[Rob Tweed]

Research on the web gives me often conflicting opinions and wondered
what opinions would be he I'm considering upgrading the DAC side
of my all-digital system and seem to have a couple of options.

First the constraints : the computer interface will have to be USB or
Firewire. I'm not in a position to get an internal soundcard (eg Lynx
or RME).

Choice 1) Buy a Benchmark DAC1 and hook it into the optical SPDIF
interface of my existing Edirol UA-EX1 USB card - ie use the Edirol
just as a USB/SPDIF interface to get the stuff in and out of the Mac
Mini that I use as the heart of the system.

Choice 2) Buy the Apogee MiniDAC with USB option and do away with the
Edirol

I suspect choice 2 is likely to be better in terms of interface
quality, but opinions seem to vary on how the Apogee compares
sonically with the Benchmark. I get the impression that both ought to
be good options. Maybe there'd be little or nothing in it?

I believe Apogee are going to put out a Firewire version soon. Any
reason to believe it should be any better than the USB version?

I'll be interested in your thoughts, or even any other alternative
suggestions.

---
Rob Tweed
M/Gateway Developments Ltd

The Pursuit of Productivity : http://www.mgateway.com