MooneeBeach Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 Hi I haven’t kept up to date with the latest DACs, but need need to find one that ideally has analogue volume control and balanced output - it will be my only source and I would like to connect it direct to a Mac MC275 power amp. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The Mytek Brooklyn + looks ideal (just in budget second hand ), but are there other options? I don’t need headphone amp/phono amp, fancy case, etc. thanks for reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misternavi Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 tube and cap rolling heaven. if you get it let us know if it’s any goodhttp://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=61 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ophool Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 Contact @cheekyboy about the Graham Slee Majestic DAC which you can trial. The balanced outputs are TRS sockets so borrow the appropriate Libran cables with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill125812 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Maybe @Gieseler Audio Clay could modify a GroB to accept an analogue vol control 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Hey Bill that is a serious modification. Maybe as a new Gross/Pre version. However I do need something to replace the Konverter so will give it some thought. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 (edited) D/post Edited July 9, 2018 by Gieseler Audio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceangreen17 Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 (edited) IMHO these are very under rated but also take considerable time to burn-in ... if you believe in that sort of stuff https://www.elac.com/product/ddp-1-preampdacheadphone-amp/ Edited July 10, 2018 by oceangreen17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylevuong19 Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Mytek Brooklyn, you won't look back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gt1482 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Metrum Jade should be worth considering if you want both R2R and analog volume control (but no DSD). Actually not a lot more expensive than Brooklyn+ in RRP, particularly if you will add a good 12V LPS for Brooklyn too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 4 hours ago, gt1482 said: Metrum Jade should be worth considering if you want both R2R and analog volume control (but no DSD). Actually not a lot more expensive than Brooklyn+ in RRP, particularly if you will add a good 12V LPS for Brooklyn too. Nice - but getting expensive. I recently saw a Brooklyn+ used for $2k, so I'd like to keep it around that price point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BATMAQN Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 What about the Bel Canto DAC/PRE not sure if that fits your needs but it is a very versatile device? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 13, 2018 Author Share Posted July 13, 2018 (edited) Any thoughts on the Topping DX7s? Is the volume control digital or analogue? Thanks Edited July 18, 2018 by seaninbrisbane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 18, 2018 Author Share Posted July 18, 2018 On 13/07/2018 at 9:26 PM, seaninbrisbane said: Any thoughts on the Topping DX7s? Is the volume control digital or analogue? Thanks Update: looks like it is a type of digital (chip) volume control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 An older product but the Audiolab 8200cdq was a CD/Pre/Dac with analogue or digital volume control and has XLR output if important to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 looks like the newer M-DAC+ has analogue volume http://www.audiolab.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Misterioso Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 On 10/7/2018 at 3:59 PM, seaninbrisbane said: I recently saw a Brooklyn+ used for $2k, so I'd like to keep it around that price point. You should have bought it. There are not many options. I was in this market myself recently. 2 minutes ago, blybo said: looks like the newer M-DAC+ has analogue volume http://www.audiolab.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=17 Are you sure? "Digital preamplifier" does not sound like analog volume control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 18, 2018 Author Share Posted July 18, 2018 I'm now thinking about the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC. Thoughts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 18 minutes ago, seaninbrisbane said: I'm now thinking about the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC. Thoughts? I found the soundstage weird with a hollow central image... if that makes sense, all left and right. I demo'ed one before getting my Moon Neo Ace 37 minutes ago, Plattenspieler said: Are you sure? "Digital preamplifier" does not sound like analog volume control. You may well be right. The 8200CDQ certainly is analogue volume though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 Hmmmm, lots to think about. If on the other hand I considered digital attenuation, which DACs do this well? I often listen at lower volumes. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misternavi Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Hmmmm, lots to think about. If on the other hand I considered digital attenuation, which DACs do this well? I often listen at lower volumes. Thanks.32bit from the DaC chip with my dac i found above -20db is good but below to robs a bit of life from the music. if i didn’t have a analogue tuner i would have ditch the pre amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibbo9000 Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Mytek Brooklyn won't disappoint. Benchmark DAC 3 HGC (or L if you really don't want headphone amp) is another great option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 23, 2018 Author Share Posted July 23, 2018 In the end I bought an RME ADI-2 DAC (http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/adi_2-dac.php). I'll probably end up adding a pre-amp in the future, but for the time being I will be able to adjust the output level: From the manual: To maintain an optimum level for devices connected to the analog outputs and to maximize the dynamic range, the ADI-2 DAC internally uses hi-quality electronic switches, which realize a hardware based Reference Level selection in steps of 6 dB over a range of 18 dB: +1 dBu, +7 dBu, +13 dBu and +19 dBu. So I guess I'll play around with these settings for a while and use digital volume control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 (edited) Wow - I’ve just been reading all the reviews & it sounds like an amazing unit with massive flexibility. I can only dream of ever reaching that level of sophistication in my products - well something to aim for anyway. It looks like good value too at $2k in Aus ?? Sounds like it’s using the AK4490 which is an excellent DAC chip & what I used in my Klein DAC’s. Now the only improvement I can think of would be a nice low noise linear PSU to replace the supplied SMPS unit. It just so happens that I am about to release a new 12v 4A PSU which would be ideal. Edited July 23, 2018 by Gieseler Audio 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneeBeach Posted July 23, 2018 Author Share Posted July 23, 2018 17 minutes ago, Gieseler Audio said: Wow - I’ve just been reading all the reviews & it sounds like an amazing unit with massive flexibility. I can only dream of ever reaching that level of sophistication in my products - well something to aim for anyway. It looks like good value too at $2k in Aus ?? Sounds like it’s using the AK4490 which is an excellent DAC chip & what I used in my Klein DAC’s. Now the only improvement I can think of would be a nice low noise linear PSU to replace the supplied SMPS unit. It just so happens that I am about to release a new 12v 4A PSU which would be ideal. Would be keen to learn more about the PSU - please let me know when you have details. Best wishes, Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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