I just was talked into buying this DAC at a local audio store. Ok, it doesn't take much talking....

I haven't tried the USB input on this yet, but fed from the mini Toslink on the Mac Mini, this is the best source I have had in my system. I'm shocked at how good this DAC sounds. My server is made up of:

Mac Mini
ITunes (AIFF format)
Pure Music software (by channel D)
2 TB GDrive (connected via FireWire)
Chord brand Toslink to mini-Toslkink cable
IPad - using remote app as contoller

I have been playing with the Music Streamer II+ and the Apogee Duet via FireWire with good results, but the Rega DAC is truly special in my system. Some of the DACs/sources I have tried in the past are:

Raysonic CD168
DacMagic
MF VDAC
Benchmark DAC1
PS Audio DACLink III
Simaudio DAC

Of these, the Raysonic was probably my favorite (until now). However, once I loaded my music and picked up an iPad with the remote app, I didn't want to venture down the CD player route again. It's just too fun having your whole music library at your fingertips. The rest of these all had a dryish feel to them that I just couldn't get past. Not so with the Rega DAC.

I'll be real interested to see if others feel the same way as more folks .experience this DAC.

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