DACs

Firestone Tobby

Nice DAC for detail lovers

A review on: Firestone Tobby
by project86
project86

Pros: Excellent clarity without being too edgy, expansive soundstage, USB input is top notch

Cons: Bright LEDs on front panel, no DSD support (for now), doesn't sound as good using SPDIF inputs and RCA outputs

      The DAC market is clearly exploding. Seems like every week or so we hear of a new model being launched. Many of them look quite nice, with good specs and plenty of features. Some of them come from established brands like Benchmark, NuForce, Parasound, and PS Audio. Others come from relatively new, smaller (but growing!) companies like Matrix, Schiit, Yulong, and...
(read more)
Wonderful Clarity
Wonderful Clarity

Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC

Pros: Bright and crisp sound, 3 different inputs to match your setup, Solid construction, Great and prompt customer support

Cons: USB addon is pricey, Bright input indicator LEDs on front (color mismatched to a Schiit Lyr)

The new reference from Matrix
The new reference from Matrix

Matrix X-Sabre DAC

Pros: Build quality is spectacular, looks great, sounds very good as well

Cons: Lack of Toslink connection and high Vrms for XLR outputs could cause trouble in some systems

either I got a hearing upgrade or mine just ran in
either I got a hearing upgrade or mine just ran in

Hifimediy Sabre USB DAC

Pros: Excellent sound quality and detail, very low price

Cons: soundstage could be a little better

Manufacturer

Matrix
Schiit
Audio-gd
Musiland
Yulong
HRT
Neko Audio
PS Audio
Musical Fidelity
ONKYO
SMSL
Audiolab
Resonessence Labs
Hifimediy
Cambridge Audio
Firestone Audio
Hot Audio
Apogee
Anedio
Centrance
KingRex
NuForce
Eastern Electric
HiFiMAN
Maverick Audio
Violectric
Antelope Audio
Arcam
Peachtree Audio
Wyred4Sound
Calyx Audio
Teac
Auralic
Behringer
Creative Labs
Diyparadise
Emotiva
FiiO
JDS Labs
Linn
Meier Audio
Meridian
Metrum Acoustics
Audinst
Ayre Acoustics
Benchmark Media Systems
Beresford
Black Lion Audio
Crane Song
Empirical Audio
Furutech
Gigawork
GoVibe
Grant Fidelity
High Resolution Technologies
iFi
Lynx
Micromega
MSB Technology
NAD
Parasound
Red Wine Audio
Resolution Audio
MHDT Labs
Bel Canto
Hegel
Simaudio
Yamaha
April Music
Audio Alchemy
Auraliti
Denon
Halide Design
HeadRoom
Luxman
M2 Tech
Native Instruments GmbH
AMB Laboratories
Atoll
Aune
Benchmark
Berkeley Audio Design
Bryston
Channel Islands Audio
dCS
Esoteric
exaSound
Ibasso
Lavry
Line 6
LiTe
M-Audio
PopPulse
RME
SOtM
Synthax, Inc.
Tascam Brand
Teradak
TOPPING
Wadia
weiss audio
Abbingdon Music Research
Akai Pro
American Music and Sound
Apple Computer
Aragon
Argon
ART
Audioengine
Audio Note
Audio Poutine
Audiotrak
Behringer USA
Bladelius
Blue Circle
Burson Audio
Chord
Cyrus
dB Audio Labs
Devilsound
Ele
EMM Labs
Encore Electronics
Epiphany Acoustics
esi
ExactPower
Fire Phoenix
Focusrite
Fostex
HA-Info
HeadAmp
Heed
Human Audio
IOGEAR
Jolida
Korg
K Works
Laser Collection
LC Audio
Lindemann
Little Dot
Loud Technologies Inc. Brand
Meitner Audio
Metric Halo
Monarchy Audio
Moodlab
MOTU Brand
MUSE
Muse Audio
Musical Fidelity Limited
MUSIC HALL
Mute Audio
Mytek
Native Instruments
NJC
North Star Design
Orei
Oritek
Peachtree
Pioneer
PowerLab
Pro-Ject Audio
Rega
Ross Martin Audio
Rudistor
Shanling
Shiyun
Simple Design
Sonoma Wire Works
Sonos
Sound Devices
Steinberg
Stereolink
Stoner Acoustics
Styleaudio
Sumiko
Synthesis
T+A
TASCAM
TC Electronic
Twisted Pear Audio
Vintage Audio Lab
WooAudio
Xiang Sheng
Yamamoto Sound Craft
Sort By:Most PopularHighest RatedAlphabetic
353 Results
Yulong Sabre D18

