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Good, cheap, Linux-friendly USB DACs?

post #1 of 8
11/14/10 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 

Hi all,

 

I have switched to linux almost entirely (soooo nice to be free of MS / Apple).  I still have one computer (out of at least 15 in my home) running Windows because my DACs must have it (Musiland Monitor02, Emu0404usb).  I have some unassembled grubDAC proto parts but my vision is failing and I drink too much coffee these days so manage the smd work.  So I want to buy a couple of relatively inexpensive but decent DACs that will play nice with Linux.  It'd be nice if I didn't have to spend too much more than what I could bet from selling my Monitor02 and 0404.  I found a few threads but most are getting a bit long in the tooth.  Wondering what today's take on the best options are.

 

Thanks,

Michael

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post #2 of 8
11/14/10 at 6:56pm

I have a udac-2 running right now on Ubuntu 10.04 no problems getting it to recognize it at all

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post #3 of 8
11/14/10 at 7:02pm

I don't think you will have a problem with most usb dac's except those that require drivers. That being said I use a audinst hud-mx1 with the most recent version of ubuntu.

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post #4 of 8
11/14/10 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 

Well, I own two USB DACs that will not work with Linux.  I know why they won't but that doesn't help me very much does it?

I can pretty easily tell that the Monitor02 is better than the 0404.  I have just been reading that the udac-2 is a good unit but perhaps not quite the equal of the Monitor02.  (I offered to help develop linux drivers for the Monitor02 a while back but they weren't interested).  Going backwards in SQ is a tough pill to swallow these days so "any old DAC" isn't exactly what I'm after.  Maybe I should've said "really amazing" where I said "good" but that doesn't always find a mate with "cheap".  I guess I'm after best bang for buck in the under $200 bunch.  I should also note that I'm really only interested in the DAC duties.  I've got the headphone amp(s) covered already.  I actually need two or possibly three DACs and am mostly interested in using them as a source straight into power amps (perhaps with an intervening buffer stage ala Pass B1) and don't really care about any integrated HP amps.  I'll probably get a udac-2 and give it a whirl but there is room for more to play.

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post #5 of 8
11/15/10 at 3:55pm

i dont know how the e7 compares (in sq) to the dacs your use to cause im still new to this stuff and havent heard either of them yet, but i remember reading that the e7 and the whole series for that matter is compatible with linux and are recognized instantly, it jumped out at me because im a fellow linux user and was worried about that too.

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post #6 of 8
11/15/10 at 8:00pm
Thread Starter 

Hmm, hadn't seen the E7.  Not really ready to be a source for anything other than headphones, so...nope.  Uses TI USB receiver so good with Linux though.

 

Why are people still eating at MacWindows anyway?  oops, that's off topic...

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post #7 of 8
11/16/10 at 6:16am

oh, i didnt know it had to be a source for anything else besides headphones, im sorry. lol yeah, we could talk about that for years, but theres already a billion forums for that.

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post #8 of 8
11/16/10 at 2:21pm
Thread Starter 

No worries, I'm still glad you mentioned it.  I haven't checked in on FiiO since they were making the little $20 job.  Good for me to see what they are up to.  I might be back on the travel horse again soon and if that happens I'll be looking for portables.

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