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Best DIY DAC

post #1 of 27
5/6/10 at 10:36pm
Thread Starter 

I currently have a uDac and want to upgrade to see if I can get better quality output.  I currently have a onkyo tx-3000 vintage solid state receiver amp and Elekit TU882 tube amp.  My favorite headphone is Beyer 880(600ohm) or HD650 with my vintage amp.  I want to go DIY route because I believe I can get a quality DAC for less $$ if I build it myself.  currently I really like the sound of uDac, and I want to see if I can better quality output. What do you guys think is the best DIY DAC?


Edited by High_Q - 5/7/10 at 4:05am
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post #2 of 27
5/6/10 at 10:43pm

What's your budget?

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post #3 of 27
5/6/10 at 10:48pm

The best DIY DAC is the Buffalo 32, in whatever revision it is currently being sold.  That said, it will be about $750-800 for a build.  If you are looking lower down on the spectrum, the Gamma 2 from AMB is great.  I don't know about the best, but very very good.

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post #4 of 27
5/6/10 at 10:58pm
Thread Starter 



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Knight View Post

What's your budget?



I am looking for value, so I want to build something that is fraction of the cost of a very high quality DAC that I cannot afford.  I can go high if the DIY is very economical compared to buying something high quality.  If a DIY DAC is $1000 to build, but a comparable DAC that are sold is worth $3000, I would be inclinded spend the $1000 because it would be very economical. 

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post #5 of 27
5/7/10 at 8:09am

Speaking on the Buffalo, when will Russ get back from his vacation?

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post #6 of 27
5/7/10 at 12:17pm

I was the one on vacation, and am now back  (almost relaxed).

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post #7 of 27
5/7/10 at 12:56pm

What is the cheapest way of getting 24bit/96kHz from a computer, DIY way?

I don't mean buying a soundcard, but through USB maybe.

 

I mean I would be interested in Alien DAC , GrubDac and BantamDAC but they seem to be limited to 24bit/48KHz and that is a bit low.

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post #8 of 27
5/7/10 at 1:28pm

Last I checked, USB only did 16bit/48KHz. The cheapest way is seeing if your motherboard has S/PDIF out (coax or optical) or has headers on the motherboard for S/PDIF out and wiring up your own connector.

 

Personally, I do not care. I'm going to use USB because it's easy to use.

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post #9 of 27
5/7/10 at 1:28pm

I don' think those mentioned DACs support 24/48. And, I don't think 24/48 is "a bit low".

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post #10 of 27
5/7/10 at 1:52pm

wel li'm pretty sure usb is only 16 bit.. 48khz usually.  im pretty sure you need software to clock up the bits, the Emu 404 does this and so does the benchmark dac1. ..otherwise you'll want a coax or optical connection for the higher bit files.

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post #11 of 27
5/7/10 at 2:02pm

Which one of these 50 dollar USB DACs are High fidelity?

 

Ok my mp3 are all 16 bit / 44 KHz so they should be enough.

 

They cannot beat my Sound Blaster X-FI?

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post #12 of 27
5/7/10 at 2:05pm

There are not too many DIY DAC's out there.

 

I say start with a Gamma2, it can be built for a little over $300. If that's not good enough for you then the next step up would be the more modular Buffalo Sabre, that will take around $600 to get you the bare minimum.

 

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post #13 of 27
5/8/10 at 7:13am

what about the buffalo 24? it can still be called 'good' cant it?

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post #14 of 27
5/8/10 at 11:00am

Gamma2 and Buffalo are your best bets, in their respective price points.

You can do 24/192 over USB. Search this forum for Musiland, HiFace, XMOS etc...

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post #15 of 27
5/8/10 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ntropic View Post

Last I checked, USB only did 16bit/48KHz. The cheapest way is seeing if your motherboard has S/PDIF out (coax or optical) or has headers on the motherboard for S/PDIF out and wiring up your own connector.

 

Personally, I do not care. I'm going to use USB because it's easy to use.


Not all DAC with USB input are limited to 16/48Khz.  It depends on what the company used for a USB receiver chip.

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