DAC Attack Vol.1 Recommendations
29/4/2010
DAC ATTACK volume 1 [up to 4.000,-€]
[By D. Dravopoulos]
Musical Fidelity V-DAC
It’s the obvious choice in the field of very low cost converters. With its humble looks and great performance, this Lilliputian dynamite by Musical Fidelity has characteristics which, in the past, would have cost a lot more to buy. It also features a USB port of remarkable resolution and has a satisfactory overall level.
Price: ~180,-€
Manufacturer: Musical Fidelity
Review: www.abouthifi.com/review.php
Cambridge Audio Dac Magic
At twice the cost of the V-DAC, Cambridge Audio’s converter offers a lot more options, also features a USB port and a sound which may not be very impressive as far as transparency and dynamics are concerned, but still holds its own in the first ranks of value-for-money DACs today.
Price: ~300,-€
MHDT Havana Non-Oversampling DAC
A factory-direct product with unbelievable hue and realism for its price. It has very good craftsmanship, features also a USB port and a tubed output. It doesn’t have much to envy from more expensive realizations. It is very musical and refined, but not as precise and rhythmical as some cost-no-object solid-state designs – although I wouldn’t exactly call it “slow”. Being non-oversampling, it still has the classic virtues, setting aside the hubbub of high resolution and oversampling. It can assuredly be the source for much more expensive systems which are looking for a digital source with analog virtues.
Price: ~800 euros
Upcoming Review on abouthifi.com
Benchmark DAC-1 HDR
Considered by many to be the best DAC for its price, it offers top of the line sound, resolution and realism at a very reasonable price. Some even prefer it to digital sources that cost 4 or even 5 times more. The HDR’s fan club has become as numerous as the systems it is part of.
Price: ~1800,-€
We received and tested it from Location Sound of Athens.
Review: www.abouthifi.com/review.php
Bryston BDA-1
Bryston’s “Empty Box”, as many people call it, offers the exact opposite of the name: A sound to be envied, full of information over the whole spectrum. This specific converter can easily be compared – and come out the winner – with top-of-the-line products of the past three years. When playing CDs as well as Hi-res files, the yielding, the distances between performers, the recreation of room/hall acoustics and the earthy rendering of tonal colors brings to the table what real hi-end dacs must offer. Musicians precise placement as a whole and individually really raise the bar, and I can say that for its price it’s the most honest piece of equipment I’ve come across. Add to this the unparalleled reproduction of low frequencies, laden with detail that would be envied by converters that cost even five times more – the result: I would call it my new reference DAC and the most coveted maestro-source for mid and high-end systems.
Price: ~2250,-€
The BDA-1 was supplied by Golden Acoustics of Athens and is the latest member of our fleet of reference equipment.
Weiss Minerva Firewire
One more classic DAC from a manufacturer that is highly appreciated by audiophiles and studios alike. Its top-of-the-line resolution, transparency and performer position precision bring together the “monitor” approach and the friendliness that is required for long hours of listening to high - and lower- quality recordings. Low frequencies could arguably be a bit more in sync with the rest of the frequency spectrum, as well as a little richer.Nevertheless, the Weiss Minerva holds its head up high, being the source – in 2010 – for many state-of-the-art systems and servers that offer results closer th what we would call the “studio approach”.
Price: ~3000
We received and tested it from Location Sound of Athens.
Review:www.abouthifi.com/review.php
Ayre DAC-USB QB-9
Only for USB interface. By far the best conversion through this famous pc-server-friendly port, that gives your music files renewed graces. Exceptionally rich in information, texture density and harmonics that shame the competition when you put your PC or Mac in the transport position.
Upcoming review on abouthifi.com
YBA-DESIGN DAC
YBA has always been masterful in all things digital. With a lot of experience and several innovations in the field, YBA returns with a cost-friendly proposal, offering a lot of the sound of the more expensive integrated CD players of the “Passion” series as well as “Classic” aesthetics. Its sound is natural, flowing and noble.
Upcoming review on abouthifi.com
* During our listening sessions we used the following equipment: Transports from Esoteric (SA-50), Musical Fidelity Pioneer / Sony players and PC based servers, speakers from Avantgarde, Proac, Kharma, Klipschorn & Focal, amplifiers and preamplifiers from Jadis, Blue Circle, Pass Labs, Canary Audio, Placette, Wyred4Sound & Conrad-Johnson, cables from Acoustic Zen, Kimber, Cardas, Auditorium23, Studio 845 Cryogen & Nordost.
English rendition: David Kesselring (dxkess@gmail.com)
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YBA DESIGN DAC
The products by YBA always had a special personality, both acoustic and aesthetic.So now even those with more modest budgets can purchase one of their products without spending a fortune. We are talking about the new YBA converter with the code-name WD-202, which is quite reasonably priced.
