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| Computer Audio Discussion of computers as source components, sound cards, USB DACs, media servers, etc. |
11-21-2008, 01:24 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 92
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Stellavox ST2 two channels D/A Converter
__________________
Desk: Laptop--NuForce Icon--Audioengine A2/AKG K450
Portable: SONY S639F--AKG K340(In-Ear)
Past HP: D2000, E500, ATH-CM7, Super.fi 5Pro, MS1, PX100, AKG K14P, Audeo PFE, AKG K319
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02-06-2009, 11:58 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Coventry, UK
Posts: 159
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Can we add the Prism Sound Orpheus:
Link
This is another proprietary DAC and possibly one of the best in terms of studio applications. I haven't ever heard anyone say another DAC out performs it! Of course this more than just a DAC but some use it as a stand alone. (The Orpheus uses the same DAC that is used in their more expensive models which are for dedicated DA conversion e.g. Dream DA-2). This could be a final resting place DAC. ~$5,000
Thank you for this great thread!
p.s. if anyone has done any comparisons with this DAC and another of similar price I would love to hear about it!
__________________
Headphones: S2 recabled SR325s, MS1000, DR150
AMP: Zero Dac (Earth HDAM, LM4562)
For Sale: Zero Dac (Earth HDAM, OPA627, many other opamps)
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02-06-2009, 05:59 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: In-between the Left and Right Drivers .....in WI, US
Posts: 2,770
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...and a new kid on the block. Ibasso D10 Cobra.
http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=39
Main Features:
- PCM2906, converts USB into a S/PDIF signal
- CS8416, DA-receiver chip
- WM8740, D/A chip
- OP+BUF structure for amplification
- 2-Setting Gain Switch for impedance matching (+3/10dB)
- Dedicated MCU (Micro Controller Unit) to manager inputs, outputs, and functions.
- Flexible input and output compatibility. It has USB, optical, coaxial, stereo input, line out, and stereo output
- Works as a combo or a stand-alone AMP, DAC, USB soundcard
- Built-in rechargeable Li-polymer battery plays up to 30 hours (30 hrs for AMP, or 20hrs for combo)
- Measures 55*21*104mm, and weights 168g
- Comes with power adapter, leather pouch, optical cable, USB cable, warranty card, owner¡¯s manual, and opamp rolling kit. (includes AD8656*2, LMH6643*2, Dummy adapter*2)
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TEAM Why Am I Still Here?
MY FEEDBACK
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02-06-2009, 07:03 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: S. FLorida
Posts: 3,260
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Hi,
Whole Page of Nice DAC's not listed:
CDתÅÌ/DAC
Nice DAC/AMP Combo:
н¨ÍøÒ³ 1
.
__________________
<<<Les Garten>>> Leave the gun, take the cannoli -- Fat Clemenza circa 1950
Conversation with future Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing in 1969: Lessing: "You do still have gangsters [in Chicago], don't you?" Studs Terkel: "Yes, but these days they're mostly in business, or politics."
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office" Aesop
Ich Bin Ein Europeaner!
JOIN TEAM Snake Oil
Head-Fi Feedback<<>> ebay Feedback<<>> Pink Noise Burn-In Tool!!
I Changed My Windows Desktop to a PIC of the Audio-GD REF 1
Witness the Birth of the Phoenix Phoenix
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02-26-2009, 11:17 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Mateo, Ca -> La Jolla, Ca -> Pac Beach, Ca -> Davie, Fl -> Tampa Bay, Fl -> SF, Ca
Posts: 239
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What is generally regarded as a better dac: Burr Brown's pcm 1792a or the wm8740 from Wolfson?
Thanks,
Jon
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02-27-2009, 05:15 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,509
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clasam
What is generally regarded as a better dac: Burr Brown's pcm 1792a or the wm8740 from Wolfson?
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Both are top-of-the-line and not found in too many devices, so I think it will depend on the implementation.
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Team Value-Fi.
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02-27-2009, 05:30 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 660
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Does the iBasso D3 & D3 count?
__________________
DAP: Zune 80 (red) | iPod Classic 160 | iPod U2 20
HAS: Denon | Mission | Energy
Phones: Shure E3C | UE Super.fi 5 Pro | Shure SE530
Amps: iBasso D3 Python | Decware Zen Head
Misc.: iBasso CB01 cable
Ripping: dBpoweramp
BETTER LIVING THRU MUSIC
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02-27-2009, 08:38 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ
Posts: 84
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***WARNING***Stupid Noob Question***WARNING***
Why are some DACs so expensive? ($200+) From what I've gathered so far, a DAC takes a digital/computer signal (1's and 0's) and converts it to a analog signal to be feed to a amp. To me, this sounds like a very simple process, it doesn't try to "improve"/amplify the audio quality, it just needs to change transmission formats. Why do some DACs do this better than others? Why is there so much variety in reported quality?
Sorry if I got it all wrong and I sound like an idiot.
***WARNING***Stupid Noob Question***WARNING***
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02-27-2009, 08:55 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Califon, NJ
Posts: 1,924
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Try to find some internal shots of some of these DACs, not that simple. Tack on R&D and marketing and things add up. Oh and the audiophile markup.
