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DAC to match $2-3K CD player

Listened to the Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet last night--first streaming Apple Lossless files via Squeezebox Duet, then on my Naim CD5x. Of course, with the bare Squeezebox and no external DAC, there was no comparison. What I'm wondering is how far up the DAC food chain would you need to start looking to match the sound quality of a $2-3K dedicated player? (I tried a Musical Fidelity V-DAC in my office and was unimpressed, so I'm not looking for a giant killer.) I'm not going all digital any time soon, so my question is really out of curiosity and to start a conversation if anyone else is interested.
afranta
plinko
223 posts
 
Smholl, I have read your comments with great interest. What is the rest of your system? Thanks.
afranta OP
180 posts
 
Thanks, Smholl (and Audiowoman). I've begun ripping my cds, and your description of the W4S dac makes me think that maybe I'm closer to going that route than I thought ...
devilboy
818 posts
 
Big surprise coming from D'boy......A $5,000 dac will SMOKE a $2-3K player going from a transport or, here's another one.....a hard drive. To the OP: Is $2-3K really what you consider on par with a source feeding a $5,000 dac? What dacs have you heard that can't compete with a $2-3K cdp? I'd love to know.
afranta OP
180 posts
 
But the W4S DAC-1 is $995, right? Who's talking about a $5K dac?
tvad
9,467 posts
 
08-09-10: Afranta
Who's talking about a $5K dac?
First response in the thread...

08-08-10: Metralla
I would want to include the APL DAC-S in my considerations.
My understanding is that the APL DAC-S costs $5000.
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