Fantastic New Budget DAC: The Marantz HD DAC1

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by ServingTheMusic, Oct 7, 2014.

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  1. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    Ok, the DAC wars are getting just plain crazy...I just got in for review
    a new offering from Marantz, the HD-DAC1, which sells for $799.

    It is DROP DEAD gorgeous, and I not one to get too excited about appearances.

    Wood side panels, brushed aluminum face plate. Marantz glass logo on front..feels SOLID as
    a rock. It actually shames in build some $2500+ DACs I have seen.

    The specs:

    -TosLink, Coax, and USB
    -Front USB port
    -24/192 and Double DSD
    -fixed AND variable outputs
    -headphone amp
    -Remote Control

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2014
  2. beowulf

    beowulf Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chula Vista, CA
    Looks really nice, is the iFi still in house? It would be interesting to hear some comparisons.
     
  3. Tyler Eaves

    Tyler Eaves Forum Resident

    Location:
    Greenville, NC
    Looks nice, but don't think it really qualifies as budget....
     
    L5730, Ash76, AndrewS and 18 others like this.
  4. fluffskul

    fluffskul Would rather be at a concert

    Location:
    albany, ny
    I'm curious how the USB sound compares to using the marantz sa8005 or cd8005. Would love to read your review as well, please share your link here if you are able.
     
    Jim in Houston likes this.
  5. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    Sure is...I will be doing some informal comparisons between this, the iFi, and the EE Mini Max Supreme.
     
    beowulf likes this.
  6. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    Sure thing. The review won't be published until the end of the year.

    FYI..I found the USB inputs on the two Reference SACD players and the NA-11s1 to be superb...maybe the best I have heard.
     
  7. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    For me anything under a grand is a budget DAC, especially considering the feature set...here we have a preamp, a headphone Amp, and if you care..DSD.
     
    bhazen likes this.
  8. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    Wow, it looks promising! Does anyone know which DAC chip it is based upon?
     
  9. moops

    moops Senior Member

    Location:
    Geebung, Australia
    Some more pics .....

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. moops

    moops Senior Member

    Location:
    Geebung, Australia
    TarnishedEars likes this.
  11. therockman

    therockman Senior Member In Memoriam

    Looks very nice to me.
     
  12. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    The build quality is ridiculous...
     
    therockman likes this.
  13. DaveC113

    DaveC113 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Front Range CO
    It's a DAC with preamp function, but NO RCA INPUTS? :crazy::tsk::wtf:

    If it's going to have a source selector and volume control it might as well serve as a preamp, and it has a 3.5mm input for a portable device, but IMO it needs RCAs inputs too.
     
    on7green, johnnypaddock and c-eling like this.
  14. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    Name a few at this price point that offer all the features here plus RCA inputs.....I personally would not want a jack of all trades product.
     
  15. Claude

    Claude Senior Member

    Location:
    Luxembourg
    The problem with that definition is that probably 90% of all DACs on the market fall into that category, while "budget" usually means less expensive than the average.
     
    Tim S and Billy Budapest like this.
  16. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    I am not including "portable" USB hub powered DACs btw...
     
  17. Claude

    Claude Senior Member

    Location:
    Luxembourg
    It's a "digital pre-amp".

    DACs with analogue inputs are very rare, although with the vinyl revival (and SACD survival) it makes a lot of sense.
     
    kevinsinnott likes this.
  18. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    I would have no interest..either the digital or the analog side would be compromised unless it was costly implementation. The exception
    would be an integrated amp with one digital input, so that proper isolation can be engineered.
     
  19. c-eling

    c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

    Emotiva DC-1, lacking DSD but with analog pass through 499.00 :)
     
  20. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    We have one...!
     
    c-eling likes this.
  21. triple

    triple Senior Member

    Location:
    Zagreb, Croatia
    Hopefully not the Audio Note way...;)
     
    Dave and TarnishedEars like this.
  22. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    Ridiculously good, or ridiculously bad?
     
  23. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    Absurdly impressive. I have had over 30 DACs come through here and have seen hundreds more at shows. This is
    easily $4000 build quality. Makes the Auralic Vega and others seem like a toy.

    Of course, sonics are what really count and I am breaking it in now. But i have to think if they put this
    much effort into the build, the internals are also of high quality.
     
    RadioWonder and TarnishedEars like this.
  24. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    Does anyone know of anywhere where a person can get a good deal on one of these units? I'm feeling rather tempted to give one a try...
     
  25. ServingTheMusic

    ServingTheMusic Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    SoCal
    They are brand new to the market..so discounts are doubtful..however Music Direct does have a no risk trial period.
     
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