DAC options @ ~ $400

Absolute_Zero

I have 703's and looking for a DAC. Just looking at options.

tonyb

Absolute_Zero wrote: »

I have 703's and looking for a DAC. Just looking at options.

Whats the rest of the system look like and what do you need the dac to do ?

Absolute_Zero

I have a low power computer with wireless to a NAS with my CD's ripped to it. Also use Amazon Prime Music.

Using JRiver to manage everything.

Irrenhaus

Absolute_Zero wrote: »

I have a low power computer with wireless to a NAS with my CD's ripped to it. Also use Amazon Prime Music.

Using JRiver to manage everything.

What are you using to drive the 703's

Absolute_Zero

Carvin TS100 Amp

rooftop59

Absolute_Zero wrote: »

Carvin TS100 Amp

That amp looks frickin cool!

Based on the speakers and the amp, I would think your setup might lean towards the warm side. would you say thats true? If so a really precise more analytic DAC might be in order...I personally really liked my music streamer HRT+ (the plus is really important-makes a huge difference). But that's a few years old now...

txcoastal1

JOLIDA GLASS FX TUBE DAC MK3

Underwood Hifi has these on speacial for $448...great DAC way underrated

Talk to Walter
http://www.underwoodhifi.com/specials

Irrenhaus

Absolute_Zero wrote: »

Carvin TS100 Amp

Nice Amp.

This is what I have TEAC UD-301 with a Cary Tube Pre and SS amp.

http://www.teac.com/product/ud-301/

It goes for 399.00 on Amazon.

Cheers

tonyb

Absolute_Zero wrote: »

I have a low power computer with wireless to a NAS with my CD's ripped to it. Also use Amazon Prime Music.

Using JRiver to manage everything.

Zero,
I meant are you using a pre amp or receiver, amp, hook-ups required, do you want a dac capable of DSD, USB only, a need for HDMI ?

In your price range, going used will buy you a heck of a lot more dac than new. If your interested in DSD capabilities, the TEAC dacs should be on your radar. If all you need is something to play the various files from cd's and higher rez, PS Audio digital link 3 can be had for 400 and is a very good dac.

Also depends on your hook up, if your using a digital coax connection, not much to worry about but if your using USB, take note that some dacs have certain limitations on their USB connections when it comes to files it can play.

For me, I have no need for DSD so I use a Cary Xciter dac. Many others exist in your price range but it all comes down to sound preferences and like I said, what you need it to do.

Absolute_Zero

The source is a computer the amp is a Carvin. Two other DAC's I found is Cambridgde Audio DAC Magic 100 and the Emotiva Stealth DAC DC-1.

Seems the Emotiva and TEAC share some common design components. Does the TEAC have a remote?

I don't have any DSD. Funny thing with the Cambridge web site is you have to agree to their cookie policy before you can click on anything. That was a turn off.

rooftop59

I love my arcam rDAC, and at that price you could buy a nice set of Interconnects. Check out the what hifi review. But I am not sure if it's analytic enough for your situation. Knowing more the overall sound characteristics of your rig and what you like about ur and what might want to improve, and that will help us.

Absolute_Zero

The computer audio jack is just noisy. This is the main thing. A remote would be a godsend for when I'm simply streaming some music.

I picked up Carvin for a song used at a my local music shop (pun intended). The tube amp just seems more collected at the occasional higher volume and I just want to clean up and let it's glow shine through.

My interconnects are all Mogami Gold. So from what I have been told I have really good cabling.

Nightfall

raginglunatic wrote: »

Also important to make sure those teak or emotive come with sabre dac chip. Everything else is gimmicks and "features".

Sabre isn't the only capable DAC chip out there. Just for instance, Burr Brown is great too. It's more about the DAC implementation and power supply than just the chip in it.

Computer analog outs are noisy, that is a fact.

tonyb

raginglunatic wrote: »

Also important to make sure those teak or emotive come with sabre dac chip. Everything else is gimmicks and "features".

Huh ??

You do realize there are a good variety of dac chips out there and while Sabre makes some good ones, they certainly are not the only ones or to everyones tastes. Dac chips alone don't dictate how a dac will sound either.

Nightfall

raginglunatic wrote: »

Yes I realize. But sabre has been tested and around for a while. Gold standard. I don't know the chain of events in dac so can't say for sure about implementation. When I learn about how dac works in bits I'll have a better idea about benefits of "implementation "

Sabre is not the Gold Standard. Marketing teams have swayed you, they are only the most popular right now. The Oppo players might have played a role in that.

Read this:

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/your-favorite-dac-chip-brand-burr-brown-wolfson.297326/

Nightfall

raginglunatic wrote: »

Yes so burr brown and sabre. But also important that your operating system will work with those dac. If you are one of those people who use made in China windows os then great. Most dac are compatible. I use ubuntu. It's Free And Light Years Ahead Of Those people scaming America With Virus /bugs/bacteria Infested windows.

Sure. Have a great day, sir.

rooftop59

Okay number one is the problem of the computers dacs. They are usually about the quality of the one in your cell phone or a 25 buck DVD player. Very poor sounding. Next you have the problem of jitter, and the computers internal clock decides how much juice to devote to which function, and audio output is lower on the list.

As for the sound? When I used mine easiest analogy is it sounded like a tape player (and not a good one). When I introduced a quality USB DAC white noise was drastically reduced and the background was much blacker making the music more detailed and precise. Once I went that route, hard to go back...YMMV...

