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Inexpensive USB dac + headphone amp - Page 2

post #16 of 19
5/21/11 at 5:58pm

I agree the only other option I would consider is a uca202 just because it is so cheap  or an emu 1212 .

 

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post #17 of 19
5/21/11 at 8:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vitor Machado View Post

What are your headphones?

 

The UCA202 is a great DAC, but geared mainly towards speakers.

It's not recommended for low impedance cans (especially balanced armature IEMs), because it's headphone output has a high ~50ohms impedance. It may cause audible frequency response fluctuations with these cans.



 

This is a very good question that I should have answered at the beginning. I plan to use JH16 Pros with it.

 

 

 

As far as the EMU DACs, how do the 0202 and 0204 compare? It seems from the specs sheet that the 0204 has a better headphone amp and a better DAC? Is it worth the $30 premium? How do the EMUs stack up against the UCA202? Are they worth the substantial premium in your opinions?

 

Cheers guys, thanks for the help!

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post #18 of 19
5/22/11 at 4:13am

Yes, the emu is worth it, it has better build quality and is a truly amazing dac just look at this http://www.labc3.com/index.php/2011-04-12-12-22-00/pcusb/16-emu-0204-usb

Those rmaa results are absolutely astonishing, they're something you would expect from a $1000+ dac.

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post #19 of 19
5/23/11 at 1:20pm

And how do popular DACs like the Musiland Monitor 02 US, Aune, Audinst and so on compare to those 0202 and 0204?

 

I need something nice as a replacement to my Xonar DS which quickly proved unsufficient to me. I use CAL! and want to spend no more than, let's say, 180$ (the price is yet a kind of guess, because I'm going to buy it in Poland, where prices happen to be different "wolrdwide"; Audinst costs there the same as E-MU 0204, anyway).

 

I'm not planning to buy any dedicated amplifier in near future so my DAC has to provide me with good (brilliant, actually ;)) sound quality the way it is.

 

I mostly expect nice quality in music, but I also play games sometimes and want to be sure, if the EMU will be suitable for this purpose as well - if not, then sorry, it's not for me. I doesn't have to have all those EAX's and surround effects, though, I would only like it to hear what I's supposed to hear.


Edited by MatusP - 5/23/11 at 1:50pm
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