M-Audio Transport->Micro DAC

[akg_man701]

Currently I'm using my iPod line out (ALAC)->Micro Amp desktop module->K701s. It's pretty decent sound IMO but I'm sure it could get a lot better. I seem to get the best sound when I just use my bottom-end turntable with good audiophile records (practically no surface noise) but that's not ideal most of the time. That leads me to believe the DAC on my iPod is probably limiting the sound quite a bit. I want a Micro DAC, and since I've heard usb was dirty, I was thinking about getting something like the M-Audio Transit to give me an optical out.

My question is this: is the Transit (or any usb-optical converter) with the Micro DAC going to offer a substatial increase in SQ over the Pod->Micro Amp? Is there going to be much of a discernable difference between the optical converter and just using usb straight into the DAC? I know these are probably dumb questions but before I spend $400 on the setup I'd like a little feedback.

[RockinOut]

Originally Posted by akg_man701

Currently I'm using my iPod line out (ALAC)->Micro Amp desktop module->K701s. It's pretty decent sound IMO but I'm sure it could get a lot better. I seem to get the best sound when I just use my bottom-end turntable with good audiophile records (practically no surface noise) but that's not ideal most of the time. That leads me to believe the DAC on my iPod is probably limiting the sound quite a bit. I want a Micro DAC, and since I've heard usb was dirty, I was thinking about getting something like the M-Audio Transport to give me an optical out.

My question is this: is the Transport (or any usb-optical converter) with the Micro DAC going to offer a substatial increase in SQ over the Pod->Micro Amp? Is there going to be much of a discernable difference between the optical converter and just using usb straight into the DAC? I know these are probably dumb questions but before I spend $400 on the setup I'd like a little feedback.

36 reads and no replies .

iPod is a really good source compared to factory soundcards on desktops and laptopts. Especially with line out and an amp. I should know.

I use MicroDAC with USB and optical. I don't even listen to iPod anymore.

USB is getting a really undeserved bad rap in my opinion.

I love my MicroDAC with USB and optical. Yeah, USB has some noise issues and is a bit less clear, but overall I love it.

Whether or not it's worth an extra $300 DAC and $100 for Transit is up to each person.

For me I love my rig with USB or optical. I'm just sad that many newbies are not even giving USB a chance anymore. Their loss. It's too bad.

More of my opinion on this here:
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=184644

Just trying to help and my two cents. Enjoy yourself.

[Andrew_WOT]

Originally Posted by RockinOut

Whether or not it's worth an extra $300 DAC and $100 for Transit is up to each person.

That's not that bad. Transit is $79 brand new and $50 used, can get brand new off ebay for that price too.

[ComfyCan]

I paid about 65 for my transit on e-bay a couple of weeks ago; I had to lose a few auctions to get it that low.


When I used laptop via usb>microdac, my Iriver>Microdac sounded slightly better than the laptop did. Now that I'm running laptop>transit>microdac via optical (w/ ASIO enabled properly in Foobar 2k with assist from Andrew_Wot), my laptop sounds significantly better than my Iriver.

This may have more to do with the difference between Kmixer and properly configured ASIO than optical vs. USB, but any way you shake it the optical out of the transit has improved my laptop sound --a lot. (Thanks again Andrew).

I would assume the same would apply to an I-Pod. In fact, I suspect the sound improvement would be more dramatic than with the I-river, becasue the I-river has optical out rather than analog line out.