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02-27-2009, 02:39 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: S. FLorida
Posts: 3,260
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric M
***WARNING***Stupid Noob Question***WARNING***
Why are some DACs so expensive? ($200+) From what I've gathered so far, a DAC takes a digital/computer signal (1's and 0's) and converts it to a analog signal to be feed to a amp. To me, this sounds like a very simple process, it doesn't try to "improve"/amplify the audio quality, it just needs to change transmission formats. Why do some DACs do this better than others? Why is there so much variety in reported quality?
Sorry if I got it all wrong and I sound like an idiot.
***WARNING***Stupid Noob Question***WARNING***
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At the Bottom of my Sig file is the Audio-gd REF1 that I'm getting ready to buy, a "Cheap" one.
$200 Expensive!! You're WAY WAY WAY off base there. Expensive DACs are $10,000-$15,000. Now that's an expensive DAC!
.
__________________
<<<Les Garten>>> Leave the gun, take the cannoli -- Fat Clemenza circa 1950
Conversation with future Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing in 1969: Lessing: "You do still have gangsters [in Chicago], don't you?" Studs Terkel: "Yes, but these days they're mostly in business, or politics."
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office" Aesop
Ich Bin Ein Europeaner!
JOIN TEAM Snake Oil
Head-Fi Feedback<<>> ebay Feedback<<>> Pink Noise Burn-In Tool!!
I Changed My Windows Desktop to a PIC of the Audio-GD REF 1
Witness the Birth of the Phoenix Phoenix
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02-27-2009, 10:34 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,509
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Signal2Noise
Does the iBasso D3 & D3 count?
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No, because the D3 does not have a line output--it can't be used as a standalone DAC for non-headphone systems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric M
Why are some DACs so expensive? ($200+) From what I've gathered so far, a DAC takes a digital/computer signal (1's and 0's) and converts it to a analog signal to be feed to a amp. To me, this sounds like a very simple process, it doesn't try to "improve"/amplify the audio quality, it just needs to change transmission formats. Why do some DACs do this better than others? Why is there so much variety in reported quality?
Sorry if I got it all wrong and I sound like an idiot.
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R&D of parts, manufacturing cost of parts, labor cost of parts, marketing cost of parts, R&D of the DAC, parts cost of the DAC, labor cost of the DAC, marketing cost of the DAC.
It would be a very simple process except we're dealing with:
1. A finite amount of samples that need an infinite amount of interpolation.
2. Time constraints (i.e. work must be done before the next sample arrives).
44,100 samples per second only approximates the original waveform. It's up to the DAC to guess how to smooth it out. Keeping the timing accurate is difficult because clocking isn't always accurate--this is called jitter. The quality of parts varies in every section of a DAC: DAC chip, power supply construction, wire fault tolerances, etc., etc.
So, it's not simple. 
__________________
Team Value-Fi.
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02-27-2009, 11:12 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,509
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I've placed many of your additions in the list. I'll work on updating the Pacific Valve, Blue Circle Audio, and Audio-gd stuff soon.
Let me know if you have any info about internal components to add, especially missing DAC chip info. Also tell me if you find any DACs that have been discontinued. Thanks!
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Team Value-Fi.
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02-27-2009, 11:15 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: S. FLorida
Posts: 3,260
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Quote:
Originally Posted by infinitesymphony
I've placed many of your additions in the list. I'll work on updating the Pacific Valve, Blue Circle Audio, and Audio-gd stuff soon.
Let me know if you have any info about internal components to add, especially missing DAC chip info. Also tell me if you find any DACs that have been discontinued. Thanks!
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Thanx for keeping up with this!
.
__________________
<<<Les Garten>>> Leave the gun, take the cannoli -- Fat Clemenza circa 1950
Conversation with future Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing in 1969: Lessing: "You do still have gangsters [in Chicago], don't you?" Studs Terkel: "Yes, but these days they're mostly in business, or politics."
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office" Aesop
Ich Bin Ein Europeaner!
JOIN TEAM Snake Oil
Head-Fi Feedback<<>> ebay Feedback<<>> Pink Noise Burn-In Tool!!
I Changed My Windows Desktop to a PIC of the Audio-GD REF 1
Witness the Birth of the Phoenix Phoenix
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02-28-2009, 02:04 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Mateo, Ca -> La Jolla, Ca -> Pac Beach, Ca -> Davie, Fl -> Tampa Bay, Fl -> SF, Ca
Posts: 239
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Quote:
Originally Posted by infinitesymphony
Both are top-of-the-line and not found in too many devices, so I think it will depend on the implementation.
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That completely makes sense, Thanks.
Speaking in generalities, could you describe the differences in sound between the Pcm 1792a and the Wm8740
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02-28-2009, 02:22 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Manhattan
Posts: 6,148
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Just wanted to note that the North Star m192 has been updated.
North Star m192 mkII.
Some specs:
Cirrus CS8416 digital receiver
Analog Devices AD1895 digital upsampler
TI 2 x PCM 1796 DB DAC
Inputs 3 S/PDIF (2 RCA coax, 1 TOSLINK), 1 XLR AES/EBU, 1 I2S RJ45
Output Unbalanced 1 pair per channel (RCA)
Output Balanced 1 pair per channel (XLR)
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"When stupidity is a sufficient explanation, there is no need to have recourse to any other."
F e e d b a c k
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