What good/excellent sources are there with usb and toslink inputs that have an inbuilt preamp or have consumer (-10dBu) rather than line-level (+4dBu) analog XLR outputs ? It`d need to have usb and toslink inputs at a bare minimum, i2s would help future proof it .

I am looking for a quieter source than my line-level mini-dac so that I can remove the voltage divider I`m having to use to reduce its volume. A source with as good or better performance than the mini-dac is preffered.

my current solution http://www.head-case.org/forums/do-yourself/5997-resistor-type-make-volume-attenuation.html#post218512

Haven't heard it, but the Bel Canto DAC might fit the bill?

It is highly unlikely that you'll find what you're after. Balanced DAC's, by default, tend to have a hot output. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the voltage divider approach.

Haven't heard it, but the Bel Canto DAC might fit the bill?

The Bel Canto DAC3 is an excellent DAC but it is rather "hot". It's actually hotter than my +12 dBu DEQ2496. I'm doing a voltmeter matched comparison right now and the DAC3 sits at a volume of 96 which means it's probably +16 dBu at full scale.

Voltage divider is perfectly fine as long as it's done well.

I know most of the Muse Electronics devices have 1.99 Vrms output on the balanced outs. I was on a similar quest and settled on one of their players and am very happy with it.

The Bel Canto DAC3 is an excellent DAC but it is rather "hot". It's actually hotter than my +12 dBu DEQ2496. I'm doing a voltmeter matched comparison right now and the DAC3 sits at a volume of 96 which means it's probably +16 dBu at full scale.

Voltage divider is perfectly fine as long as it's done well.

I stand corrected. Thanks.

Didn't the Benchmark DAC1 have some internal jumpers to alter gain? Or am I thinking of something else?

Didn't the Benchmark DAC1 have some internal jumpers to alter gain? Or am I thinking of something else?

Oh yeah it does..... I don't remember the details but it's in the manual:

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/system1/files/documents/DAC1_-_Manual_-_Rev_L.pdf

Also Lavry DA-11 has USB, Toslink, AES/EBU and SPDIF coaxial inputs, with regulated balanced output, but it's not a preamp itself. No analogue inputs. It sounds quite well. I got mine a week ago and it's better than I expected.

Oh yeah it does..... I don't remember the details but it's in the manual:

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/system1/files/documents/DAC1_-_Manual_-_Rev_L.pdf

page 17 of the 40 page pdf, xlr volume attenuation with 4 positions for jumpers 0 dB, -10dB, -20dB, -30dB.

Also Lavry DA-11 has USB, Toslink, AES/EBU and SPDIF coaxial inputs, with regulated balanced output, but it's not a preamp itself. No analogue inputs. It sounds quite well. I got mine a week ago and it's better than I expected.

page 18 of the 21 page pdf, impressive range (-31 dBu to +24 dBu, balanced) and lots of steps (56).

certainly food for thought

page 17 of the 40 page pdf, xlr volume attenuation with 4 positions for jumpers 0 dB, -10dB, -20dB, -30dB.

page 18 of the 21 page pdf, impressive range (-31 dBu to +24 dBu, balanced) and lots of steps (56).

certainly food for thought

Yep, it includes a plot where you can estimate the dBu or Volts (RMS and p-p) the DAC outputs at every step on balanced and SE operation. This allows setting it up to match any other source you're using.