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DAC/Headphone amp for ~$200

post #1 of 12
11/23/11 at 7:56am
Thread Starter 

Either USB or COAX/OPT in. Has to have headphone amp, line out, and a volume knob.

 

Start of my research has yielded the following:

 

Maverick Tubemagic D1

 

Audio-gd NFB-12

 

Fiio E7+E9 combo (or wait for the E15, E17+E9).

 

I like the Fiio combo simply for the added versatility of having a portable DAC to take around with me and there is a distributor here in canada.

 

EDIT: just found the Nuforce uDac that looks nice and small and cheap. this is for work so I dont want anything too fancy...


Edited by Bun-Bun - 11/23/11 at 8:30am
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post #2 of 12
11/23/11 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 

I ordered a Fiio E7. After reading a bit more discovered the E9 has too high of output impedance. And the Nuforce suffers from other issues.

 

E7 it is. Still thinking about getting a NFB-12 though.

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post #3 of 12
11/23/11 at 5:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bun-Bun View Post

I ordered a Fiio E7. After reading a bit more discovered the E9 has too high of output impedance. And the Nuforce suffers from other issues.

 

E7 it is. Still thinking about getting a NFB-12 though.



I would suggest considering a Calyx Coffee.  The distributor was at the recent ChiUniFi and I got to spend some time with it and a pair of HiFiMan HE-500.  Here is a link to the distributor's website:

 

L1010992-300x168.jpg

 

www.onsongaudio.com

 

I actually have one on order.  The retail price is $199.


Edited by Audio Addict - 11/23/11 at 5:36pm
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post #4 of 12
11/25/11 at 9:06am
Thread Starter 

Read a couple bad reviews of the NFB-12 talking about poor midrange and high end.

 

Another to consider Audinst HUD-MX1 not sure about it though.

 

Maybe a DIY project is what I am looking at now.

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post #5 of 12
11/26/11 at 11:33am

I would definitely consider the HUD-MX1.  It has a good DAC.

 

Fiio E10 is very affordable, and the DAC is good for the price.  Not as good as the HUD-MX1, but better than uDac and the E7.

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post #6 of 12
11/27/11 at 4:22am

uDAC isn't good dac in that price, definitely better is Maya U5

For me U5 = Audinst HUD-mx1, mayby when you change op-amp than will be better

I think E7 + E9 will be best choice in that range price, you can search used E-mu 0404 usb too


Edited by selphy - 11/27/11 at 10:25am
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post #7 of 12
11/27/11 at 5:17am

If you are going the E7 / E9 route Head-Fi supporter, the Micca Store has a bundled price for this combination.

 

http://www.miccastore.com/fiio-desktop-headphone-amplifier-black-p-42.html?osCsid=e6adee3d93e3876492511327d4c8d6e5

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post #8 of 12
11/28/11 at 2:40pm
Thread Starter 

Got my E7 today.

Impressed with the build quality and overall function of the unit. Definitely fills the niche it was designed for.

However functionally it just doesn't do what I want. It came with the dock connector so it has a line out for use with computer speakers but what they dont tell you is with that dock connector plugged in the headphone jacks no longer output anything. So to switch from computer speakers to headphones you have to disconnect the cables and recconect what you want. A hassle.

But I love it on my ipod.

So still on the hunt for a desktop unit.

The Maverick Tubemagic
Audio-gd NFB-12
Audinst HUD-MX1
E-MU 0202 USB??? (0404 has way more then I need and with the controls being on top just isn't functionally what I want)

 

Leaning towards the Audinst at the moment.


Edited by Bun-Bun - 11/28/11 at 2:52pm
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post #9 of 12
11/29/11 at 6:38am
Thread Starter 

Well I pulled the trigger on the Audinst. Good reviews, simple unit. Free shipping. Fast service (the thing has already shipped!).

 

We'll see when it gets here!

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post #10 of 12
11/29/11 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bun-Bun View Post

Read a couple bad reviews of the NFB-12 talking about poor midrange and high end.

 

Another to consider Audinst HUD-MX1 not sure about it though.

 

Maybe a DIY project is what I am looking at now.

 

The sound profile of the NFB-12 can be changed through jumpers. Most of the reviews I have read are based in the default 2X oversampling , Minimum phase 'soft-knee' filter.....I am using a NFB-12 and feel it is a steal at $248 shipped.....love the sound. Less fatigue then the HRT MSII+>Schiit Asgard I use in the living room.

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post #11 of 12
11/29/11 at 12:55pm
Thread Starter 

I was wondering about that. That negative review I read I couldn't help but thing "Did you try and change the filter setting?" He didn't even mention the filter setting.

 

Once I recover from the Audinst and FiiO purchase I may get the NFB-12 for at home. I am sure the Audinst will be perfect for what I want at work.

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post #12 of 12
12/5/11 at 7:58am
Thread Starter 

Got the Audinst on friday.

 

Wow. Fast shipping, got to me in Canada in 4 days from shipping. No customs or duty or taxes. Free shipping from them.

Packaging is great. Comes with USB, RCA, and power brick. Very impressed with everything so far.

 

Unit works great. Heaphone amp was nicer on the E7 though. Less noise (although the Audinst is still very low noise) and it seemed to drive my headphones a bit better. EDIT: Running on USB power currently. Maybe with the brick it will be better?

 

That said the soundstage, imaging, and channel seperation are all distincly better on the Audinst. As soon as I started listening through it I noticed things I never heard before in some of my tracks. Very happy with the purchase. Only thing I would like is a jumper to change the line out to non variable. Anything less then max sounds anemic through the line out.


Edited by Bun-Bun - 12/5/11 at 9:07am
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