Go-Vibe USB DAC vs DAC707 USB?

[CountChoculaBot]

Just wondering, which one is better?

I read in one review that the Go-Vibe Petite's DAC (same as GV USB DAC) was pretty much on par with the Keces 151. I've been seeing lots of recommendations for it as great value for the price.

However, the DAC707 USB also looks good. It's got oodles of connections, and even a mic input. I've been hearing great things about it, but then again I've also read a fair share of negative opinions on it.

Can anyone who's heard both or just one give me opinions?

[darkswordsman17]

Originally Posted by CountChoculaBot

Just wondering, which one is better?

I read in one review that the Go-Vibe Petite's DAC (same as GV USB DAC) was pretty much on par with the Keces 151. I've been seeing lots of recommendations for it as great value for the price.

However, the DAC707 USB also looks good. It's got oodles of connections, and even a mic input. I've been hearing great things about it, but then again I've also read a fair share of negative opinions on it.

Can anyone who's heard both or just one give me opinions?

Well, there's no comparison as to which has the better DAC chip inside of it, however implementation is an entirely different thing. To be honest, I really wouldn't expect one to be leagues ahead of the other in this regard, so I'd lean towards the 707. Of course keep in mind that via USB they'll both be capped to 16bit/48kHz, so some of the advantage of the 707 is lost.

The little bit that I've seen on the DAC707 has been mostly positive, but seems like most people aren't using it (and the criticism seemed to be the purple color, not the device itself). I haven't really kept up with it though so I'm likely out of the loop.

Also, consider that one is a DAC/amp combo, while the other is just a DAC (so if you need the amp part, it might be worth it to go with the Petite).

[blippster]

I preferred the 707 by a small margin because of its slightly fuller sound, while the GV (side by side) sounds slightly harsh.

On the other hand the GV was much more convenient/portable without having to lug an extra wall-wart around. Couldn't get the mic input on the 707 to work too, but maybe that's just me. It did run a little hotter too.

The 707 has an amplification section as well which was powerful enough for me to run a pair of small Cambridge Soundworks/Creative satellites off for a few days before I got new speakers.