[Jigen]

Budget: up to $150, but closer to $100 would be better.

I have to have a line-out because I want to be able to hook my portable amp up to my computer, and listen to my headphones that way. Any recommendations? I was also looking at USB sound cards, but I'm not sure if that would be a better option than a DAC.

This is all confusing for me.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[HFat]

The M-Audio Sonica is a pretty good. I got mine for $15 (used).

 

[mrarroyo]

Silverstone EB01 is a very nice unit. Do a search, many have used it here.

 

[sejarzo]

I'm a bit confused by your original post.....

What sort of "USB DAC" does not have a line output?

And what do you perceive as different between a "USB DAC" and "USB sound card"?

 

[Veniogenesis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejarzo /img/forum/go_quote.gif What sort of "USB DAC" does not have a line output?

Hmmm, he may have been referring to portable DAC/amp combos.

Quote:

And what do you perceive as different between a "USB DAC" and "USB sound card"?

USB Sound Cards are more than USB DACs in that they usually have other features such as inputs or headphone outs. Products in the E-Mu line of external sound cards are an example.

 

[sejarzo]

Just wanted to be sure......I am a huge fan of the 0404 USB as I've not heard anything else for $150-ish that sounds as good (even though it does have all that other functionality available beyond simple D/A with line out.)

And likewise, to me a DAC has to have a line out--otherwise it's not a DAC, but a DAC-amp.

 

[Jigen]

I'm just a newbie to all of this. I had no idea every DAC had a line-out. I had to make sure.

The Silverstone EB01 seems like the best option for me so far...

 

[cmirza]

AlienDAC or USB DAC Cable

 

[Veniogenesis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejarzo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just wanted to be sure......I am a huge fan of the 0404 USB as I've not heard anything else for $150-ish that sounds as good (even though it does have all that other functionality available beyond simple D/A with line out.)

I would also agree that the EMU 0404 USB is a great value for the price.

 

[oicdn]

Echo Indigo DJ will provide the most neutral, flat, and absolutely HONEST signal through it's line out. But it's not USB, but a PCMCIA card.

 

[sejarzo]

I wouldn't mind a card-based solution myself.......but my notebook has an ExpressCard slot, not PCMCIA. Only card that I have seen so far for ExpressCard is a Creative unit that has received rather poor reviews.

Anybody have knowledge or at least a good sense of whether ExpressCard is going to be truly accepted as the new standard, or has it fallen out of favor already? HP/Compaq have released a number of newer notebooks after I bought mine a year ago that make it seems they've reverted to PCMCIA.

 

[cmirza]

I doubt there will be many other ExpressCard based sound solutions. USB 2.0 has enough throughput for even the most demanding audio applications. Not to mention that its a tiny user base to serve.

 

[TVaudio]

I have an EB01 that I am very happy with. I did add sockets for the opamps and changed them to my preference which for me really opened it up. But stock it is still one heck of a deal.

 

[fordgtlover]

I third the EB01 - I really like mine.