The big DAC decision

Now that I think about it, I think my basic question is whether a high end DAC is really appropriate for a system built around a pair of headphones.

Thanks for the input Erik.  Have you had an opportunity to compare your Mytek Brooklyn to the Manhattan II?

I agree with you bigkidz.  After all, a sound system can only be as good as its weakest link.  As a consequence, from a cost to benefit point of view, you want your individual system components to operate within similar technical specifications.  But, at the same time, you really need an optimal analog signal to achieve the best sound your amp and speakers can hope to produce; regardless of whether the source is from a phonograph, tape, or digital file.

As an aside, I get the impression that some of the responders to my question have never listened to any of today’s state-of-the-art headphones.  I’ll just say you don’t know what you’re missing.

Thanks Dave and Troy.  I genuinely appreciate your and melbguyone’s input.  I don’t have the option of trying different components on my system.  So the information I obtain from various reviews and forums like this one are all I have to go on before making what I consider to be once in a lifetime purchases.

Thanks for the suggestions melbguyone, I’m extremely happy with my Woo Audio amp though.

I really appreciate the clean power suggestion.  I have no doubt that it can have an appreciable effect on my system’s performance.  It’s been frustrating trying to find a consensus pick for a power supply or “conditioner.”  Along with the accolades for any given power component there always seems to be a “but” that gives me pause.

Cheers,

SlvrSrfr

Thanks audioengr, I wasn’t aware of these DACs.  

Czarivey, I’m just looking for a high quality DAC that will provide me with a lifetime of listening enjoyment.  I don’t want to look back five years from now wishing I had spent a few dollars more now.

I discovered the Meridian while doing a generic search for audiophile DACs.  The specs and reviews are very impressive, but I can’t say I ever seriously considered it for my system.

And you’re right dubulup, the Chord DAVE has extraneous features given my current setup.  From what I’ve read, however, it apparently provides an excellent quality analog signal, which is what I and everyone else is hoping to get out of their DAC.  This really gets to why I’m here looking for input from all of you.  Is there a DAC out there that can provide an analog signal on par with the DAVE without the additional built in amp baggage?

No, I can’t say I’m seriously considering buying the Meridian.  No more than I can seriously consider buying an Aston Martin.  It would be nice though, on both fronts.

The Chord DAVE might be a possibility though.  But, based on the input I’ve been getting, there are good alternatives to look into that may not be quite as expensive with similar performance attributes.

I want to thank all of you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with me.  After following up on pretty much all of your suggestions I thought I should at least share my current direction on this.  Well it’s my current direction until someone points out that I’m making a grievous mistake anyway.  With that said, my DAC will be the Lumin X1 and, as soon as I can swing it, I will be getting an Audio Magic Oracle power conditioner to go with my Woo Audio WA-33 amp and Focal Utopia headphones.  I can’t think of a better way to spend time on my death bed when that eventuality arrives.

Cheers everyone,
SlvrSrfr

Some great comments to consider!

I really have tried to do my homework for this decision.  But as some of you have already pointed out, there are several different technologies that have to be considered.  Then you have to consider that the DAC may come with a built-in headphone amp and/or pre-amp of its own.

I ended up choosing the Lumin X1 because it is basically a chip based DAC.  The R2R ladder approach, for example, from what I’ve read, requires very precise and balanced sets of resistors.  It may just be a misunderstanding on my part, but I’m not all that confident in the resistors maintaining their required performance characteristics over time.

There are other DAC design philosophies, and I’m not going to try to summarize all of them here, but it just seemed that the Lumin design takes a more “tried and true” approach, as opposed to the still evolving FPGA method mentioned by rbstehno earlier (I’m not sure that I want my firmware upgraded every 6 months). In addition, a positive, for me anyway, is that it’s not encumbered with any redundant amps.  Another selling point for me is that the Lumin X1 is also a server.  Which means I don’t have to buy another computer to act as a front end.  An added bonus is that I won’t lose my Audirvana playlists in the event I update the computer’s OS.

Last, but not least, I read nothing but accolades for the Lumin S1.  And the the new X1 is expected to be an appreciable improvement to the already impressive S1 performance characteristics.  

In the end, however, it simply comes down to what sounds good to you and/or what you’re willing to live with.  For me, I’ve come to expect from myself that I will always be looking to move up to something better.  As a result, I tend to go straight to the high end these days to avoid the wasted time and expense of getting there incrementally.

SlvrSrfr

Thanks for the feedback jfax237.  I am enjoying the WA-33 as well.  And it’s good to know that a quality DAC will indeed add to my listening pleasure :-)

I’ve gotten some great DAC suggestions.  I was originally leaning towards the Chord DAVE but I was concerned that the WA-33 and Focal Utopia cans would not be able to fully render the DAVE’s analog signal.  So I was fully expecting people to talk me down from spending so much money for a DAC dedicated to a headphone centric system.

As was noted earlier though, you really need to optimize the quality of your analog signal if you are going to reach the full potential of your audio system.  Philosophically, that makes sense to me.  Even if my system can’t render the full analog signal it is still rendering what it can, essentially giving me its maximum performance capacity.  Which is better than having a DAC that gives you a substandard analog signal that falls short of your system’s rendering capability.  Getting us back to the “big DAC decision.”  And that is finding the DAC that provides the analog signal at the transition from too much to too little.  In other words, buy a DAC that is too good you’re wasting your money, buy a DAC that is not good enough and you’re left unsatisfied.

It would be fun to try all of the DACs that have been suggested.  Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to do that.  So I’ve decided to error on the high-end side and go with the Lumin X1.  What I’m still wrestling with is the choice for the power conditioner.  I continue to vacillate between the Audio Magic Oracle and the GigaWatt that was highly recommended by some of the responders.

@mayoradamwest.  I provided my specific reasons for choosing the Lumin X1 over the Chord DAVE in an earlier post.