[Fortgammon]

I always enjoyed the benefits of using portable Amplifiers versus the puny stuff in most mp3 players, I as well listen to some music at home, but I never once listen to a line out signal, my amp has always been connected to a Headphone out
 
I considered a uDac not too long ago, but I suspect that it's status as a hybrid might've divert it's quality as a Dac during development. I'm looking for a entry Dac only unit for around $100, I already own a Mini3 as an amplifier, My sound card is a Xfi XtremeMusic which has a Mic input that can be switch to digital out,  I assume I'll need and adapter or adapter cable to transport a digital signalfrom there

 

[Fortgammon]

bump, would love some suggestions

 

[HeatFan12]

I use the uDac as a standalone dac connected to other amps all the time.  I seldom use the headphone out.  It is also a usb to spdif converter.  It only has usb input, so if you need coax or optical, then it's a no go. 
 
 
As a standalone dac connected to another amp.
 

 
 
As a usb to spdif converter connected to another dac.
 

 

[nwavguy]

I'm going to be testing the Icon uDAC 2 and posting pro-grade results on my blog--hopefully in the next week or two. There are not many DACs around in the $100 range that get decent reviews besides the uDACs and the FiiO E7 which is a somewhat different animal. Even the sketchy no-name Asian ones on eBay often sell for more. And the Behringer UCA202/222 have horrible headphone outputs with a 50 ohm impedance as do most other cheap USB sound interfaces.

It's worth noting the $99 uDAC2-HP supposedly uses the original uDAC volume pot that's known to have left/right tracking problems at low volumes. But the $129 uDAC2 with the line and digital outputs uses a new, higher quality, pot. Even if you don't need the extra outputs, with efficient phones, the better pot may be worth the $30. You can check out my blog article on headphone amps & dacs for more info on the volume tracking and other issues.

 

[Fortgammon]

uDac's pot is for it's amp right? if that's the case i won't need it since im gonna use my mini3 for amplification
Quote:

I'm going to be testing the Icon uDAC 2 and posting pro-grade results on my blog--hopefully in the next week or two. There are not many DACs around in the $100 range that get decent reviews besides the uDACs and the FiiO E7 which is a somewhat different animal. Even the sketchy no-name Asian ones on eBay often sell for more. And the Behringer UCA202/222 have horrible headphone outputs with a 50 ohm impedance as do most other cheap USB sound interfaces.

It's worth noting the $99 uDAC2-HP supposedly uses the original uDAC volume pot that's known to have left/right tracking problems at low volumes. But the $129 uDAC2 with the line and digital outputs uses a new, higher quality, pot. Even if you don't need the extra outputs, with efficient phones, the better pot may be worth the $30. You can check out my blog article on headphone amps & dacs for more info on the volume tracking and other issues.

 

[HeatFan12]

What did you decide on Fort...?   Some suggestions were given to you...What was the end result...?

 

[Fortgammon]

Sorry for the slow reply, I'm looking to get the Tianyuin Zero Dac/Amp since my mini3 seemed to have burned out, a good choice?
Quote:

What did you decide on Fort...?   Some suggestions were given to you...What was the end result...?