Head-Fi.org › Head Gear › Dedicated Source Components

Dedicated Source Components

JDS Labs ODAC

Sound, USB and nothing else

A review on: JDS Labs ODAC
Rem0o

Pros: Small, USB powered, solid 2V output, noise-free, sounds clean.

Cons: No RCA (on my version), no Toslink/Coax.

Disclaimer: This review isn't based on NwAvguy words and/or the stereotypes arround the ODAC. You won't see me using the words "transparent" and or "clinical". I actually gave the thing an honest listen, compared it with what I had arround me and this is the review I came up with.   Now, you might ask me, why did you buy the ODAC? Well, I wanted something small that I could strap...
(read more)
Excellent DAC for the price
Excellent DAC for the price
Excellent Sounding WM8740 based USB DAC
Excellent Sounding WM8740 based USB DAC

Firestone Audio Custom Cute

Pros: Fully isolated USB with asynchronous mode. 24/192 resolution. One of the best sounding WM8740 USB DAC around.

Cons: Line-out only

Nice upgrade from the Bifrost
Nice upgrade from the Bifrost

Schiit Gungnir

Pros: open soundstage, airy presentation, sweet sounding

Cons: expensive :)

Manufacturer

822 Results
Yulong Sabre D18

Yulong Sabre D18

“ Thanks to Rachael for a fast intervention for a minor shipping problem. Thanks to Yulong for fast shipping and use of DHL.   I have a high end audio system wich can reveal the quality and the weakness of an audio component. I received the Yulong Sabre D18 and hurried in connecting it with balanced interconnects to the audio system.  Alas, the sound was poor, thin, and had...” --varias

100% Positive Reviews
Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC

Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC

“ 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
OPPO BDP-95 Universal Blu-ray Player

OPPO BDP-95 Universal Blu-ray Player

“ Overall I am very happy with my Oppo 95.  We are not reviewing this stuff here on this site for the video performance so I will skip that.  My only complaint is that its audio output is bass shy.  I bought this to replace a Denon DVD-3930CI which I finally had to give up on.  After listening to the Oppo for awhile through Creek amp and HD600 cans I just couldn't accept it...” --King of Pangaea

100% Positive Reviews
Reference Seven

Reference Seven

“ 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
Schiit Gungnir

Schiit Gungnir

“ I have the Bifrost before this and plugged this into my Valhalla before my Mjolnir arrived.  Even though it uses the same D/A chip as the Bifrost, I found it to be a significant upgrade that I could even hear with the Valhalla and my Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 ohm).  If I could only choose between the Gungnir or Mjolnir for upgrading my headphone system, and my headphones didn't...” --BokononVolta

100% Positive Reviews
Matrix Mini i DAC

Matrix Mini i DAC

“ 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

“ 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

“ 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

“ 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
Hifimediy Sabre USB DAC

Hifimediy Sabre USB DAC

“ I had the Hifimediy Sabre USB DAC for a couple of days. I bought it just as a low cost external USB sound card, as the docking station of my laptop has no audio output (how silly).   I use it connected to a Tivoli Audio Networks setup. I'm don't consider myself an audiophile, so I won't comment on this part, although I like good sounding music and high quality sound.   I...” --olee222

100% Positive Reviews
Head-Fi.org › Head Gear › Dedicated Source Components