Any recommendations on a cheap DAC?

giant016
giant016 Posts: 10
edited June 2010 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Most of my music is on my laptop and it is an older cheap Inspiron that has a pretty terrible soundcard. I don't need anything fancy. I'm just looking to bypass my soundcard accurately. Portability is not an issue. Unless there is some amazing one out there I'd like to keep it under $100 (actually under $50). I was looking and the Phillips Aurilium and the Fireye I/II. Unfortunately the Phillips is pretty hard to find new now for a decent price and the Fireyes have problems at low volumes which is primarily what I would use it for. Any suggestions?
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2010
    http://blog.stereophile.com/ces2009/screamin_streamers/
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited June 2010
    G16, for an item which does what you want at reasonable cost, consider this .
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited June 2010
    I've been very happy with the Music Streamer+ that I use now.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • giant016
    giant016 Posts: 10
    edited June 2010
    Hmmm.... Some choices. I fail to see the difference between the $20 and $220 units. Likely higher end metals for connections, but aren't these pretty simple devices? I thought the idea was to deliver unchanged audio (well, convert it).
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2010
    A $20 DAC will probably be on par with your current sound card.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • giant016
    giant016 Posts: 10
    edited June 2010
    Are not that many people running audio from their computers? There doesn't seem to be any mainstream products for USB DAC. I know that most would prefer other audio sources, but it's just so damned convenient.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2010
    There are many USB DAC's out there, but most are above your price point.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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