If you search the pro audio formuns, you will find that he ESI Juli is rated highest fo the 3 you listed. The 1212M is next, but has more driver issues. The 192 is still very good, but the others are a bit better.

MikeW - Thanks for the suggection. Still a bit more than I wanted to pay, though I know both are highly rated and good value at their proce points. Perhaps I need to save a bit longer.   wespinvinyl - I will check those out. Great suggestions.

axw   Thanks for the info. I was really looking at a $100 budget, if I can stick to it.   Any suggestions for a PC card or USB to SPDIF interface near my budget.

There is a benifit to paralelling SD chips like the WM874. It even lists it in the ebay listing for that DAC. Each time you double the number of DAC channels, you get 3dB better signal to noise, as the random noise doesn't add so much as average.

Bump - Any comments would be greatly received.

The sound cards digital out is likely to be better. While it will contain the same digits, they might also have less noise along for the ride. Unlike normal computer digital, digital audio send timimg information as part if the digital signal, and the noise can alter this. That is what creates...

The very best S/PDIF output is from a Lynx AES16 card, but they are over $600. For nearer $100 which card has the best S/PDIF out. Transformer isolated outputs and a good clock are features that seem to me to be good indicators, but what you you think.   The S/PDIF from my motherboard is...

I have just order an NFB-11. I agonized over the NFB11 or 12 decision, but decided as my system and cans (HD600s) are on the smooth side, the extra detail and faithful, rather than sewwt, signature would suit best. I'll post my thoughs when I get it. Might be a while as the out on my quote it...

Fourwed - I tried to order one for the last 4 days of the sale and they never answered at the email address listed on the website (audio-gd@126.com). Did you use the address on the site or another method?

There is no ASRC in NFB-12 as: 1. They cost money and the NFB-12 is already exceptional value for money 2. I'm not sure there is room in the case - Look at the photos, it's full aready

If it's just as loud as before, then by definition, you are feeding the headphones the same amount of power. All you have done is change where in the signal chain the total gain (volume) is getting defined.   Depending on the components this can provide small benefits in system noise, but...

I doubt its a digtal volume as this is an ACSS product and volume control is part of that circuitry in other Audio-GD products.

Ben   The good news is that there is such a program. It reads file information and can tell with 95% + accuracy if the FLAC came from a WAV/CD or MP3. It dets details from the header parts of the fiel, it doesn't analyze the audio stream.   The bad new is I can't remember what it is, and...

Tidal   I'd take the Planar25 over the 3/24. The 25 was made to tighter tollerences and using better materials, as befits its original higher price. The things added to the 3/24 since the 25's design don't let the 3 catch the 25 in performance.   25 vs a CD, that is probably best decided...

Igor   I'd say go with the Lynx. RME is very good but Lynx products are better. RME offers more flexible gear, but most reviews have Lynx ahead on sound quality. GO to gearslutz.com (pro-audio and studio gear site) and ask. The guys there will have extensively used both and you'll get a more...