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Best DAC for pcm files

Hi,

I know i am not super top with my question because all discussion turn around the DSD but i have more than 3500 songs in pcm (apple loss less), and i am confortable with the pcm format.

So my question here is pretty simple, i looking for the best dac for pcm audio file format (please don't say DCS it's out of my budget). I want spend around 2500/3000 usd on the used market. Example : weiss 202, berkley aplha dac 2, etc.....

Do you have any recommandation?
georgelfre
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 

Yes gpgr4blu
Keith Johnson is the master of PCM recordings "Reference Recordings" and a firm believer in HDCD.

The Spectral Pro Dac which is their only dac used 

"DACs are four UltraAnalog  D20400A 20-bit types with HDCD filter chips, made of discrete and monolithic components encapsulated in a potted module, in a balanced configuration (left +, left -, right +, right -) "    Which are R2R Ladder Multibit Dacs


The current CD player which you say you have not listened to carefully is

The  Spectral SDR-4000SL which is a cd player, uses the cheaper  AD1853 multi-bit Sigma/Delta DAC in it.


Cheers George


maxboy00's avatar
maxboy00
205 posts
 
+1 for the Modwright Elyse DAC, very fine and resolving DAC.
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
12-01-2015 8:40pm
maxboy00
+1 for the Modwright Elyse DAC, very fine and resolving DAC.
+ 2 on the Elyse dac. Plus you'll get great customer support from Dan Wright.

wisnon
700 posts
 
Didn't the OP set a limit of $3K (new or used). i see Dacs being recommended that cost the double of that.
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
Wisnon, the OP’s budget was for 2nd hand equipment. The OP could pick up a 2nd hand Elyse dac on a stretch if he’s patient. That said, there have been some dacs mentioned which are well out of the ballpark.
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