[Bina]

Hi, I´m thinking of buying Pico DAC only, but isnť there anything better than pico in this price?
I know that for example Iron_dreamer prefer Pico to Apogee minidac and Benchamark, I also think that Edwood write something like that, but on other hand, some people prefer for example headroom micro DAC.
It will be for home use only, so size doesn't matter. I will keep using my BVaudio Amp.
Can you please give me some advice?
I will be really thankfull for any help.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bína /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi, I´m thinking of buying Pico DAC only, but isnť there anything better than pico in this price? I know that for example Iron_dreamer prefer Pico to Apogee minidac and Benchamark, I also think that Edwood write something like that, but on other hand, some people prefer for example headroom micro DAC. It will be for home use only, so size doesn't matter. I will keep using my BVaudio Amp. Can you please give me some advice? I will be really thankfull for any help.

For the price of the PICO DAC + $30 Cdn, I was able to get the Cambridge Audio DACMagic (brand new version and brand new unit).

 

[Bina]

I was thinking about Dacmagic, i can buy it for good price in local store, but I dont know how it compare to Pico.

 

[AtomikPi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bína /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was thinking about Dacmagic, i can buy it for good price in local store, but I dont know how it compare to Pico.

I have heard some say that the Pico is better. I have heard both, but I haven't done any volume matched comparisons and couldn't say if a difference exists or if so how large it is. The one plus of the Dacmagic is that it's balanced.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bína /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was thinking about Dacmagic, i can buy it for good price in local store, but I dont know how it compare to Pico.

I've heard both and there is NO comparison. The DacMagic bests the Pico in every way. It has dual top Wolfson DAC chips for L and R channels each, optical, coax, USB, etc... inputs.

The Pico is pretty simple and a great little DAC but definitely not in the same league.

 

[Bina]

I don't care about inputs, USB is for me enough, I care about sound quality only.

 

[imademymark]

i've the keces 151 mkII and it is noticeably better than my pico, for slightly less money too

 

[jamato8]

How can you compare the Keces to the Pico? The Pico is a portable and the Keces is a unit that hooks up to AC voltage.

If a home unit is required or all that is needed then go with a home unit but if portable then portable but normally the two aren't comparable for understandable reasons.

 

[Bina]

It is only for home use. But I´m thinking about Pico, becouse lots of skilled people like it quite a lot.
Like here:
Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you only need a USB DAC, at this price nothing is better than Pico DAC-only. You'd have to spend $700 or more on a PS Audio DLIII or Stello DA100 to beat it via USB. The Apogee Duet would be an option to match the Pico DAC-only but it is more expensive, firewire and Mac-only. With my Macbook and optical digital out I do think the HR Micro DAC comes quite close, as does the iBasso D10, But as a DAC only via optical I would use the HR Micro DAC over the D10 because I like the line out sound better than the D10 line out (while the D10 is great as a DAC/amp). The D10 line out is a little too quiet or soft. But again, if you only need USB, the Pico DAC-only would be my top choice of the three above. It has a nice high output level and can feed two amps at the same time, so you don't have to disconnect when switching between headphones and speakers, or dynamic phones to electrostatics, etc.

 

[imademymark]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif How can you compare the Keces to the Pico? The Pico is a portable and the Keces is a unit that hooks up to AC voltage. If a home unit is required or all that is needed then go with a home unit but if portable then portable but normally the two aren't comparable for understandable reasons.

exactly, but if you read the OP's original post he asked for a Dac for home use and that size doesn't matter and asked if even then the pico was the best choice?

By saying they cannot be compared for understandable reasons, I hope you mean that the OP should be looking at AC power Dacs if he's only going to use them at home?

 

[El_Doug]

Bina - it is indeed quite tempting to find a 10,000+ poster and take his word as gospel. And indeed, HeadphoneAddict is an amazingly knowledgeable asset to this community

However, do not dismiss the experiences of others, who have direct experience comparing the two DACs

I see no reason not to get a DACMagic, which in my experience is absolutely on par with the Pico in terms of its black background, while offering an even more detailed presentation. plus, it will allow you to explore a fully balanced path in the future!

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Doug /img/forum/go_quote.gif I see no reason not to get a DACMagic, which in my experience is absolutely on par with the Pico in terms of its black background, while offering an even more detailed presentation. plus, it will allow you to explore a fully balanced path in the future!

This.

If size is not the matter, I'd go all the way with the DacMagic. It has much more flexible inputs/outputs and sounds awesome too.

 

[qusp]

yes, the pico is a great sounding portable unit, but if it doesnt matter if its portable or not, it loses its advantage. HA is a great guy whp really puts the time i here, but I have to disagree with putting the pico above DACMagic or something like a COD DIY dac kit will cook it. IMO the D10 beats it. pico is lovely and musical, but can be beaten on resolution and detail fairly handily if portability is not needed.

 

[Bina]

I was able to compare DACmagic to Styleaudio Topaz, and Topaz win in detail and have better soundstage . So DACmagic is not option for me. Topaz sound pretty good, can somebody compare him to Pico?