Cleanest dac under $500?

[fetalgoat]

What's the cleanest sounding dac under $500? I ask because I just can't get used to opamp'ed sound after removing the opamp from my prelude. Every opamp I've tried, including the highly revered LM4562, sound like everything I hate about digital sound next to using the prelude without an opamp.

You might be curious as to why I would want a dac when I could just use the prelude, as is. Well, sound output is too low the opamp removed. It's quite aggravating because 3-5db more and it would be perfectly adequate for my entire music collection.

Without the opamp in use, the prelude is essentially outputting sound through it's built-in AK4396 DAC. So I guess I would need a separate DAC that is better or at the very least equal to the AK4396. It would also have to have fairly loud output as well so I don't find myself turning the knob all the way up on my Darkvoice and being totally crushed that my classical music collection is way too quiet. It's very important that it has loud output.

I was recommended the Headroom Micro Dac a while back but I did some research and most people seem to prefer the AK4396 DAC to the Headroom's CS4398. I don't want to purchase the headroom and find that it is even more veiled sounding than using the LM4562 opamp.





So my gripe is basically that I think my sound is perfect when I removed the opamp from my prelude, when it's being driven by the AK4396 DAC alone, but volume just ever too slightly low this way.

If I put the LM4567 opamp back in, sound is noticeably brighter, more veiled, grainy and compressed sounding. As much as I dislike the way the LM4567 sounds, it is quite a bit better than ever other opamp I've tried. I need a separate DAC that will give me the clean and open sound that the AK4396 provides on its own.

[infinitesymphony]

I'm not sure that it's possible to say that most people prefer AK4396 to CS4398, since many haven't heard both, and the AK4396 has a good reputation because it's in so many popular devices. Ask the DIY guys and you'll find that the CS4398 is considered a higher-end chip than the AK4396, though they both have advantages.

I think you'll have trouble finding a decent DAC at that price range if you're against op-amps. Even the Benchmark DAC1 uses LM4562 and less-expensive NE5532 op-amps for the output sections. I think that the Ori-modified Zhaolu DAC has a discrete (op-amp-less) output section, using the AD1852 DAC chip, but since this is an entirely different configuration compared to the one you have now, it's tough to know whether or not you'll like the sound signature.

[Maniac]

National's latest series of OPs needs higher voltage to work better, at least +/-12V to show most of its strength, or +/-15V to reach almost all its peak capability.

IMHO it is likely not OP's fault but the sound card may not be providing enough voltage to let it show you how good it can be. (Which is why some people mod X-Fi to get higher voltage to the OPs.

[Killercrush]

CI Audio VDA2 on the used market, a real bargain, it has a discrete output stage.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Here is a mini review I just did comparing the MicroDAC with RSA predator and iBasso D1. RSA vs. HeadRoom

It puts the MicroDAC on top, with D1 close behind (except the D1 has that opamp problem and I may have that solved soon, based on the thread here): New Portable Amp/Dac: iBasso D1 **with updates on the first page**

Actually, start at post #2449 of the D1 thread to see what I mean about D1 opamp issues New Portable Amp/Dac: iBasso D1 **with updates on the first page**

[infinitesymphony]

Originally Posted by Killercrush

CI Audio VDA2 on the used market, a real bargain, it has a discrete output stage.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that one. Another good recommendation.

It uses the Burr-Brown PCM1794 DAC chip, which is their current top-of-the-line.

[sejarzo]

Sorry, I misread the original post, twice......my bad.