rwdv70

Quite the contrary, even the least expensive desktop DACs with balanced connections (whether TRS or XLR) around the 200€ mark already...

There are plenty of balanced DACs between €/$200 and 500 that certainly wouldn't limit your system, quite the opposite. Loxjie D40 Pro...

Here’s an excellent balanced DAC with VC in the €200 price category...

Welcome to ASR @rwdv70. :) Yeah as you suggested, this isn't correct... DAC's have been a solved "problem" for a very long time. That's...

Thanks for the swift replies. Indeed I meant "Balanced output". Bling is not that important. The poweramps are ugly black boxes anyway...

XLR output or balanced output? What @BDWoody says. In any case, how would an RME ADI-2 FS DAC fit...

I'm terms of bling factor that may be true, but in terms of audible performance not at all. If money isn't an issue by all means bling...

Only a few have XLR output and I'm not sure if a DAC costing € 250-ish complements the rest of the system (€ 6K-ish). I think (but this...

I'm arranging a new system and have made a shortlist of speakers (in the €4K-€5K-ish realm) and a couple of power amps based on the...