Absolute_Zero

raginglunatic wrote: »

Don't know what kind of noise people talking about when plugging in power amp direct to computer jack. I unplugged my preamp today. Only using sound card and volume control on keyboard. So far no noticeable difference

I've been using the headphone out and it's actually a bit noisy. I need to start somewhere.

Nightfall

The poster above you is relating his real world experience. I'm sure he's not working for a company that produces a USB DAC or getting paid by one to try and scam Polk forum members. Comparing a $100 used DAC to another $100 used DAC will probably reveal nothing.

Here is a well documented case of comparing DAC's by a forum member here with a PhD and far more knowledge than either of us on the topic of audio:

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/168179/the-year-of-dacs/p1

Absolute_Zero

I'm using a Win 10 machine that has a power draw of only a few watts. Intel X8500 quad core CPU.

All I know is an internal card is out of the question. The entire computer is the size of a deck of cards.

Irrenhaus

Absolute_Zero wrote: »

I'm using a Win 10 machine that has a power draw of only a few watts. Intel X8500 quad core CPU.

All I know is an internal card is out of the question. The entire computer is the size of a deck of cards.

So it looks you are using one of the Mini-PC's I have the Intel Nuc running Win10 connected to the DAC via USB and then to the Pre. Is a nice setup and works great.

Cheers

EndersShadow

You have many options for a DAC. Does it need to ONLY be a DAC or does it need to have volume control?

Coming to mind are the DacMagic Plus, Ifi as mentioned by @DSkip , HRT Mediastreamers, Audioquest Dragonfly, Meridian Explorer....

Lots of options many very good!

voltz

I just got a iFi micro iDSD DAC from Skip, And been playing with it most of this afternoon (had to work today) after I got home. With time I'll compare it to the DAC I normally use which is my Marantz 8005 SACD's DAC.

Both use a Windows driver and I'm playing FLAC files I rip using JRiver Media and play them back using JRiver. So far I really like what I'm hearing from the DAC and it has a nice headphone amp in it with 3 different settings for different ohm headphone to earbuds. Has several settings on it to set it on based on wither your play DSD files or PCM etc.. So far what little I have used it I would give it a thumbs up.

if interested I'd PM Skip and talk to him about the different ones the iFi makes

EndersShadow

raginglunatic wrote: »

Wasn't impressed with dragon fly 1.2.. did not beat pc Realtek codec..ALC889A. Identical sound. And actually from what people say online it's one of the best . Ha.. may be hard to beat what I have.

While I applaud you trying something just because you didn't hear a difference doesn't mean others might not and that their experiences should be discounted.


We each hear differently so what I hear you might not.

With that I'm out.

heiney9

raginglunatic wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

raginglunatic wrote: »

Also important to make sure those teak or emotive come with sabre dac chip. Everything else is gimmicks and "fearures".

Huh ??

You do realize there are a good variety of dac chips out there and while Sabre makes some good ones, they certainly are not the only ones or to everyones tastes. Dac chips alone don't dictate how a dac will sound either.

Yes I realize. But sabre has been tested and around for a while. Gold standard. I don't know the chain of events in dac so can't say for sure about implementation. When I learn about how dac works in bits I'll have a better idea about benefits of "implementation "

Sabre is farily new compared to someone like Burr Brown and the others. Sabre is a good chipset, no doubt (it's not the only chipset) but a dac lives and dies by it's analog design and the power supply design. A poor analog or power supply section it won't matter what conversion chipset you are using.

H9

pearsall001

raginglunatic wrote: »

Also important to make sure those teak or emotive come with sabre dac chip. Everything else is gimmicks and "fearures".

With that logic I guess Chord might as well close up shop!

heiney9

raginglunatic wrote: »

"You see this bit of music, in my DAC it follows through this path..and then through this circuit. right here this capacitor ensures the sound is not affected by such and such electromagnetic interference" and here is my competitors DAC. They don't have that capacitor. I was just underscoring that consumers should be very sceptical and educate themselves before they shell out $8,000.00 on a DAC that they can built at home for $100.00. Its small caps small transistors if any inside.. can't cost much.

I assure you, you can't make an $8000 dac at home with $100 worth of parts. You can save some money going DIY but nowhere near that much. You can build a $100 dac, but it won't sound very good. You obviously are new to this hobby.

H9

Absolute_Zero

If Raging Lunatic made a suggestion I've missed.

Could you please go away?

EndersShadow

Raginglunatic. Calling people names is no way to act on this forum. Especially someone new looking to learn.

I have reported your post as it violates the Rules of Conduct for this forum.

Please refer to this thread

EndersShadow

raginglunatic wrote: »

I didn't call anyone names.

Please refer to the highlighted section.

Regards

raginglunatic wrote: »

Yes I did . Read my posts. Flip through used dac , make money reselling things u don't like. If you are too stupid to do that . Go to hifi shack and pay your 400$ budget for 30$ chip in cute looking box

I'm glad your happy with using your motherboards built in chipset, but most of us disagree with your assessment its better than a standalone DAC. Thats ok, your are entitled to your opinion and as long as your happy with things thats cool with me.

But the person that started the thread is looking for a DAC he has made a similar assessment so he is not interested in using his motherboards built in chipset.

motorhead43026

Lunatic, hijacking threads is frowned upon.