Audio Alchemy DACs - Are They Good?

[memo]

Happen to spot an Audio Alchemy DAC-in-the-box at Hong Kong selling at US$89 (forget to ask if it is nos or second-hand). Just wonder:

1. How does it compare wth the ART DI/O?
2. The salesperson told me that the voltage is 220V (the one we are using in HK). But I noticed that the machine plug says made in america. Shouldn't it be 110V in that case?
3. Also interested in Audio-Alchemy DAC-man for portable listening. Is it good? Or you have other better recommendations? Apart from sound quality, size and wieight are factors to be considered.

Sory for asking couple of questions in one single thread. But I know that head-fiers are so keen to answer questions and always waiting to say sorry about newbies' wallets, guess all of you will be happy to throw me your advice/opinion.

Happy listening.

 

[memo]

no body remembers audio alchemy already? Are u afraid to let ppl know ur age?

Just find out the desinger of audio alchemy, Dusty Vawter, has set up his new co called CI Audio.

 

[chillysalsa]

There's a review of the DDE 1.2 on soundstage, I'm not sure how much different it sounds than the Dac-inthe-box, but I believe 1.2 was the successor.

 

[skippy]

i remember the dac in the box sounding pretty good... but it is an old one. so i don't know how it compares to more modern players

i have a dacman, and it's also pretty good. it's not portable out of the box. you have to make a battery pack for it. also the tara labs cables that are built onto it are rather thick, so you might want to replace those with a jack or something.

 

[memo]

Chillysalsa, thx for the link.
Skippy, thx for telling me the DAC-man is not a truly portable device. Guess u guys are right, I shall looking for some 'modern' DAC instead of one which is made couple of years ago.

Happy Listening.