http://eshop.diyclub.biz/

I noticed there are several other dacs including a 6922 tube output model, the DAC-72 for $280, and several others including upsampling models for more. It would be nice if someone ordered one of these and let us know how it sounds. I'll post my impressions of the DAC-AH later.

Here's the link to a review by someone who did an op amp and coupling cap upgrade. This is where I learned the seller will accommodate special upgrade requests like op amp sockets. Kewl!

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93233&page=1&pp=20

On another digital-related topic, I'm very happy with my Onix XCD-88 with the upgrade OPA627 op amps. This one is also an incredible bargain at $299, and it comes from a US based distributor.

Given the minimal $73 price difference between the $295 DAC72 and the $368 DAC60, if I were buying I would go with the DAC60. The Burr Brown 1704 DAC chip is state-of-the-art. Take a look at the specs in the comparison chart at

http://www.audiodesignguide.com/DAC/dac5.html

Many believe the damage that brickwall filters do within the time domain is largely responsible for the unnatural digital sound we have grown accustomed to with PCM audio. They believe a DAC with no brickwall filter produces a more natural sound than one with. But in last month's Houston Audio Society meeting we listened to three non ovesampling DAC's that sell in the $400-$800 price range, then we heard all three seriously outperformed by a $2,200 oversampling DAC. Big surprise: the one that cost three times more sounded better than the cheap ones.

My interest in these Chinese DAC's is due to the fact that they appear to have many of the features you find in mainstream DAC's costing several times more, so I'm interested in whether they sound as good as the high priced spread. For $175 including air freight I'm willing to find out. Of course if I can persuade someone to buy one of the more expensive models I'll do that too so we can compare them:)

I'm sure someone who understands DAC's better than I do will read this, and hopefully they'll jump in here and help us understand this better.

• Review of Non Oversampling DAC

• "Non-oversampled v. Oversampled"

I turned it on with the 627's installed and heard an immediate and obvious improvement. The image is quite a bit wider and more three dimensional. Instruments are more precisely placed. The digital harshness is gone. Now when little miss Norah whispers "Come away with me" I know she's talking to me and she means it. But I doubt she would buy me all this kewl audio gear like my wife does. This DAC will not cause any of the rich guys I know to sell their DCS Delius, Verdi, Purcell separates, but it's definitely one of those products whose performance exceeds what I would expect at its price point. Highly recommended as an upgrade from a mass market player!