EtherNet DAC?

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Terry C. Moore -- Sat, 01/01/2011 - 12:39

I've been following the articles on computer audio in TAS for several years, and am finally ready to take the plunge. There are ALOT of unanswered questions tho; perhaps its time for Robert Harley or one of his crew to write a book on the subject! I've just finished the review of the Pure Music app in the latest issue, and am sufficiently enthused to enquire about the availabilty of, and/or recommendations for, a EtherNet DAC that can be installed, at a distance, from my Mac, to generate analog stereo feeds into my pre-amp. Since I'm just a tyro at this game, I'm not ready to invest an arm and a leg (yet), so would like anyone's/everyone's thoughts on some starter hardware. Thanks much in advance!

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staxguy -- Sun, 04/10/2011 - 20:33

For starters, how about a Logitech Squuezbox touch for an ethernet DAC?
Should you want to upgrade the sound, but keep the functionality, you can add an audiophile-approved DAC past it via SPDIF, and keep the Touch as an ethernet bridge. Some upgrade to an audiophile DAC adding general ethernet connectivity might easily cost more than the Touch, and you could try add-on DACs like the Bryston BDA-1, or Playback Designs MDP-5, before venturing on to the audiophile stratosphere, of seperate DAC / clock / upsampler / power supplies / etc. 
Sort of like "tube rolling", you could experiment with DACs like the AudioNote UK range or Sakura System Japan range, for that "NOS" sound, or else go "state of the art" with something by EMM Labs, MSB Technology or that most famous DCS.
There are other options of course, and you could always move that Squezebox to a spare room / bedroom system, if it outlived its functionality in your primary system.
Cheers, Staxguy
 
 
 

Steven Stone -- Tue, 04/12/2011 - 09:34

 I, too would begin with the Logitech Squeezebox Touch. Use it's SPDIF out into your DAC.
To get better sound you're going to have to add at least one 0 on the end of the price...
 
 
 

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

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