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Can Jam '09
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| Computer Audio Discussion of computers as source components, sound cards, USB DACs, media servers, etc. |
07-03-2009, 06:17 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 301
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Budget DAC - should I even bother?
Just how much better do more costly DACs sound compared to <$200 ones?
So I blew my money on Grado HF2 and a Millett Hybrid Minimax, what is the best route to take from here?
I'm currently just pluggin the amp straight to my soundcard and using SR60 since I dont have the HF2 yet.
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07-03-2009, 06:51 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: London England
Posts: 1,507
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Any one of these 3 budget DAC's will be a substantial upgrade from your soundcard.
Cambridge Audio Dacmagic
Musical Fidelity V-DAC
Beresford TC-7520
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07-03-2009, 07:12 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by anadin
Any one of these 3 budget DAC's will be a substantial upgrade from your soundcard.
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I think his "budget" wasn't meant to be over 200, we have here:
Cambridge Audio Dacmagic ($429)
Musical Fidelity V-DAC ($299)
Beresford TC-7520 ($250)
not quite budget, this would be more like it:
Fubar II ($137 or less)
Little Blue Circle Thingee (170 or less)
EMU 0404 (170 or less)
y1 (100?)
Alien (same as above?)
__________________
Main Rig: Macbook - ALAC - Keces 151 - NHT M-00
Home Cans: Macbook - ALAC - Keces 151 - Little Dot I+ - Grado 125i + Denon D2000
Portable: iPhone > Nuforce NE-7M
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07-03-2009, 07:43 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 402
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The Silverstone EB01 for under $100 is amazing value also..
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07-03-2009, 08:00 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,210
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How does the Zero DAC fall in place with the others?
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07-03-2009, 09:02 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by logwed
How does the Zero DAC fall in place with the others?
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great sound, unreliable build quality?
__________________
Main Rig: Macbook - ALAC - Keces 151 - NHT M-00
Home Cans: Macbook - ALAC - Keces 151 - Little Dot I+ - Grado 125i + Denon D2000
Portable: iPhone > Nuforce NE-7M
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07-03-2009, 09:17 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roker
great sound, unreliable build quality?
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Yeah, I have to list on the FS area soon looking for a broken one with functioning power circuit. Mine burned out after a couple days, but the DAC itself is fine. Oh yeah, the HP amp portion was DOA, too. At least I can look forward to good sound.
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07-03-2009, 09:27 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 301
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Did you get the 09 version?
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07-03-2009, 09:44 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Teraflame
Did you get the 09 version?
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Yep. It sounded great for a day, then it quit on me.
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07-04-2009, 12:27 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Sweden
Posts: 148
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The NuForce Icon Mobile is a good and inexpensive dac.
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07-04-2009, 01:48 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 329
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The Pro-ject USB box is inexpensive too ($95 in Amazon).
__________________
Simple blissful listening!
Headphones: D7000, ATH-m50
Amp: CIAudio VHP-2 w/ VAC-1 psu, Denon 488BA
Source: MB, iPhone 2nd Gen 16 GB, Pro-ject USB Box (DAC), Technics CDP.
Speakers: Mackies MR-5 monitors, Boston Acoustics.
Turntables: Denon DP-1200, B&O Beogram RX2, Technics SL-DD22
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07-04-2009, 04:16 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 131
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Hotaudio is known to be great bang for the buck. I just recently ordered his top-of-the-line DAC Straight for $105 (on sale, originally $249).
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07-04-2009, 04:50 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Jersey USA
Posts: 257
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I have the Supreme from Hotaudio. I use it at work. It really makes a nice difference in sound improvement.
__________________
Headphones: Denon AH-D7000 & AH-D2000, Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000, ATH-A900, ATH-A900LTD, ATH-AD700, ATH-ESW9,ATH-ESW10jpn, ATH-A2000X, ATH-W1000, ATH-W5000, Ultrasone PRO900 & HFI-780, Sennheiser 650, Beyer DT990 & DT880, JVC HA-RX900, (SOLD -AKG K701, Senn's 555, Given away - Grado 80)
Portables: Westone 3, Sennheiser IE8, Shure SE530, Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4, Zune premium headphones (given away), plus some others
Headphone Amps: Audio-gd Compass (new!), Hotaudio Supreme USB DAC, FiiO E5
Sources: Self built gaming/audio Vista pc - Xonar Essence soundcard,
Cheap Compaq Laptop, Sansa Fuze,
Zune 80 & Sony Walkman -NWZ-A818
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07-04-2009, 04:51 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,595
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I would personally go with an Emu 0404, I own a TC7520 which is amazing to my ears, but I would also really like to try an 0404. FWIW they're great out of the box and world-class with a few mods. A lot of "serious listeners"/geardos/whatever you want to call them around here use the 0404 as a source, as opposed the DA100 or what have you.
__________________
Digital Rig: Computer-->Beresford TC7520 (2x JRC4556)-->Grado HF-1
My feedback
Quote:
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Originally Posted by IPodPJ
Your audio will sound smoother than ever before. When you're done listening, you can shoot yourself in the head and feel the tremendous impact.
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07-04-2009, 06:04 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kobra
The NuForce Icon Mobile is a good and inexpensive dac.
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I wasn't impressed with the dac at all. Pretty underwhelming.
__________________
Main Rig: Macbook - ALAC - Keces 151 - NHT M-00
Home Cans: Macbook - ALAC - Keces 151 - Little Dot I+ - Grado 125i + Denon D2000
Portable: iPhone > Nuforce NE-7M
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