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Need help on deciding my first USB DAC!!

post #1 of 12
9/6/10 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 

 

Hey, guys. so I am looking to buy a USB DAC that I will use with my macbook and possible with my ipod. I plan to use this with my AKG K702. I've tried the Asus Xonar D2X (with Dolby Headphone) and really liked it but I want something that I can also use on my laptop.

I am totally new to this and so can't decide what to get. It would be very helpful if you guys can shed some light on a total noob like me :).

My budget is around $250 max. And I would like to get something to have a comparable SQ as the Xonar D2X in DH mode.

 

All help much appreciated :)

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post #2 of 12
9/6/10 at 6:38pm

Dacs don't typically have an ipod connector direclty - you usually need a separate component for that.  The two biggest unknowns about your needs are:

 

 

1. how portable you need your set up to be?

2. it appears you also need a headphone amp, is that correct that you don't have one?

 

Without any further info, I'd give a hard look at the audio gd sparrow.  There was one or two for sale in the sales forum.  It is both a dac and a headamp in your price range.
 

http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/Sparrow/SparrowEN.htm

 

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post #3 of 12
9/6/10 at 7:28pm

An iPod will typically not connect to a USB DAC. But it will connect to an amp. So it seems that you might need a DAC+amp combo unit.

 

The Audio-gd Sparrow listed above is a good DAC+amp, but its amp will only work with the inbuilt DAC, so you won't be able to plug your iPod into it. The Audio-gd Fun will do let you do that, but it costs more. Neither are portable units though.

 

One other thing. The K702 is notoriously difficult to amp well. Most portable amps and even many desktop amps do not have enough power to drive them to their potential. I've not tried the AKGs myself, but I would guess you will get more improvement in sound out of them with a $250 amp than with splitting that budget with a DAC.

 

The new iBasso PB1 Toucan seems to be one of the most powerful portable amps out there now. I think that's your best bet at powering the K702. It'll work with your iPod and laptop, and will probably make your Xonar soundcard sound better on the K702 as well.

 

A possibly cheaper amp option is the Mini³ which is also quite powerful.

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post #4 of 12
9/6/10 at 7:33pm
Maybe look at the HeadRoom BitHead. It drives the AKGs well, it's portable, it can run off USB power should you need it to, and it's DAC section isn't bad at all. I used mine all weekend long and loved it!
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post #5 of 12
9/6/10 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you very much for your replies.

I've already had a headphone amp, the Mini3. I figured out now my limitation is my source. I guess it'd be better if I would spend all that money on a dedicated DAC, not a DAC/Amp combined unit.

 

Also, it doesn't need to be that portable really. I wouldn't mind if it's a tad bigger or even twice as big as my mini3. Just as long as I can use it on my desktop and laptop, it would be fine :) (I'm moving out for college soon, so I want something that I can take with me).

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post #6 of 12
9/6/10 at 7:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kboe View Post

Maybe look at the HeadRoom BitHead. It drives the AKGs well, it's portable, it can run off USB power should you need it to, and it's DAC section isn't bad at all. I used mine all weekend long and loved it!


Do you have any idea how it stacks up against the Xonar D2X?

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post #7 of 12
9/6/10 at 8:06pm
Unlucky you, no. But i would have a hard time seeing it doing so. I've heard Xonar products in the past and never liked them, or thought they competed much with dedicated headphone gear.
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post #8 of 12
9/6/10 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 

The only reason why I asked for the comparison is because it's the only good source I've ever listened to, so I don't really know what to expect from other DAC's. I liked how the dolby headphones mode makes the sound sounds more spacious and more detailed. And it's a software feature kinda thing, I'm wondering if the USB DAC's would offer the similar feature without software tuning.

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post #9 of 12
9/6/10 at 8:24pm
You may find a dac with crossfeed, such as the headroom unit I mentioned or a Meier amp/dac.
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post #10 of 12
9/7/10 at 12:12am

The Audinst HUD-mx1 has been getting very favorable reviews as a DAC. It's $180 with free shipping. Pretty compact in size. Works with just USB power, or optional wallwart. You will not be able to connect an iPod to it though.

 

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post #11 of 12
9/7/10 at 9:43am

 

That opens things up then if you're just looking at a dac. 

 

There is a lot of discussion about usb implementation on "inexpensive dacs"  you have mini toslink on your mac and so it may make sense to get a good, used toslink dac.

 

However ,  the Hrt streamer ii has asyn usb, which has some inherent tech superiority.  I think that would be a very good choice.

 

I'm in the same boat as you in terms of budget.  I bought a beresford 7510 with the goal of adding an m2tech hiface.   Both of those add up to 250 (used)

 

There's a new audio gd nfb3 for 300 plus 50 shipping.  I would love that.

 

There's the cambridge audio dac magic which would be good but push your budget too (I'd prefer the audio gd but not having heard either)

 

There's the valab teradak NOS stuff.  Its all a bit "flat earth" to me in terms of philosophy but still interests me. 

 

if you search dac popularity check and go to the last page you can see what's most popular here.

 

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/454955/dac-popularity-check/420


Edited by francoamerican - 9/7/10 at 10:14am
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post #12 of 12
9/8/10 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 

Thank you all for your inputs. After doing some research, I think i'm gonna go with either the HRT music streamer II, Audinst HUD-mx1, the used Musical Fidelity V-dac or the Little Dot Dac 1. These  got very favorable reviews on here and all around the internet. Have any of you ever listened to these dac's? If so, is there a significant difference between them? 

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