Bigfish's Quest for a DAC to lead into Computer Audio

[hometheaterdoc]

http://www.mimomonitors.com/
http://www.mp3playerstore.com/stuff_you_need/special/IN-740VT.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=514&name=Touchscreen-Monitors
https://www.xenarcdirect.com/product.php?productid=16136
http://lilliputsz.en.ec21.com/8_Inch_USB_Monitor_with--4257587_4257685.html

[Bigfish8]

I agree that a properly built computer will sound quite good. The important factor is an appropriate sound card to send the digital signal to the dac, then the rest is standard from there. You've got more horsepower in a pc than a standard player (for digital players you are really limited to the Squeezebox stuff, Sonos, and then a PC). For me an appropriate pc is a very good option.

You can also get a 7" touch screen that's powered and video directly over USB so there's only one cable to run and you just touch it to play. You can also run whatever software you want and correct anything that you may not be able to adjust when using a dedicated player like a SB.

Thanks Nick!

Now you have my interest!

Ken

[richidoo]

Cool stuff there Shane    

[rollo]

  Ken check out Shuttle Barebone computers. they are made for audio and video playback.  May be what you are looking for. www.shuttle.com
You can build what you need. Prices seem reasonable.
charles

[richidoo]

Here's another cool possibility:



"UnitiServe" from Naim

http://www.avguide.com/article/naim-introduces-unitiserve-compact-hard-disk-digital-audio-playerservers
http://www.naimaudio.com/hifi-products/type/2

[Black Sand Cable]

That Naim will indeed be very nice but it's going to cost an absolutely ridiculous amount of money. 

I love Naim and have yet to hear anything bad from them.....but you sure pay for it.

[cheinonen]

If there is a DAC get together soon, I will have a Wyred4Sound DAC-2 on loan from them for a couple of months that I would be able to bring over (hopefully) so people could evaluate it.

[richidoo]

Welcome to AN, cheinonen!! Thanks for the offer to show and tell... Where do you live?

Rich

[cheinonen]

I live in Chapel Hill, and was at a get together at Shane's a few months back.  The DAC-2 should be shipping out by next Saturday is what I've been told, so it should be here soon after that I imagine.

[richidoo]

Awesome!! I probably met you there.

Are you doing a professional review? Just curious how you got it on loan... I gotta get me some of that loaner hifi gear!

I'm due for a g2g soon, but my system is not g2g worthy right now.

[cheinonen]

I'll be doing a review of it (for Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity), and probably using my Squeezebox Touch as the main transport for it (though I'll hook up my PC, and the Oppo, and other things as well).

[richidoo]

That's cool!!    I like that 'zine. I remember the hyberbolic review they did of Arcam AVR300 a few years ago.

[Rob S.]

Rich- i think i remember that one, was it the was that said it was the best avr receiver ever?  circa 2006, it led me to buy the unit, and started my downward spiral into audio nervosa....

Rob

[cheinonen]

Thanks, I enjoy writing for them, and if I can go listen to the DAC-2 compared to a lot of other DAC's in the same room easily, then that makes writing the reviews even easier.  I have high hopes for the DAC-2 connected to my Squeezebox Touch, I have to admit.

[richidoo]

Hi Rob, yeah that's the one, not only the best receiver ever, but the best preamp, the best surround decoder ever made, etc, blablabla. If I ever do a HT I'll get one too.

cheinonen, we do a lot of DAC comparisons at our g2gs. Our reigning champion of all DACs is still the Oracle DAC1000, aka "the jealousy machine." It is owned by mdconnelly. 

Is the W4S DAC supposedly a good jitter killer? The squeezebox does have some, but not too bad.