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Budget DAC - should I even bother?

post #1 of 21
7/3/09 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 
Just how much better do more costly DACs sound compared to <$200 ones?

So I blew my money on Grado HF2 and a Millett Hybrid Minimax, what is the best route to take from here?

I'm currently just pluggin the amp straight to my soundcard and using SR60 since I dont have the HF2 yet.
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post #2 of 21
7/3/09 at 2:51pm
Any one of these 3 budget DAC's will be a substantial upgrade from your soundcard.

Cambridge Audio Dacmagic

Musical Fidelity V-DAC

Beresford TC-7520
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post #3 of 21
7/3/09 at 3:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anadin View Post
Any one of these 3 budget DAC's will be a substantial upgrade from your soundcard.

I think his "budget" wasn't meant to be over 200, we have here:

Cambridge Audio Dacmagic ($429)

Musical Fidelity V-DAC ($299)

Beresford TC-7520 ($250)

not quite budget, this would be more like it:

Fubar II ($137 or less)

Little Blue Circle Thingee (170 or less)

EMU 0404 (170 or less)

y1 (100?)

Alien (same as above?)
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post #4 of 21
7/3/09 at 3:43pm
The Silverstone EB01 for under $100 is amazing value also..
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post #5 of 21
7/3/09 at 4:00pm
How does the Zero DAC fall in place with the others?
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post #6 of 21
7/3/09 at 5:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by logwed View Post
How does the Zero DAC fall in place with the others?
great sound, unreliable build quality?
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post #7 of 21
7/3/09 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by roker View Post
great sound, unreliable build quality?
Yeah, I have to list on the FS area soon looking for a broken one with functioning power circuit. Mine burned out after a couple days, but the DAC itself is fine. Oh yeah, the HP amp portion was DOA, too. At least I can look forward to good sound.
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post #8 of 21
7/3/09 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
Did you get the 09 version?
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post #9 of 21
7/3/09 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teraflame View Post
Did you get the 09 version?
Yep. It sounded great for a day, then it quit on me.
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post #10 of 21
7/3/09 at 8:27pm
The NuForce Icon Mobile is a good and inexpensive dac.
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post #11 of 21
7/3/09 at 9:48pm
The Pro-ject USB box is inexpensive too ($95 in Amazon).
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post #12 of 21
7/4/09 at 12:16am
Hotaudio is known to be great bang for the buck. I just recently ordered his top-of-the-line DAC Straight for $105 (on sale, originally $249).
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post #13 of 21
7/4/09 at 12:50am
I have the Supreme from Hotaudio. I use it at work. It really makes a nice difference in sound improvement.
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post #14 of 21
7/4/09 at 12:51am
I would personally go with an Emu 0404, I own a TC7520 which is amazing to my ears, but I would also really like to try an 0404. FWIW they're great out of the box and world-class with a few mods. A lot of "serious listeners"/geardos/whatever you want to call them around here use the 0404 as a source, as opposed the DA100 or what have you.
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post #15 of 21
7/4/09 at 2:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kobra View Post
The NuForce Icon Mobile is a good and inexpensive dac.

I wasn't impressed with the dac at all. Pretty underwhelming.
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