[elmoe]

 
Yeah it's definitely a waste of money.

 
 
Not entirely because as you're doing now, it can be used as a USB/SPDIF converter, but that kind of defeats the purpose of buying this for it's DAC part which COULD be decent (although I now have my doubts), we'll never know.

 

[ag8908]

I was this close to buying that $400 ESS9018 DAC too. Glad I didn't!

 

[ag8908]

   
 
Not entirely because as you're doing now, it can be used as a USB/SPDIF converter, but that kind of defeats the purpose of buying this for it's DAC part which COULD be decent (although I now have my doubts), we'll never know.

Yeah I meant it's a waste to add a DAC on to it. I'm definitely using the SPDIF convertor though as my Yamaha receiver actually has a really good DAC that I can now enjoy.

 

[elmoe]

Yes the DAC is definitely wasted if the headphone amp part sucks, especially since there are no outputs on the DAC itself (that's a pretty ridiculous design flaw if you ask me). But hey, now you can connect your receiver to your computer so I guess not all is lost.

 

[elmoe]

  I was this close to buying that $400 ESS9018 DAC too. Glad I didn't!

 
Honestly if you want to spend 400 bucks on a bang-for-your-buck DAC/amp combo, then as said before in this thread, check out audio-gd products. They are highly praised all over Head-Fi, and you'll at least be sure that the design is good and the build quality is proper.

 

[ag8908]

I think I'll look on ebay for a nice used high end dac.

 

[ag8908]

lol I was just randomly laughing about this entire thread.
 
I think I've been scared away from cheap stuff though, everything I've paid money for (HD800, SE846) has been good and I think I'll assume the same for DACs.

 

[elmoe]

The best thing you can use to make a choice is your own ears which is why I suggested you go out and try different gear. A close second is reviews, the more people say a piece of gear is good the more likely it is to be and audio gd only gets positive reviews even from people who own similar gear thats much much more expensive.

 

[ag8908]

I'm actually thinking of getting a really nice av receiver with a ess9018 dac. Kill two birds with one stone. Not sure if they make av thieves with ess9018 dacs though

 

[ag8908]

that was meant to say receivers not thieves, phone auto correct

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

I just want to say what started out as a thread that really caught my interest within the 1st page turned out to be a non-stop page turner just to see how ridiculous it got.

FWIW I've had an Audio-GD NFB10SE, Yulong D100, Hifimediy U2 and "made in USA" ODAC.

 

[slex]

Audiogd Holo and now Denaflips Terminator consider super duper dac?

 

[rajacat]

MP-D2 AK4490 XMOS BALANCED DAC DSD DOP 384Khz

Especially with careful tube selection, the MP-D2 produces quality high-end sound with help of tube output stage and tube rectifier. A lot of DAC @ 27lbs, 150W tranny, & 80W tranny. 1K
http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=80
http://www.head-fi.org/t/802557/musical-paradise-m2-d2-ak4490-balanced-dac-reviews

 

[slex]

MP-D2 AK4490 XMOS BALANCED DAC DSD DOP 384Khz

Especially with careful tube selection, the MP-D2 emits high-end sound with help of tube output stage and tube rectifier. A lot of DAC @ 27lbs, 150W tranny, & 80W tranny. 1K
http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=80
http://www.head-fi.org/t/802557/musical-paradise-m2-d2-ak4490-balanced-dac-reviews

Latest top DS dac with tubes. Like to hear one of those compare to r2r. Is there r2r with tubes in the market yet?

I know MHDT does it with pure NOS mode.

 

[Thenewguy007]

But are the components in a DAC that expensive? Mechanically or from an electrical engineering perspective it's not necessarily the most cutting edge of technology is it? The chip is the most sophisticated/complex part of the structure if I understand correctly.

Quality capacitors & transformers are always expensive.