DAC with a Balance Control - Does one exist?

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Henry Domke -- Fri, 01/21/2011 - 08:25

 Are you aware of a DAC that has a balance control? 
 
My stereo does not use a preamp. The music travels from my hard drive via Ethernet to my DAC to my Amps. My DAC (Benchmark DAC1) has a volume control. The only other control I would like is a balance control. I would prefer not to buy a preamp to get that.
 
Suggestions? 
 
Thanks! 
Henry
 
My other gear: two Classé  CA-M400 amps, two B&W 800D speakers

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Steven Stone -- Fri, 01/21/2011 - 10:38

 How about powered/active speakers with individual gain controls?
 
I've recently reviewed the PSI A14-M speakers. I've used them with several fixed-level output DACs in my desktop system. Being able to make minute balance adjustments is a real pleasure.
 
 

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

boisty -- Fri, 01/21/2011 - 17:37

The Wyred4Sound DAC2 has a balance control.  Great little DAC.

staxguy -- Fri, 01/21/2011 - 17:43

You might want to think of a "pro-audio" D/A box like the Metric Halo ULN-8 that Barry Diament is recomending highly in this forum (SPDIF thread, etc.).
http://www.mhsecure.com/v5mm/ULN-8.html
According to him, it sounds amazing (ask him. if you have more questions), and of course unlike most audiophile units it has a nice bevy of I/O, suitable for both stereo and multi-channel material, with features like indivial gain controls as standard.
Rather than replacing your Classe & B&W gear, which I imagine you love, I would either look at the DAC route -or- here is my 2c:
Look at a software balance control - use a plug-in for WinAmp, or better yet, a pro-audio / mastering one would do the trick, all in the digital domain. There should be a ton of these, out there, either individually, or part of other plug-ins.
Get your favourite designer like John Curl, or your local audio guy, to make you a balance control using nice parts, and leave out the rest of the typical pre-amp circuitry. Maybe there is already a QED box for this, out there?
I use a 12-channel Mackie mixer past my D/A for level/balance control/monitoring etc. but that is adding a whole bunch of junk to the signal. Something like an old Rotel pre-amp would likely be a better solution, until you find your better answer.
Cheers. Good luck!

Henry Domke -- Sat, 01/22/2011 - 12:05

 The idea of a software balance control that staxguy suggests is interesting. Are there any available for a Mac?
 
Thanks!

Steven Stone -- Sat, 01/22/2011 - 12:51

 Pure Music, which is MAC-based, has gain trim adjustments in it's preferences that can be used to adjust balance between the right and left channel.
 
 

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

Henry Domke -- Sat, 01/22/2011 - 18:14

 Steven,
Thanks. Pure Music looks very interesting. 
I wish balance were just out in the open and not buried in preferences. 
But, I'm going to have to try it. 
 
www.channld.com

Kamil -- Sun, 01/23/2011 - 11:12

The Audiophilleo 1 is a USB/SPDIF converter with a built in remote controlled dithered balanced control that works on both Mac and PC. It is software based, although it runs on the cpu external to the Mac. It could fit between the computer and Dac.

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