Cheap DAC

jmwest1970
jmwest1970 Posts: 846
edited December 2011 in Electronics
I was browsing Audio Advisor and found the Nufoce Icon uDAC2 for $129. Does anyone have any experience with it, or how it compares with other DACs in this price range?
Post edited by jmwest1970 on
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,389
    edited November 2011
    The only thing that stands out is it's NOT Asychronous which IMO, is essential to get the best sound. I also don't care for the fact that it derives power from the USB connection. But at $149 new I guess you can't have everything.

    You don't mention how or what this will be used with.

    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!
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited November 2011
    Knowing what you have now is key. If you've got a really low end source then yes that DAC may be an upgrade. But if you've already got a decent source I doubt you'd hear any difference. For example, I would never think of putting that DAC on my SB Touch because the Touch already has decent DAC.
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited November 2011
    I've got the Icon and like the sound I get on my PC; Granted, I just use it for random PC sounds and music when I'm doing homework, etc.

    I would think that it compares favorablely to other $100 DACs

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • jmwest1970
    jmwest1970 Posts: 846
    edited November 2011
    I'd be using it with a Mac mini running Lion 10.7.2. Currently all sound is passed through HDMI to the TV and then to an Arcam Alpha 9 preamp via RCA. I'd like to have the option of bypassing the TV for music only, and hopefully improve the quality of music playback. I think H9 gave me things to look for as I've never used an external DAC.

    One question though, why would it being powered by USB be a bad thing?
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  • Bobsama
    Bobsama Posts: 526
    edited November 2011
    jmwest1970 wrote: »
    I'd be using it with a Mac mini running Lion 10.7.2. Currently all sound is passed through HDMI to the TV and then to an Arcam Alpha 9 preamp via RCA. I'd like to have the option of bypassing the TV for music only, and hopefully improve the quality of music playback. I think H9 gave me things to look for as I've never used an external DAC.

    One question though, why would it being powered by USB be a bad thing?
    Mainly because of all the electrical noise in a computer. Preferably, you'd have your audio equipment isolated from that. In that product, you're stuck with possibly wide voltage ranges so I hope it has a good regulator. So it's good and bad: the good part is that it's a single cable to the computer. If you travel often (and don't mind taking your big headphones), it's probably a great choice to connect to a laptop.

    Just note that USB is +5V@500mA (or 900mA).
    polkaudio Monitor 5 Series II
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  • chadam44
    chadam44 Posts: 68
    edited December 2011
    I have been looking into a DAC to use with my computer too and have found that the Icon is a nice blend of quality sound and proce point. Havent mad emy purchase yet but it is in the top 2 right now.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited December 2011
    I bought the referenced DAC for $99 via Amazon. I needed a cheap USB DAC for my main PC (Dell XPS 8300) so gave it a try. I'm using it with a CA 550 integrated and Polk Blackstone TL-3 speakers. This little (emphasis on little, I could lose it on the desktop if it didn't have cables going to it!) DAC is pretty amazing for the price point. I would recommend giving it a try. FYI - the red case makes it sound better :biggrin:
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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