DAC for $150 - $200

pyro910 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:53 pm

hey.

i am looking for a DAC that would be around $150 - $200 dollars to finally get some good sound to my new polk Lsi 9's
any imput on what would be a good choise or where i could buy one is greatly apreceated...

thanks alot.

P.S. i live in Vancouver B.C.

monkeychoper · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:15 am

http://www.audiophileproducts.com/spitfire
Not a bad little DAC. Thought they improve in quality quite quickly as the price goes up.

cableguy · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:26 am

monkeychoper wrote:

http://www.audiophileproducts.com/spitfire
Not a bad little DAC. Thought they improve in quality quite quickly as the price goes up.

+1

Plus, add the Supplier power supply and the performance substantially improves!

nuck · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:23 am

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/best- ... ks-452442/

I have 3 friends with the HRT unit, and all are very happy with it.

mantisory · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:18 am

for the money, it's difficult to beat the beresford DACs (especially the TC 7520 - but even the 7510 has a darn good sound)
Byron

toad · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:49 am

i've been extremely happy with my devilsound v2...if you factor in the price of ICs, usb extensions, i figured it to be of great value...

now released is the v2.1 aka snowflake, however the price somewhat exceeds your budget...

lots of great reviews...

Radiotron · **Posted:** Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:40 am

mantisory wrote:

for the money, it's difficult to beat the beresford DACs (especially the TC 7520 - but even the 7510 has a darn good sound)
Byron

Yes, the best thing this amount of money can buy.

http://www.beresford-dac.com/

pyro910 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:25 am

ok thanks for all your help guys... i think i have made my decision and im going witht eh beresford

thanks again
jordan

bonesbrigade · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:55 am

mantisory wrote:

for the money, it's difficult to beat the beresford DACs (especially the TC 7520 - but even the 7510 has a darn good sound)
Byron

Does anyone have an opinion on this DAC (beresford) compared to the grand fidelity re-badged DAC (tube DAC-09)? As mentioned in another thread, the tube DAC-09 can be had for $200 shipping included under another name "maverick audio", which is direct from China.

Edit: Just to clarify, the only reason I mention the maverick audio dac, is because it falls into the $150-200 range asked by the OP. Going this route obviously has more risks associtated with after purchase care/service.

cableguy · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:25 am

It seems that it's $200 in USD, and if it's direct from China, expect to pay duty, taxes, etc, etc.
Bummer, seems like a great deal .

tweakedwire · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:46 am

pyro910 wrote:

hey.

i am looking for a DAC that would be around $150 - $200 dollars
P.S. i live in Vancouver B.C.

Behringer SRC 9624. Used stock is fine, modded even better.

Yaukui · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:48 am

cableguy wrote:

It seems that it's $200 in USD, and if it's direct from China, expect to pay duty, taxes, etc, etc.
Bummer, seems like a great deal .

There is no duty on DAC's, regardless the country of origin.

OBI56 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:56 am

bonesbrigade wrote:

mantisory wrote:

for the money, it's difficult to beat the beresford DACs (especially the TC 7520 - but even the 7510 has a darn good sound)
Byron

Does anyone have an opinion on this DAC (beresford) compared to the grand fidelity re-badged DAC (tube DAC-09)? As mentioned in another thread, the tube DAC-09 can be had for $200 shipping included under another name "maverick audio", which is direct from China.

Edit: Just to clarify, the only reason I mention the maverick audio dac, is because it falls into the $150-200 range asked by the OP. Going this route obviously has more risks associtated with after purchase care/service.

The Maverick Tube Magic D1 has changed since then and is a different product than the Grant DAC-09. They apparently have 3 of the old model still in stock at $179 US. BTW, that price is $199 US + exchange rate, customs brokerage fees, duty and applicable taxes. If they ship UPS expect a $30 to $40 Customs brokerage fee when you receive it.

http://www.mavaudio.com/

cableguy · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:01 pm

Yaukui wrote:

cableguy wrote:

It seems that it's $200 in USD, and if it's direct from China, expect to pay duty, taxes, etc, etc.
Bummer, seems like a great deal .

There is no duty on DAC's, regardless the country of origin.

Thanks for the info, I was not aware of that.

chuttt · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:14 pm

I know I'm comparing new vs. used here so not too fair but I've used a new Beresford 7510 and I'm now using a used MSB Link III (got here in CAM for $200) and the MSB to me is way better. Also I haven't heard the new Beresford. Don't get me wrong the Beresford's great, just not as good as the MSB.

Also to the OP, congrat on the LSi 9. Polk might be conceived as a futureshop/BB stuff but LSi 9 being the top end model can go head-head with a lot of more expensive pairs. That was my first speakers and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

Canuck Audio Mart

DAC for $150 - $200

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