It depends on how you are going to use it. There are different types of DACs.

Is your source signal going to be USB or optical digital or what, and what sort of source will be supplying it?

The Audioengine D1 might be a good choice.

It has optical and USB inputs and is $169.

Do not get all wrapped up in the brand of chip someone uses.

The true performance of a DAC has more to do with implementation (the circuit that is designed to use the chip) & the filters used.

Bill - on the Hill
Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
- just an “ON” switch, Please –

It's another option at $299. The Peachtree sounds great though I would not say that it is or is not better than the Audioengine Commsysman reccomended.

Regarding chips, who the manufacturer could not be less relevant. It is all about implementation. Here is an example. I have a Marantz 5 disc changer and a Marantz NA7004 network player which I use as my external DAC. They use the exact same Cirrus Logic chip and the two units could not possibly sound more different. The CD player is muddy with a total lack of detail. The DAC just sounds bad which is pretty common among multi-disc players. The Network player sounds amazing. It is extremely detailed and sounds like a completely different animal. Bluntly, that Marantz holds its own against DACs in the sub $1000 range as it was $800 where the same chip in the CD player could be replaced by any external DAC and you would get a stark improvement.

That is my long winded way of saying the chip really means nothing, even within the same manufacturer. Pick a unit that fits your budget, buy it from one of the places with a 30day return policy and try it out at home. Then you can hear it in your encironment and feel food that it sounds better.

OZLINN wrote:

I'd like some recommendations for a DAC ?... to use in my current system which comprises of a NAD C326 BEE amp and NAD C515 BEE cd player,running through a pair of LINN KEOSA speakers. Any info. gratefully appreciated.

If you want to spend $500, the answer is the OPPO BDP-103.

It includes a superb DAC, plus is an outstanding CD/SACD/DVD/BLURAY player.

I suggest that you look at the OPPO website and look at all the features it has; it will do almost anything but feed the cat.

hey. Take a look at Micromega Mydac or Arcam iRdac.

How about a metrum acoustics ooctave dac Or is it a bridge to far?
May be you shpould listen to different dac's.

henk

Iv used benchmark Dac1 for two years and love it
going for $720 on amazon now