You are reading a single comment by @sswiss and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
-
Yeah, choice is baffling - in this instance this is for the PC/workstation, so reality is primary (but not always) input will be USB and out Headphones. Sources Streaming/CD/Rip etc.
sswiss-
So that just leaves pretty much any DAC made in the last 15 years :) I have had good results from a Gustard item, USB->AES, not really what you want but I think they do budget through to high end without stupid prices. Some secondhand stuff to look for might be a benchmark DAC or even Lavry DA10. Not sure on the prices for those any more. It does depend if you want to spend £50/£500/£5000 though.
Just checked out my list on eBay, looks like prices have picked up on most of those items, I must have bought in a dip.
Airhead
There's a lot of choice these days, what input/sampling rates/output do you need. Personally I like AES/96..24/Balanced so the Lavry DA10 works for me. There's loads of good network players that do it all up to DSD and come in cheaper than standalone though.