Looking for a good USB DAC to accompany my new laptop

I don't expect a uDAc to measure better than the EMU, a good test to perform is to use RMAA to compare the outputs of your laptop and the one with the U1. you may be surprised.

Have you considered the E-204, it compatible with Win 7 I believe.

Well i use the Fiio E7 as a USB DAC/Headphone Amp both on my desktop and work lappie and am delighted with its performance hehe I dual boot on the desktop and it's plug and play on Ubuntu as well if that matters wee~

Edited by trog - 8/7/11 at 7:38pm

The Fiio E7 is great but my laptop has an already impressive on board sound so I don't hear much of a difference. Overall though it does increase the bass a little and allows for a smoother sound. But keep in mind i have a really good on board sound already. Much better then most other on board or any realtek.

USB DAC's all suck unless you pay $$$$$$$$$

 

I haven't heard a single good one, anyway check out the Matrix Cube I wish I bought that instead of the Yulong U100.

Edited by kiteki - 8/7/11 at 8:23pm

The Total Bithead from headroom is what I used for a long time.  It is both an amp and DAC with both low and high gain settings.  It is USB powered and needs no software.  It can also be portable via battery power although the USB power gives better amp output.

 

http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/headroom-total-bithead.php

Sorry, EMU 204 USB, the new version of the card you have.

"Interesting, looks like a good choice. I'd be also using a mic on my onboard sound card, because the bithead doesn't have a mic output. Is this an issue? "

 

You can simply plug your mic into the mic "in" on your current soundcard / motherboard and listen to the audio out from the amp.  Your primary audio will go through your Bithead and into your headphones while your mic chat will go into the PC as usual.

i just bought the exact same computer :)  i have a yulong u100 works good for me and all the games i play, it is a little more that what you said you wanted to spend but it was more than what i wanted to spend to but i dont regret getting it at all.  hope this helps a little

 

I've had a Yulong U100 for a few days.

 

If I knew it was going to sound like this I wouldn't have paid $240 for it, but it's nice you're happy with yours.

 

I'm going to sell mine and find something better, it just doesn't suit my headphones whatsoever =/

 

 

You should check out the HRT Music Streamer II.

 

It works in USB asynchronous mode and it's so good that I sold my Marantz CD6000OSE cd player and now only play FLACs through the HRT into my integrated amplifier.

 

Plenty of reviews on the internet, just do a google search.

 

By the way. The statement "USB DACs suck" is highly inaccurate in 2011 and denotes profound ignorance.

I didn't say that, I said "USB DAC's suck unless you pay $$$"

 

To be accurate, I wasn't talking about DAC's, I was talking about Dac/Amps, my experience of all Dac/Amp's I've tried (not many, just a few, but still) for the price you pay you can get a very good sound-card.

 

I'm going to jump to the ~$400 mark on my next Dac/Amp in order to finally get a GOOD one.

 

Not being harsh just being honest about my experience.

Edited by kiteki - 8/8/11 at 5:03am

@blacknile, and yes, the HRT music streamer II does get good reviews on headfonia.com and stuff, I haven't tried it so I wouldn't know, if you sold your Marantz that's great, perhaps you can get a good DAC at that price, but SectoRR is aiming at amplifying his headphones if I understand him correctly which means he'll have to buy an amp on top of the music streamer which is twice his budget.