Yulong Sabre D18

6 Reviews

“ Yulong D18 is the third DAC that I’ve owned and so far I’m very happy with it. My first DAC is Audinst HUD MX-1, after reading review on Headfonia and Head-fi (project86), I decided to go with the Audinst, then a few months later I bought the Dacport LX + Graham Slee Solo SRG II + HD650. It was a bundle and also my first step into the headphone world, before I was in IEM, after looking around...” --T.F.O.A

100% Positive Reviews
Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC

Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC

6 Reviews

“ REVIEW: Schiit Audio “Bifrost” DAC   Introduction   By now, Schiit probably needs no head-fi introduction, and so I will not be providing one.  I will also not be making any jokes about the name.  Sorry.  That was so last review   I had asked to be sent a review loaner of the Bifrost when the announcement was made about its existence.  Schiit...” --Skylab

100% Positive Reviews
Reference Seven

Reference Seven

3 Reviews

“ In a nutshell: if you are looking for a multibit chip DAC, in this price range there is nothing that even compares to the Audio-gd ACSS line flagship. If you find the term multibit confusing, search the forums for "Delta Sigma vs Multibit" (they are two competiting DA converter chip architectures). Using 8 expensive R2R PCM1704UK DAC chips in a balanced configuration and a...” --vrln

100% Positive Reviews
Matrix Mini i DAC

Matrix Mini i DAC

5 Reviews

“ Had it in my rig for a few months, might have been unsuccessful in breaking it in properly but after much consideration my Kingrex UD-01 SE with the PSU unit stayed and the Matrix went away. I experimented with using the optical toslink instead of USB but the Kingrex still stood strong, which I didn't expect. Still, a good buy at the 240 something (not quite sure exactly what I paid anymore..). ” --karlhahnert

100% Positive Reviews
PS Audio - PerfectWave DAC

PS Audio - PerfectWave DAC

4 Reviews

“ Full featured DAC that comes very close to the performance of cost no object DAC's at a fraction of the price.   If the Network Bridge meets the expectations this will be the DAC for Streaming your Audio from your own Network storage device (NAS, Computer etc.)   Great flexibility. Allows a degree of fine tuning with different SRC settings, or even going Native. Then there's the...” --Yikes

100% Positive Reviews
Schiit Modi

Schiit Modi

3 Reviews

“ I will compare the Modi vs the ODAC for this mini-review. They both have the same general "signature" and really just sound very transparent/flat/balanced. I can't really detect any coloration and they don't alter the sound of any of my headphones or make them sound different than how they're supposed to be. I doubt that there is a headphone that would sound bad with the ODAC or Modi. For...” --tdockweiler

100% Positive Reviews
Neko Audio D100 DAC

Neko Audio D100 DAC

5 Reviews

“ DISCLOSURE: I received a loaner D100 as part of the Neko Audio D100 loaner program.  Wes Miaw, the man behind Neko Audio put together the loaner program.  All outgoing shipping was at my expense.  The loan was not contingent upon a positive review.  However, Mr. Miaw did ask if I would post my impressions (good or bad).   The D100 is an unassuming DAC.  A black box with a silver knob...” --The Monkey

100% Positive Reviews
Audiolab M-DAC

Audiolab M-DAC

3 Reviews

“ I love this DAC - it really sounds fantastic and is packed with features, inputs, outputs and great looks. Designed by arguably the best engineer working in this field - John Westlake (Google him if you're not familiar with his work) - I knew it was going to be good even before hearing it.   John provides support over on the Pink Fish Media forums and has released firmware updates...” --head8k

100% Positive Reviews
ONKYO nd s1

ONKYO nd s1

3 Reviews

“ It does what it says in the advert, you can put an iPod on it and get direct digital output into a DAC of your choosing. But there is no analogue output so you must have a DAC or an amp with a digital input, e.g. an AV amp like Onkyo (and most of these can be connected to give an onscreen display showing track info, etc.).   Okay an iPod isn't the ultimate hifi source but it is...” --Fatmangolf

100% Positive Reviews
HRT Music Streamer II High Resolution USB D/A Converter

HRT Music Streamer II High Resolution USB D/A Converter

3 Reviews

“ I'm not really a fan of computer DACs and prefer full sized CD players mostly. I previously had a Nuforce Icon Mobile DAC and it's ok. I believe it's the same thing as the uDAC, but I might be wrong. It seemed to be a good match for only specific headphones and I did prefer it to the E7 by far. It's very good for bass and treble happy headphones. It's especially good for the M50 and D2000....” --tdockweiler

100% Positive Reviews