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Budget DAC - should I even bother? - Page 2

post #16 of 21
7/4/09 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 
Okay all these suggestions are just overwhelming and no one has really answered my questions.

Is the ibasso D10 considered a great DAC? I'm really just wondering if I should spend now or save up to $300 or something.
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post #17 of 21
7/4/09 at 11:38pm
I use a keces da-151 ($300) which I'm satisfied with and think is pretty comparable with some more expensive units though I might be going to a balanced dac soon since my amp is balanced.

I have heard the pico dac in meet conditions and it also has very favorable reviews. I read of one guy actually selling his dac1 because the pico was equivalent in SQ.

@your last post - it's ok FWIR, have not heard it so I can't comment further

You should go to a meet and listen. There's a good chance you will think a $200 dac is equivalent to a dac1/da10/DLIII/etc, and there's some good evidence to back up that claim. Upgrading blindly is magnifying the risk of a bad upgrade that you'll regret. Also, buy used and the original buyer will take most of the losses.
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post #18 of 21
7/5/09 at 1:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teraflame View Post
Okay all these suggestions are just overwhelming and no one has really answered my questions.

Is the ibasso D10 considered a great DAC? I'm really just wondering if I should spend now or save up to $300 or something.
FWIR the D10 is very good. So is your budget $200 or $300? You have a very nice amp in the Millett Hybrid Minimax, why not go for a standalone DAC? In the $300 range I would suggest the V-DAC. It mates nicely with tube amps.
I have a couple of Grados myself and IMO that would be a nice combo with the Mini...

BTW- Beautiful work you have on Deviantart...
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post #19 of 21
7/5/09 at 1:35am
Asus Essence STX?

Punches well above it's weight in terms of price tbh as a headphone amp + DAC combo.
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post #20 of 21
7/5/09 at 2:09am
Get lucky and find an older DAC (44.1kHz / 48kHz max), sometimes they pop up at around $200. I'm VERY happy with the last few I had and am considering not parting with my current, but upgrade-itis has come calling.
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post #21 of 21
7/6/09 at 6:23pm
i have a hot audio i bought for the wrong reasons, but it was cheap, 96 euros delivered to my doorstep and its quite nice,
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