Which "transportable" DAC+AMP under 300?

[OneSec]

Hi all,
I'm still searching for a DAC+AMP for my office and home use, and below are the criteria

1) Input:USB (office), SPDIF optical (home)
2) Output:TRS
3) "Transportable" (portable? Maybe)
4) Robust - I will throw it in my bag and carry between my office and home.
5) Headphone - HD238 for now, may be looking @ fullsize cans soon strictly for home use.
6) Music - Classical most of it all.
7) Budget - 300

Based on some quick search on Internet and post from infinitesymphony I am considering the following lists of dac+amps. (are there really dac amps? lol)

I'm interested with D10 Cobra, and curious how this portable dac+amp perform compared against the other dac+amps.

Please state your preference, should you have other recommendations please select others and post your choice. Some explanation would be great!!

DIYEDENSV05 was previously in the list but I found a new model so I dropped it.

Thanks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
iBasso D10 Cobra $275
DAC: Wolfson WM8740 (24bit/192kHz)
USB receiver chip: Burr-Brown PCM2906
Digital Receiver: Cirrus CS8416
Op-amps: Analog Devices AD8656 (x2) or National LMH6643 (x2)
Inputs: USB, Coaxial, Optical
Output: 1/4" TRS

Musiland DIYEDENSV06 $180
DAC: HiFi AD1852 (24Bit/192kHz)
Op-amp: ??
Inputs: USB, Coaxial, Optical
Outputs: RCA, 1/8" TRS

Musiland MD-10 $295
DAC: Cirrus CS4398 (24Bit/192kHz)
Op-amp: Analog Devices OP275
Inputs: USB, Coaxial, Optical, BNC
Outputs: RCA, 1/8" TRS

E-MU 0404 USB $199
DAC: AKM AK4396 (24bit/96kHz)
Op-amps: JRC2068 (x2), JRC2114 (headphone output)
Inputs: USB, Coaxial, Optical
Outputs: 1/4" balanced TRS, 1/8" TRS, Coaxial digital, Optical digital

[HeadDoc]

I use the D10 daily for anywhere from 6 to 14 hours. And I mean everyday for the last 6 months. I transport it from home to the office, set it up on Optical in both locations. I don't have the other items that you list, but I can testify to the enjoyment that the D10 brings to me.

I use it with Westone 3's at the office (sometimes Shure SE530s') and HD5650s' at home.

I can't imagine life without it, or something better if there is such a thing (for my purposes). Also, I think optical sounds better than USB, and that's my own A/B testing. I rolled opamps and buffers and I don't remember just now what I ended up with.

I will get a home amp sooner or later and use this as a DAC, but it will likely serve as an AMP/DAC for many months to come.

[leftear]

My vote goes for iBasso D10 cobra, it is more than just a headphone amp, it's also a three-input DAC.

[krmathis]

No experience with the other, but find the iBasso D10 Cobra to be a really nice little unit.
Battery operated, relatively small size, versatile, pretty good sounding, ..

[OneSec]

Wow looks like the Cobra poisoned many people. I'm not surprised since there is a 200 pages post on it :S

Can someone recommend along where I can get opamp that works out of the box with D10, and the model/chipset as well?

I'm thinking of getting a couple purchases and get them ship together. Might as well get 1 or 2 pair of highly recommended opmap, along with a decent optical cable - I dont think the supplied cable is long enough for desktop solution.

Love to hear different opinions too. Thank you.

[OneSec]

WTB more comments

[OneSec]

Thanks all for your contribution and I'm now settle on D10 Cobra. Hope its sufficient and goes well with HD-238.

Testing my signature :P

And any recommendation on toslink below 60 would be great.

Again, thanks all for your input.

[mrarroyo]

The D10 is an outstanding piece of machine, if you only need USB input then iBasso has just released the D4. It is a bit smaller/cheaper and just what you may be looking for.

[wuwhere]

I have a D10 and I highly recommend it, though I have not listened to any of your other choices. The D10 is also opamp rollable. You can also upgrade the caps with Blackgates.

[OneSec]

Thanks Mrarroyo for considering for my wallet. Very nice of you I need the toslink path to eliminate noise on my home system, and the USB path for my office system. So I need both.

Thanks Wuwhere for your recommendation!! I don't quite understand what Blackgates does so I'll KIV until my boy arrives. However I'm too busy (lazy) to go through that 200 pages D10 posts for a classical opmap combination... (you know what I mean).

I'm reading 2 or 3 pages of that post a day but most things sound like alien to me.

[OneSec]

Placed my order. Apparently I bought my Cobra before my Sennheiser HD-238

How am I gonna test it without my headphone :P ipod stock earbud.

ouch.

[OneSec]

Arrived! D10 is looking great. Package comes with
1) D10
2) Rolling opamp kit
3) Owner's manual
4) 3.5 interconnect
5) Toslink
6) USB cable
7) Warranty card
8) USB charger
9) Leather pouch

The delivery is sure fast.

D10 itself has a very solid build and fine finish on the exterior.

Setting it up now...

PS1... Leather pouch, the toslink and 3.5 interconnect cables are a bit disappointing. I can get them replaced shouldn't be a big problem there.

PS2... The USB charger is type A but my home uses either type C or type G power sockets. will need to replace that as well.

[OneSec]

Much better clarity even on my speaker now. However I noticed the speaker jack gives a much better power over the line out jack.

Current setup:
Computer Audio -> toslink -> D10 -> MX5021.

However I noticed something strange - When I try to go for push up the output sampling, I noticed the following:
2 channel 24 bit 44.1kHz and below is working fine.
Anything above does not work.

I later found out that the toslink was lose. So I get it fixed, and
- 2 channel 24 bit 96kHz and below is working fine.
- 2 channel 24 bit 192kHz does not work.

Any one know if ibasso D10 works on 2 channel 24 bot 192khz? Is that a cable issue, setup issue, or ibasso only support 2 channel 24 bit 96kHz max.

[OneSec]

Bump for help.

Originally Posted by OneSec

Question
Current setup:
Computer Audio -> opt in D10 speaker out-> MX5021.
Whenever I configure my sound card on the out sampling rate:
2 channel 24 bit 96kHz and below is working fine.
2 channel 24 bit 192kHz has not sound out on my speaker.

Any one know if ibasso D10 works on 2 channel 24 bot 192khz? Is that a cable issue, setup issue, or ibasso only support 2 channel 24 bit 96kHz max.

[OneSec]

Ok I did some checking that 192khz is indeed supported.
Anyway I checked the DAC chip and it does support 192khz...
Wolfson Microelectronics plc: WM8740

So the problem is most likely due to other reason. Any help?

Originally Posted by OneSec

Question
Current setup:
Computer Audio -> opt in D10 speaker out-> MX5021.
Whenever I configure my sound card on the out sampling rate:
2 channel 24 bit 96kHz and below is working fine.
2 channel 24 bit 192kHz has not sound out on my speaker.

Any one know if ibasso D10 works on 2 channel 24 bot 192khz? Is that a cable issue, setup issue, or ibasso only support 2 channel 24 bit 96kHz max.