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Looking for $200 DAC - Page 3

post #31 of 40
5/20/11 at 10:43am

Read the lastest post in the NFB-12 thread.

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post #32 of 40
5/20/11 at 11:11am

If those are your only 2 options, then option 1, emphatically.


Edited by sphinxvc - 5/20/11 at 11:13am
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post #33 of 40
5/20/11 at 1:14pm

A dac will not make nearly as much of a difference as people on head-fi like to make out.

I have recently changed almost all of my belief's regarding hi-fi after a few blind tests.

I would look at an emu 0404 if I was you as it measures very well and has all the functions you want at a decent price.

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post #34 of 40
5/20/11 at 1:35pm

Any context for your post?  What source(s) did you try?

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post #35 of 40
5/20/11 at 1:40pm

I compared a buffalo II, an emu 0404, a HLLY SMK-III and onboard sound.

I have also recently done some more tests with a dac-1, emu1820m and esoteric d-03.

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post #36 of 40
5/20/11 at 1:43pm

And you feel none of those DACs are a worthwhile upgrade over onboard?

 

It also matters how resolving the rest of your chain is and of course, how long you've auditioned the various sources.

 

OP, most senior members on this forum subscribe to the "source first" philosophy.  Garbage in, garbage out.  Take that for what you will.


Edited by sphinxvc - 5/20/11 at 2:04pm
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post #37 of 40
5/20/11 at 1:59pm

The differences were very small but I believe the emu 0404 was a worthwhile upgrade as it provides a small improvement in sound and provides balanced output and a decent headphone amplifier.

The rest of the dac's compared to the 0404 were pretty much the same with a few tiny differences but I most likely imagined these.

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post #38 of 40
5/20/11 at 10:45pm
Thread Starter 

Okay well here is where I am standing.

I play all of my music from my computer, I ripped a lot of my music from CD's as FLAC. I want something that I will be able to plug my speaker amp/receiver/speakers into (optical) and my headphones/headphone amp into that will provide a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience than the on-board audio out on my computer. I have no experience with external DACs or Tube amps, so I don't exactly know what I want, which makes things difficult.

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post #39 of 40
5/21/11 at 12:55am

Not meaning to thread hijack or anything, but my situation was so similar I thought I'd reply to this thread. I recently purchased KRK RP6's and would like the same setup as the OP. Would I benefit from a DAC/AMP? I mostly want a device I can control the volume of the RP6's and then be able to plugin headphones at night. If I get better quality audio, that would be awesome. Anyone have any quick suggestions for my situation?

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post #40 of 40
5/21/11 at 3:56am

Just buy an emu 0404 and be happy that it measures as well if not better than most $1000 dac's

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