I really wonder why there isn't one already. Some or all of the R&D has probably been done and I'm sure Naim could equal or better the likes of Benchmark or Lavry. Maybe if enough of us pipe up here, headquarters will take the hint.

Well, it goes against the Naim beliefs - that seperate transports and DACs introduce more problems than they solve.

Keith

From the description of the CDS3 and CDX2 on the Naim website:

"Paths between critical components are as short as possible to preserve delicate signals.."

"Naim research proved that divorcing the main power supply in this way is wholly beneficial, whereas the more common arrangement of housing the converter circuitry in a separate box causes many problems."


Mark

The shortest signal from my computer to my preamp is from the mini headphone jack. It's not the best option. While the computer is not my prefered source, I still use it quite a bit. There is a wealth of stuff one can stream these days and then there is all that music on my hard drive. My Edirol DAC is OK but I'd like something better.

The AV2!

I guess that all of know that a seprate DAC is not ideal and therefore we have our Naim CD players but it would still be nice to run other modern sources such as PC or mp3 players with a dedicated Naim DAC - a sepaerate Naim DAC is always better than a sepaerate DAC made by another company :-)

I would love a DAC in a box with the size and the prize of a stageline!

Totally agree here. I'm just using vinyl and high quality audio files I purchase on-line. Would love a half-width DAC from Naim! My digital-TV decoder also has a digital out.

quote:

Originally posted by John R.:
I guess that all of know that a seprate DAC is not ideal and therefore we have our Naim CD players but it would still be nice to run other modern sources such as PC or mp3 players with a dedicated Naim DAC - a sepaerate Naim DAC is always better than a sepaerate DAC made by another company :-)

I would love a DAC in a box with the size and the prize of a stageline!

The arguments for building our own CD players with the DAC close to the transport are probably relevant but not applicable to other manufacturers' devices.

I cannot see a reason, apart from other priorities, why we wouldn't make a standalone DAC. Of course - there would be no NAIM device with which it could be advantageously used.

Although not previously a great supporter of his products, I have to say my new Russ Andrews USB DAC-1 DAC is really very good. I'm sure it is making the most of my computer sources and it integrates fine with Naim (and other) systems.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
I cannot see a reason, apart from other priorities, why we wouldn't make a standalone DAC. Of course - there would be no NAIM device with which it could be advantageously used.

Hmm....really? Don't the DVD5 and n-Vi have coaxial outputs for connections to things like stand-alone DACs? I may be mistaken of course...

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
I cannot see a reason, apart from other priorities, why we wouldn't make a standalone DAC.

please please please make it a priority, X-mas would be nice

my birthday is in March, that would be fine too..

While a small, resonably priced Naim DAC would no doubt make many of us happy it would also probably intoduce many who have not yet seen or rather heard the light to Naim’s other products. Could result in a general sales increase. I think many already in the fold would buy one too.

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
Hmm....really? Don't the DVD5 and n-Vi have coaxial outputs for connections to things like stand-alone DACs? I may be mistaken of course...

I DO choose my words carefully - the DVD5 certainly sounds better on analogue output when playing CDs - rather than through the AV2's DAC.

The co-ax socket is for connection to an AV surround sound processor.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
Of course - there would be no NAIM device with which it could be advantageously used.

With an increasingly fragmented market Naim cannot cover everything. I doubt Naim will make decoding boxes for swedish digital-TV.

The DAC is becoming an important component. For existing customers it would save a lot of time with a DAC we already know was designed with the "right" priorities. That produce good results with the real-world devices we now connect to our Naim-systems. With inputs for USB and spdif.

As pointed out above, Naim already make DACs to be fed from a digital source.
It's just that they are currently integrated into other components (ie. amps).
I think it's only a matter of time before a standalone DAC comes out.
Of course, it will need to be powered from a Hi-Cap!

quote:

please please please make it a priority, X-mas would be nice

Nooooo! I want the turntable first. Cool and sexy like SME Model 10 and with the PRAT of LP12 if possible.

I would appreciate a naim dac very much and would get one if it doesn't require a mandatory XPS making the all business a EUR 8000.- story.

Just adding myself to the waiting list.

Stageline sized box please. No need to go overboard - it's only for my pc/iPod - shall we say £300-£400?

I'd buy one today if I could!

Nicholas

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
I cannot see a reason, apart from other priorities, why we wouldn't make a standalone DAC. Of course - there would be no NAIM device with which it could be advantageously used.

One might look at a seperate Naim DAC much the same way one does the Aro, Armageddon and Stageline - bits to make some other companies source sound better. Dispite it's limitations there is no dening my laptop is a source these days. One that will become increasingly more important in future years. And one that could certainly use a shot in the arm sound wise.

I would like to put myself on the waiting list, too.

As others pointed out, a stageline sized box please, with the possibility to power it with anything, from an iSupply up to a SuperCap. Thank you!

Price around 300 - 400EUR w/o PSU.

Adding to what all the others said, if such a DAC would be as jitter immune as the e.g. the benchmark DAC1 apparently is, then it would also be a nice cheap possibility for a naim first timer to enjoy naim CD playback:

crappy 50EUR DVD player -> naim DAC -> naim nait5i.



Samuel.