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July 16, 2006 - 6:09am
#1
What is the best external sound interface?
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I have a UA-1EX plugged into my benchmark DAC1.
The UA-1EX is a ok sounding but in reality I only used it as a way of getting a digital signal into my DAC1.
Since you say 'best' I personally think that setup is best as the UA-1EX provides a stable digital out, while the DAC1 provices a jitter free output. However the ~$1100 price tag might put you off.
Cheapest way is the M-Audio Transit USB, costing around $80. Analog output is okay, but you can feed the S/PDIF optical output to an outboard DAC like the Benchmark DAC-1 or Musical Fidelity X-DAV v3.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Wavelength Brick
and there are higher end versions.
USB DACs