valesina

Perhaps we could compile a list of the growing number of USB > SPDIF converters out there, from the CryoParts/Pop Pulse thing right up to the megabucks versions: seems to be the flavor of the month.

It remains to be seen (heard?) how SPDIF vs USB compares: every DAC I've ever heard greatly favors one or the other . . . it's interesting that the designer refers to the SPDIF performance being that good . . . Talking of caps, the DAC-2 also appears to have an upgraded power section in addition to smarter USB: Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2

PureVinyl or PureMusic sound great to me: big, big improvement over iTunes . . . can't wait for them to sort out the playback bugs!

If the UK price is 860, it looks like the $ cost will be less than 1K: bonus! The DAC1 looks like it will be plain vanilla, and the DAC2 gets loaded with all the goodies: Wyred 4 Sound Sabre DACs

Their current spec says 'I2S over HDMI', which is also missing from that picture! Then again, it does say that the pictures of of the prototype from the RMAF . . . I bet the final version will look a bit different from the rear.

He does mention the Xonar card as a much cheaper option, but if you're only using the card as digital pass-through, it seems a bit of a waste. Surely, you also need an optical drive with that, too? The same thread also links to a much cheaper alternative 'recipe' that uses a linear regulated power supply and a much cheaper board/card setup: Building a Media Server as a Digital Audio Transport. That one is really K.I.S.S stuff . . . and about one third the price.

Have you seen the Computer Audiophile CAPS music server? http://www.computeraudiophile.com

It's not just me, then: there is a strong pro-California bias in their reviews?

Dumb name, dumb-looking box, but I bet it sounds fantastic! For some time my favourite 'semi-affordable' DAC was Rick Cullen's modified PS Audio DLIII. Looks like we're creeping closer to the release date, pre-orders being taken . . . Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1