Good inexpensive DAC for a SB Duet?

[madpoet]

I'd like to get a nice step up for my SB Duet in terms of the DAC but don't have a fortune to spend. Are there some good options I should be looking at?

Thanks!

[bunnyma357]

The DACMan seems interesting if you can wait.

A lot of people really like the CIA DAC, but I haven't heard it myself.

http://www.ciaudio.com/

Another budget DAC that seems to get good reviews is the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/set_territory.php?TID=27&Redirect=/summary.php?PID=320

I've also read good things about the Musical Fidelity budget DAC

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/84139

I went the Chinese route and got a Zero DAC from Hong Kong on eBay, and have been real happy with it. There is a massive 500 page thread about it on Head Fi.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=Zero+DAC&_sacat=See-All-Categories

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/review-zero-24-bit-192khz-dac-headphone-amp-pre-amp-269458/

You should also check out Pacific Valve and Audio Magus for other alternatives.

http://www.pacificvalve.us/DACS.html

http://www.audio-magus.com/

(Website is down right now.)

Lots of choices and price points, but for me being very budget conscious, the Zero DAC for about $175 delivered was a good choice. Good luck in finding something.


Jim C

[madpoet]

Thanks. Reading the last few pages on the Zero DAC thread it seems like people are saying it's gone downhill lately. I appreciate the other suggestions.

[BinaryLinguist]

Check out the Keces DA-131 Mk2. A guy in Taiwan builds them and sells them on Audiogon and Ebay. He is a greta guy and super-responsive.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1249359826&/Keces-DA-131-Mk2-Legnedary--Im

I have the Keces DA-151 Mk2 which is USB only and I am very happy with it. I recently bought an iBasso D10 Cobra which is a mini DAC and Headphone Amp. I has USB, Coax, and Digital inputs as well as headphone and stereo out. I plan to use it in the office.

I also heard good things about the Devilsounds DAC - http://www.devilsound.com/

I used Head-Fi and ComputerAudiophile for research.

Edit: Forget the Devilsound. I forgot that it is USB only.

[F-100]

Be sure to add a tube DAC from MHDT to your shopping list. I'm using a MHDT Paradisea DAC with the Duet and this combo sound very nice.

Do a google search for "MHDT Paradisea" and you'll find bunch of positive reviews.

[dvenardos]

I have a SB3->CI VDA-2 and couldn't be happier. :cloud9:

[madpoet]

Yeah, thanks. I'm going to send it to my SP3, so I wasn't sure if I'd benefit from a tube DAC as well.

[keenween]

I have a SB3->CI VDA-2 and couldn't be happier. :cloud9:

+1, same here

My only other consideration would be to have the Duet modified by Bolder Cable and just use the analog outs of the Duet.

https://www.boldercables.com/servlet/StoreFront