To Doug Schneider,
I'm thinking of getting something like [the Audioengine D2] but was looking at the NAD DAC 1, which sells for $300. Have you heard the NAD? It would be interesting how they compare and if the Audioengine D2 is worth twice the price.
Iris
I tried NAD's DAC 1 and admired its ease of setup and use, but I wasn't impressed with its features or operation -- at least not from an audiophile point of view. The biggest issue I had with it when I tried it under Windows was that it operated strictly at 48kHz and relied on the Windows sound subsystem to upsample or downsample CD-quality or high-resolution files to that frequency. What's more, I couldn't bypass the Windows sound subsystem as I could with the D2 by using the Kernel Streaming or WASAPI options. To me, these are definitely design flaws and why I can't recommend the DAC 1 for serious enthusiasts, which is where I target my reviews. As a result, even though the D2 is double the price, I consider it the superior device and a far better buy. . . . Doug Schneider
