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Looking for a good USB DAC to accompany my new laptop - Page 2

post #16 of 24
8/8/11 at 5:40am

In that case, I apologise, I only read the title and the first handful of posts in a hurry. Pure asynchronous USB DACs like the HRT, the new Rega and the new Arcam rDAC are nothing like old generation USB DAC interfaces. 

 

Yes I do agree with you if we're talking about portable DAC+AMPs.  I've had a bad experience with an iBasso D2+ Boa that wasn't better than my computer's headphone out at all. It was sold eventually.

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post #17 of 24
8/8/11 at 6:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sectoRRView Post

 

 

I just recently picked up a new ASUS G53SW laptop, and I'm disappointed in the onboard sound quality. I used to have lossless files playing through an E-MU 0202USB to Sennheiser HD595s on winxp.


So is the problem the souncard or the headphone out?

 

You might have a perfectly good sound card and a really crappy headphone out.

 

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post #18 of 24
8/8/11 at 6:09am

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknile View Post

In that case, I apologise, I only read the title and the first handful of posts in a hurry. Pure asynchronous USB DACs like the HRT, the new Rega and the new Arcam rDAC are nothing like old generation USB DAC interfaces. 

 

Yes I do agree with you if we're talking about portable DAC+AMPs.  I've had a bad experience with an iBasso D2+ Boa that wasn't better than my computer's headphone out at all. It was sold eventually.


Haven't heard that one, but that's exactly what I mean.

 

Sure, no problem =)
 

 

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post #19 of 24
8/8/11 at 7:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiteki View Post

@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.

 

 

It'd be nice to be amped, as my E-MU 0202 had an amp built in. it wouldn't be necessary however. Looks like I'd need an RCA to 3.5mm converter for the HRT, is that true?

 

I really only need my sound to be fairly comparable to my setup under the E-MU (flac on foobar ----> e-mu 0202usb ---> sennheiser HD595). I'm fairly discerning, but this setup was decent to me, and I liked the sound.


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by KneelJung View Post




So is the problem the souncard or the headphone out?

 

You might have a perfectly good sound card and a really crappy headphone out.

 


I'd assume it's both. It's a realtek unit, which from my experience have always sounded awful.

 


 

 


Edited by sectoRR - 8/8/11 at 7:46pm
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post #20 of 24
8/9/11 at 8:15pm

I have an HUD-MX1. It costs almost $200 but I guest it has a pretty well respected DAC for the price. It's the highest end DAC/AMP I own so I can't compare it with higher level equipment, but I know it's gotten a lot of good reviews and should be worth a look if it's in your budget.

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post #21 of 24
8/9/11 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiteki View Post

 


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 =/

 

 


well i havent heard much else other than on board audio and cheap sound cards, so i dont have much to compare to.  just out of curiosity what headphones did you use with them?

 

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post #22 of 24
8/9/11 at 9:51pm

A2000X

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post #23 of 24
8/9/11 at 9:57pm

I use creative HD USB external DAC. Sound OK.Not as good as my Azuntech prelude sound using desktop card

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post #24 of 24
8/9/11 at 10:03pm
bad USB DAC = uDac
good... very good USB DAC = Icon HD
good USB DAC w/o Amp = DACport LX
excellent USB DAC/Amp = DACmini
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