Advice for a DAC
 

Hello to everybody
I'm trying to set my system, I bought preamplifier REF10 amplifier REF 150 Speakers SonusFaber Ellipsa Red Violin, for sources I have a good turnplate with a pre phono and now I'm looking for a DAC and I'm definitely lost in space 😒
I'm considering AR CD9 with internal DAC but than I was thinking for what I will need a CD player if I will use liquid musics ? I will be able to rip all CDs ( and here another hard decision for what to buy for rip CDs ) and than play everythings by computer with ? DAC8 ? or another DAC I'm open to every advice and also possibility to buy a different brend for DAC :scratch2:
Thanks in advice for the help

One thing I would not consider is the DAC 8. It has been out for too long and not tough to beat at this point in time. I expected ARC to have replaced it by now as it came out in 2010 and I think DACs have moved a long way since then.

I had a similar decision earlier this year as I was waiting for a DAC 8 replacement. What I did was purchase a Bryston BDA 2 after auditioning a BDA 1. All of a sudden I am not in a big hurry to move to something else. Eventually I may audition something else. The Meitner MA1 is on my short list.

If you are undecided consider a BDA 2 till you try something else, then sell it if you move up. As a matter of fact there is a BDA 2 listed in tbe Market Place.

For the record I have an ARC REF 40 and the Bryston mates very well with it.

Berkeley Audio Design Dac + the matching Alpha USB Dac... Great stuff!

Ref DAC from ARC: DAC + file player + pre(Ref5SE). I have just bought it - playing music from media servers, internet radio and even via USB flash memory in wide format range.

RefDAC I don't consider RefDAC because I already have a pre so I consider it too expensive for what I need. I'm agree with Alki about DAC8 and more I'm not in hurry so I can wait easly 6/8 month before buy the DAC and watch what AR will announce. The Briston BSA2 looks nice and if it sound good with Ref40 I think can match well with my pre too and price looks ok. Now I will spend time to read reviews of Berkeley Bryston and Maitner.
What do you use for rip CD ?

I would recommend auditioning a Lampizator. They are very natural sounding DACs. If DSD isn't important I would also consider a Van Alstine FET Valve Hybrid DAC. Great sounding and a steal,at $2500.

http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/me..._12%200517.jpg

this one...

Chord QBD76HD...

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/co...sd-dac-review/

good read here...

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Really like my Metrum Hex. For Bluetooth streaming, I use a Chord Hugo which is also very nice.

I recently bought a ModWright Sony HAP-Z1ES and SQ is SOTA.

Basically it's player with your music collection store in internal HDD or attached USB drive. You copy all ripped music or DSD downloads to the player from your computer and use a smart phone for remote. Only need computer to copy music to the player and not for play.

I love ARC for analog, but not so much for digital. I owned a DAC7 and ayre c5xemp and have replaced both with an esoteric k03. It is the best of both worlds, world class cd playback plus USB input for use with a server.

I also think the Berkeley DAC and USB would be worth checking out, it was on my list along with the dCS Debussy DAC.