Topic: Comparing DAC's (Internal vs. External)

[taylorc]

Anyone want to chime in?...

Comparing four DAC's (more welcome):

Anthem Statement D1 - AKM AK4395 http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/akm/en/product/ak4395/ak4395.html
Anthem AVM30 - AKM AK4382 http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/akm/en/product/ak4382a/ak4382a.html

Bel Canto DAC2 - http://www.belcantodesign.com/prod_dac2specs.html
Benchmark DAC1 - http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/digital/dac1/default.asp

Without the opportuntity to A/B these, I'm curious how most would rate them.  It's always been an interest of mine of how higher-end internals compete with externals.

[scervin]

More to the sound than the DAC chips.  My guess is the following:

1.Bel Canto
2.D1
3.AVM-30

The anthem products are heavily geared towards HT, where the DAC2 would be more for music.  Both of the suround processors will have analog bypass so you could have the best of both worlds adding the external.  From what I've read the Cary Cinema 6 is the one to get for if you plan to use it's onboard DAC, as it comes with great sound, but does not include all the bells and whistles of the Anthem gear.  There are oo many DAC's out there to choose from.  The Benchmark is where I'd look...

sc.