Item Audio DAC Range

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Verastarr, Wired 4 Sound, Burson Audio, KingRex, Adam Audio, Antelope Audio, HiVi, Swans, Locus Cables

Digital to Analog Converters (DACs)

A DAC is the heart and soul of today's digital audio system. However you transport your noughts and ones – disc-spinner, set-top box, dock, streamer, laptop, or dedicated audio computer – your amplifier understands current, not data. Turning bits into volts and pushing them down a wire is a surprisingly complex discipline: part art, part science. The very best converters – in theory – render irrelevant the source of the data. However, in practice, the signal path to even the most exotic DACs makes its own contribution to the system.

The bottom line is: don't skimp on the DAC: choose it first, then optimise your transport for it. Try before you buy.

Most converters with multiple digital inputs strongly favour one. Frustratingly, blanket generalisations don't work: Pop Pulse DACs are optimised for optical; the Wyred 4 Sound DAC1 works best via SPDIF; the DAC2 via AES/EBU or USB. If it doubt, ask: we're here to help – not only to find the DAC that suits your listening preferences, but the one that fits your budget. We constantly run comparative auditions, seeking new 'champions' at each price point. We only sell those we are confident in offering the best value.

Priced below £1000


Fostex PC-100 USB DAC \| £89 TBA	Pop Pulse Super Pro 707 \| £89 USB, coaxial and optical inputs. Up to 24/192 over SPDIF. Optimised for optical. Upgradeable with external 12V PSU. Fast, clean, bright. Perfect first DAC.	KingRex UD-01 \| £129 USB input. 16/44.1 only. Upgradeable with external 12V PSU and Special Edition upgrades. Balanced, musical, dynamic. Perfect first DAC.
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KingRex UD-01 SE \| £169 USB input. 16/44.1 only. Upgradeable with external 12V PSU. Balanced, musical, resolute, dynamic. Perfect first DAC.	HRT Streamer \| £149 TBA	HRT iStreamer \| £195 Digital output from iPod or iPad
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Pop Pulse PCM1796 Special Edition \| £229 USB, coaxial and optical inputs. Up to 24/192 over SPDIF. Optimised for optical. Fast, clean, bright, dynamic. Cambridge DAC Magic killer!	KingRex UD-01 Pro \| £249 USB input. 16/44.1 only. Upgradeable to Special Edition. Integral linear power supply. Balanced, musical, resolute, dynamic. Classier DAC Magic alternative.	Devilsound DAC \| £269 USB > RCA converter. Up to 24/96. Powered by USB bus. Upgradeable with TOD2X power conditioner. Lively, bright, open. Ideal for portable and cable-light systems.
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HRT Music Streamer II \| £269 TBA	Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 Special Edition \| £325 PCI Soundcard. Up to 24/192. Upgraded with Burson discrete op-amps and improved RCA sockets. Big, bold, exciting. The only soundcard we sanction!	NuForce HDP \| £335 USB, coaxial, optical and analog inputs. Headphone amp. Volume control. Up to 24/96 over USB, 24/192 over SPDIF. Extremely versatile preamp/converter: great with powered speakers.


Emotiva XDA1 \| £350 USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 24/192 on all inputs. RCA and XLR outputs. Dual mono design with volume control. True high end performance, ideal with active monitors.	HRT Music Streamer Pro \| £475 TBA	KingRex UD-01 Pro Special Edition \| £499 USB input. 16/44.1 only. Integral linear power supply. Upgraded with discrete op-amps, cryo-treatment, hard-wired interconnects. Balanced, musical, resolute, dynamic. The USB specialist.


Steinberg MR816 \| £499 Firewire and coaxial input. Up to 24/96. Excellent 8-channel D>A and A>D conversion. Balanced TRS outputs. As good at mastering analog as playing digital. Digital volume control permits direct control of power amps. Very truthful pro audio sound.	Xindak DAC5 \| £550 Optical and coaxial input. Up to 24/192. RCA and XLR balanced outputs. Dual power supplies. Numerous DIY upgrade paths documented online. Smooth, warm, punchy.	Xindak DAC8 \| £750 Optical and coaxial input. Up to 24/192. RCA and XLR balanced outputs. Dual power supplies. Numerous DIY upgrade paths documented online. Smooth, warm, punchy.


Benchmark DAC1 \| £899 BNC/RCA, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 24/192 on all inputs. RCA and Balanced outputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Very revealing, squeaky-clean. Classic pro audio converter.	Wyred 4 Sound DAC1 \| £899 24/192 dual optical, dual coaxial and 24/96 USB inputs. RCA and XLR balanced outputs. ESS Sabre chip. Upgradeable to Special Edition. Transparent, very dynamic, slightly warm. Currently the best sub £1K DAC.	Burson HA160D \| £975 RCA, optical and USB inputs. RCA outputs. Up to 24/96 on all inputs. State of the art heaphone amp and superb preamp combined with muscular D-A conversion. Brilliant with bright or thin-sounding transducers.

Priced above £1000


Benchmark DAC1 USB \| £1175 USB, BNC/RCA, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 24/192 on all inputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Very revealing, squeaky-clean. Classic pro audio converter.	Wyred 4 Sound DAC2 \| £1299 USB, dual optical, dual coaxial and USB inputs (all 24/192). ESS Sabre chip. RCA and XLR balanced outputs. Digital volume control. Upgradeable to Special Edition. Transparent, very dynamic, slightly warm. The class leader at this price.	Antelope Zodiac \| £1350 USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 32/284 on all inputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Extremely high resolution, very neutral, sophisticated digital input.
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Benchmark DAC1 Pre \| £1425 USB, BNC/RCA, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 24/192 on all inputs. RCA and XLR balanced outputs. Volume control, analog input and headphone amp. Very revealing, squeaky-clean. Classic pro audio converter.	Calyx 24/192 + FREE Netbook \| £1495 24/192 USB and coaxial inputs. RCA and XLR balanced outputs. 16x ESS Sabre chip conversion. USB bus or external 5V power. Very dynamic and resolute.	Benchmark DAC1 HDR \| £1699 BNC/RCA, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 24/192 on all inputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Very revealing, squeaky-clean. Classic pro audio converter.
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Antelope Zodiac Plus \| £1895 USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 32/284 on all inputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Extremely high resolution, very neutral, sophisticated digital input.	Antelope Zodiac Plus + Voltikus PSU \| \| £2395 USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 32/284 on all inputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Extremely high resolution, very neutral, sophisticated digital input.	Antelope Zodiac Gold \| £2395 USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 32/284 on all inputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Extremely high resolution, very neutral, sophisticated digital input and top drawer analog output stage.


Antelope Zodiac Gold + Voltikus PSU \| £2895 USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU inputs. Up to 32/284 on all inputs. Volume control and headphone amp. Extremely high resolution, very neutral, sophisticated digital input and top drawer analog output stage. Add-on PSU lowers noise floor and improves dynamic range	Prism Orpheus \| £3195 Firewire 8-channel D-A and A-D converter. Up to 24/192. Digital volume control and headphone amp. Pro audio resolution, true audiophile soundstaging and timbre: one of our favourites and ideal for pairing with a software crossover and active speakers.

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