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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
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View Poll Results: What is the best cheap DAC out there (I mean DAC section, not Amp section)?
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Beresford TC-7510
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13 |
17.57% |
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Zero 24 Bit /192 KHz DAC
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24 |
32.43% |
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Zhaolu (unmodded)
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9 |
12.16% |
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Behringer SRC2496
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0 |
0% |
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KECES DA-131
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11 |
14.86% |
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Other (<$250; worldwide delivery; please specify which)
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17 |
22.97% |
01-25-2008, 05:08 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 302
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That's what I was thinking - and that's how I'll be doing it when I get mine, but it seems a strange way to do things - why don't these DACs just come with the 3.5mm out?
__________________
Apple Macbook, Apogee Duet, Apple iPod (5th Gen), Kenwood KR-V7040, Graham Slee Voyager, MicroShar Hand Crafted LOD, Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro, Grado SR80, Grado SR325i, Roland DS-7
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01-25-2008, 07:16 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Waterloo, Canada
Posts: 180
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DAC's are designed for home usage...and home audio equipment almost always has RCA jacks.
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01-26-2008, 02:00 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HiFlight
Behringer uca202 hands down winner at $30.00!!!
It has both optical and analog out as well as headphone out.
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Have you tried this as a hp amp? I'm really curious about what this is capable of!
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01-26-2008, 02:05 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 4,422
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Quote:
Originally Posted by indysmith
How are people using all these DACs with RCA outputs, when most headphone amps have 3.5mm inputs?
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Most PORTABLE headphone amps have 3.5mm inputs.
__________________
Headphones|Have: Audio Technica AD700, Altec Lansing iM716, Koss KSC-75, Grado HF2
Headphones|Had: Sennheiser HD580, Alessandro MS1, Westone UM1, AKG K270 Playback, AKG K701, Beyerdynamic DT880, Etymotic ER6i, AKG K141 Silver, Stax Lambda Pro, Stax Lambda
Sources: Audigy 2 ZS, Beresford TC-7510 Mk III, Rockboxed iRiver H120, Samsung YP-Z5, NAD T744, Stax SRD-7 MK2
Ampage: Little Dot MK II
Music: Gomez, Radiohead, Muse, Wilco, Postal Service, Nine Inch Nails, Pink Floyd, Explosions In the Sky, Cloud Cult, Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, Menomena, Amon Tobin, Fat Freddies Drop, Pendulum, Grizzly Bear
New Zealand head-fi meet kgo!
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01-26-2008, 10:38 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fetalgoat
How would a cheap dac compare to an auzen prelude?
...
So I have the same interest as the OP I guess if it can give me significantly better sound than the prelude can on it's own. I don't have $500-$1000 to spend on a dac though.
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Yes we have the same interest. My current source is my AV Receiver (Sony STR-DB940) which in turn is linked via an optical cable to my computer (Realtek ALC889A chipset - bitperfect output). My guess is that the Sony is the weak link in my setup. I have a LD MK III and AKG K601's. I really don't want to spend more than 250 euro. I hope a 'cheap' DAC will improve my SQ. I really wonder what the difference will be... 
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01-28-2008, 01:23 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LongIsland,NY...USA
Posts: 2,592
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TABAAM? (Turtle Beach) $30usd
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01-29-2008, 11:00 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Jose/Sacramento
Posts: 2,856
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i'm a fan of the E-MU series of daCs... =]
__________________
E-MU 0404 USB
Denon AH-D2000 ///Audioengine A5B /// Sennheiser HD25-1 II /// KOSS KSC-35
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02-24-2008, 11:52 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 30
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I just ordered the Keces DA-131. Ignoring the poll results (after 41 votes the ZERO has a comfortable lead, followed by the Beresford) I decided the buy Keces. It fits the budget and judging from what I've read about these DAC's (note that I haven't heard any so this is based on just reading here and on other fora) it seems to be very well crafted and designed. It uses high quality components and it has a sort of 'less is more' feel to it. There are a few reviews but no comparisons to the other DAC's in this poll. I will write a review after burn in.
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02-24-2008, 12:22 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 6,648
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On the cheap: AlienDAC (get some nice film caps - make it larger, but get fantastic sound quality).
On the SERIOUS: OPUS DAC balanced DAC for under $250! Add a balanced-single ended converter (Ballsie) and you've got yourself one of the best DACs on the market for a tiny fraction of the cost!
__________________
Home: ESI Juli@ (I2S) -> Buffalo32 -> Balanced Dynalo / Melos Maestro / SinglePower MPX3
Headphones: HP-2, RS-1, SR-200, Sennheiser HD-600, HD-650, Denon D-5000, AKG K271
Portable: 240GB diyMod 5.5G -> V-Cap Dock -> PPAS -> UE700
Office: Gamma1 -> PPAS -> K271
Feedback
Digital Audio Primer
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03-03-2008, 11:11 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PbFree
Add the cost of a good 24V power supply, however.
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whats wrong with 24v power supply? wont it work with my ups (where all my computer components are plugged)?
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03-03-2008, 11:58 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 264
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I'm loving my new E-Mu 0404 USB.
__________________
Team College-Fi (Western Michigan University)
Come and Gone: DT770 Pro 600, DT770 Pro 80, Audio Technica AD700, Sennheiser HD555, V-Moda Vibe, E-Mu 0404 USB, Meier Corda Headfive, Little Dot MKII, Sennheiser HD580, MHDT Constantine+, Singlepower MPX3 SLAM
Feedback | Gross Head-Fi Cost: $2700 |
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03-04-2008, 01:10 AM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 1,106
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I've only heard one of the DAC's on that list, being the Beresford. I thought it was very good for the money. However without experience with the other ones, I cannot say which is best.
__________________
My Feedback
- - - - - - FS/FT:
[For Now]
Foobar --> M-Audio Transit --> SF TransDAC :modded: --> M³ --> whatever's lying around
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03-04-2008, 04:29 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Boston, Wea did I Paak tha Caa?
Posts: 108
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The zero is impressive (the only one i've used though)
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03-04-2008, 10:48 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Alaska
Posts: 194
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Zero DAC is "better" than the Emu 0404 to my ears. The reason for the quotes is I believe the Zero to be a bit colored, but it is a very pleasant hue
Zero is also better than Beresford Mk III I spent some time with.
I'm interested in the Keces but not enough to drop the $$$ on it.
I'm also interested in the Opus and will buy the parts as soon as available again.
I haven't heard it, but if I was shopping for a cheap DAC only, I'd consider the 707 usb. If it doesn't pan out you should get most of your modest investment back pretty quick. I'd buy it from you for 90% if you'd take the shipping hit 
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03-06-2008, 09:17 PM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 30
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I have just received my DA-131.  I will write a review later, but first I'll let it burn in a bit. Right now the original OPA604's are still in there (and already I can hear details I haven't heard before). Soon I will change them for LME49710's. I'm curious how that changes the sound. I will keep you posted, but for now highly recommended.
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