Looking for a budget DAC
AsSiMiLaTeD
Posts: 11,728
I've got a Squeezebox on the way that I'll be using to stream lossless audio, and am considering adding a DAC, but it'll need to be something on the cheap. I'll add a 'real' DAC down the road when we're all settled in the new place and our finances pick back up (I've already spent too much money on audio as it is in the last 2 weeks).
I'm talking pretty cheap, say $100 or less. I know that with most gear there becomes a lower limit where it's not even worth adding a component (for example I'd never add a $100 TT to my rig).
So I guess i have 2 questions:
1 - At $100 is there anything out there even worth adding that's going to sound better than the DACs in the Squeezebox?
2 - ...and if so, what options should I be looking at? I've heard of the Zero Dac and the Super Pro 707, any thoughts on either of those or other options?
If I don't add a DAC, any thoughts on if I'd be better off using the DACs in the SB or in my Pioneer 21TXH?
I'm talking pretty cheap, say $100 or less. I know that with most gear there becomes a lower limit where it's not even worth adding a component (for example I'd never add a $100 TT to my rig).
So I guess i have 2 questions:
1 - At $100 is there anything out there even worth adding that's going to sound better than the DACs in the Squeezebox?
2 - ...and if so, what options should I be looking at? I've heard of the Zero Dac and the Super Pro 707, any thoughts on either of those or other options?
If I don't add a DAC, any thoughts on if I'd be better off using the DACs in the SB or in my Pioneer 21TXH?
Post edited by AsSiMiLaTeD on
Comments
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IMHO the DAC in the Touch is better than a $100 DAC. Just use the DAC in the touch for now and save your money for a better DAC.
ScottI like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D -
it's actually not a Touch, is a Classic v2. I believe the DACs are better in the Touch, so not sure if that changes things?
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I have a Super Pro 707 that I use to stream from my computer media server to my amp and it was a very pleasant surprise. Really really good sound for a budget DAC. I'm using cat 5 cable from computer to airport express and optical from the AE to the Super Pro and then out to line inputs on my tube integrated. I strongly recommend it for a very good sounding budget DAC. It does usb and coax as well and all the cables are included. It will do 192/24 as well.SDA-1C (full mods)
Carver TFM-55
NAD 1130 Pre-amp
Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
The Clamp
Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
Ben's IC's
Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM -
Well I picked up a Cambridge DacMagic sometime ago, at the recommendation of several here at CP.
I have it hooked to a Squeezebox Duet which gives me the added advantage of letting me run XLR interconnects to my preamp and amp.
It made a notable improvement.SDA SRS 1.2
Adcom GFA-5802
Adcom GFP-750
Sony DVP-NS999ES -
That DacMagic is a nice DAC, but is over 4x what I'm looking to spend.
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A DAC is in my future, but I'm waiting until I have plenty to spend... Since you'll have two options available to you already, why not try them both and go with what's better for now? Btw, I'm using the Duet receiver's DAC, simply because my current AVR requires an analog input for direct-mode. Sounds pretty good to me, but this system isn't too revealing.
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If your only interested in standard redbook resolution (no 24bit/96k)then you might take a look at some of the better legacy DAC's from the likes of Adcom, Monarchy,MSB, Musical Fidelity,Theta etc.
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Maybe the AMC DAC8?
http://www.amchome.com/content/amc-dac8-digital-analog-converters
Those go for less than $100... -
Danny, I have a AMC DAC 8 in my office rig. It does a really good job. If I could find a Monarchy 18B for about $200, I'd let the AMC go. It's been here a long time because for a budget dac it sounds really good.
If you can stretch your budget the Adcom GDA600 is an excellent performer and I've seen them go as low as $150 pretty often.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
You've heard the analog section of the squeezebox, do you think something like the AMC would be an upgrade there?
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Proof is in the listening but I would be surprised if it was considering it's inards.AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »do you think something like the AMC would be an upgrade there? -
Ok I need a little help. I have a Jr JR XS3 FM 75mhz Synthesized Radio and I would like to get another receiver for it for another truck that I have but I dont want to spend 70 on a JR receiver. What other receivers will work with it?
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See what Audio Alchemy offerings are up on ebay. Even their bottom of the line models, e.g., DAC-in-the-Box, are very respectable performers.
Couple caveats...
Only buy AA if the power supply is part of the deal... too hard to come by for some models.
And only buy from trusted sellers who promise the DAC is working. Not a reliability issue, but a knowledge issue. When AA's power supplies were plugged into the wall first and then the unit, they sometimes zapped the units. Plug into the unit first then the wall and no problems.More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb
"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD -
AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »You've heard the analog section of the squeezebox, do you think something like the AMC would be an upgrade there?
Yes, soundstage and bass are most noticable as well as a little less ragged up top. Try it with the ELPAC for awhile, you might be surprised.Proof is in the listening but I would be surprised if it was considering it's inards.
Innards aren't that impressive at all for the AMC......but it sounds pretty darn good for a $100 I have invested. It has (2) small pcb's about the size of a cigarette pack and very small single transformer. Not much there at all.
See guts here:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=494823&postcount=157
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
Archaic Phillips bitstream DAC chip,input reciver with very poor jitter rejection,sub par opamp output buffer,single 5 volt reg. for digital and analog sections.:eek:Innards aren't that impressive at all for the AMC.....
As stated proof is in the listening but intuitively one might expect the SQB's analog output to be superior with it's modern Burr Brown DAC and I assume better opamp in the analog section etc. -
Archaic Phillips bitstream DAC chip,input reciver with very poor jitter rejection,sub par opamp output buffer,single 5 volt reg. for digital and analog sections.:eek:
As stated proof is in the listening but intuitively one might expect the SQB's analog output to be superior with it's modern Burr Brown DAC and I assume better opamp in the analog section etc.
It (the SQB) might be Fred.......it might be. For some reason the AMC has had pretty decent synergy in the office rig all this time. I once compared it to the Adcom GDA600 before mods and the Adcom was superior to my ears in every way. The AMC didn't make it more than a day in the main rig. Again, it just seems to work in my computer/office rig. We'll see if it continues in the new house.
One thing it does well is it has an impressive soundstage compared to a cdp, dvdp and various sound cards.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul! -
I really want a Monarchy 18B for the office rig, but they aren't too plentiful lately and they can be sort of pricey for an office rig sometimes.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
