[Arcam_boy]

As some of you may know I have recently purchased a Graham Slee Solo headphone amp for the Sennhesier HD 650's and now loving the sound although my M Audio 24/96 sound card is seriously letting the side down

I have had a look at several DAC's that are USB based. I've looked at:

Cambridge Audio dacmagic 2
Musical Fidelity V DAC

Benchmark DAC USB1

The first two have quite mixed reviews although both quite affordable.
The Benchmark seems to be one of the best USB DAC's available but the cheapest one I have found is £899! As I'll only be using the DAC through my Mac is it a little OTT especially for the rest of my equipment? I'll be using my headphone rig for the next 2 years as I am in shared accommodation whilst I complete my police training.

Thanks

[StevieDvd]

Well perhaps a little OTT if it's only for occasional use with your mac.

You could also consider the Stello Dac100 or it may be more tempting to try a smaller portable dac/amp to go with your mac, such as the Headamp Pico or Ray Samuels Predator. If funds are tight then Ibasso do some nice small dac/amps.

[alexs2]

Another point to consider is that the DAC1,whilst and excellent DAC,also has it's own headphone amp built in,which would render your Slee possibly redundant.

You could of course sell the Slee if you liked the DAC1 sufficiently.

[Arcam_boy]

I'd like to keep the slee amp really and just after a decent standalone USB based DAC to connect straight from my computer to the slee.

I'd ideally like to spend no more than £250 to be honest as I quite fancy a new macbook

[-Ad-]

Best setup I have ever heard:

Merdian G08 (CDP) -> DAC1 -> Slee -> recabled 650.

An awful lot of money and the sound could be nearly had for less, but wow what a combo

[Plasma-man]

Ad,

Did the Benchmark Dac1 outperform the G08 on sound quality.

Best wishes,

Owen.

Originally Posted by -Ad-

Best setup I have ever heard:

Merdian G08 (CDP) -> DAC1 -> Slee -> recabled 650.

An awful lot of money and the sound could be nearly had for less, but wow what a combo

[godzilla1]

How about a maplin usb sound box to a more cost effective DAC? Never heard the sound box so I cant comment on sq etc. This is what Im going to do for my pc/dac setup (beresford)

USB External Sound Box > Maplin

[StevieDvd]

I did try one a few years back (usb soundbox that us) and it was not very good, I gave it away as it was not good enough for me to sell with any conscience.