test.
Input appreciated. Thanks again all, and other suggestions welcome.

[Ali Tait]

Reading the reviews on the R30, if it really is that much better than the 26, I'll be looking to get one in the future. I think the 26 is a great dac, easily the best I've had at home, so I'm very interested in hearing the 30. If you bought one from ebay, you could always return it if it's not for you.

[CageyH]

The R30 is €3,600 at Audiophonics. :eek:

[Stranraer]

I think the 26 is a great dac, easily the best I've had at home, .
What else have you had there, Ali ?
I've got a Soncoz SDG1 which gets very little use, though it's a perfectly good unit.
I run it into the 25 Pre and very occasionally stream music from Soundcloud / Youtube from my laptop bluetooth.

[Ali Tait]

Previously had a Rotel RC1590 pre which had an AKM DAC in it, very decent, in fact a very decent pre all round. Before that was a Mytek Brooklyn, nice bit of kit. Other DACs have been Audio Note DAC One, NVA Future Statement, a couple of Beresfords and a Wadia DAC. Also a DAC using AKM boards with a valve output stage built by Nick Gorham of Longdog Audio, really good DAC. Probably one or two others I've forgotten. :-)

[Stranraer]

That's quite a collection.
Call me old fashioned but I'm still the guy who shops in shops, I really need to see what I'm getting for my money so as impressive as the Gustards sound I think I'll be demoing alternatives.
Appreciate your time and input. Hope you get that R30 and look forward to your opinion of it.
I seem to keep coming back to the TEAC range and see that ATC make a well reviewed CD / DAC / Pre, the CDA2 Mk ll too.

[Ali Tait]

Thanks, I will. Yes read good things about the TEAC, should be good. If I do get an R30 I'll probably wait until I can get one secondhand. :-)

[Stranraer]

You know, I'm sat here listening to what I've already got and it sounds flippin' amazing.
i have absolutely no idea what it is we keep chasing :gig: