Best DAC with digital input for around $100?

[Woodlandjustin]

I have a Macbook, and want to connect it to my amp via a DAC to listen to my digital music collection. The Macbook has an optical digital output. What would you guys recommend for the best DAC for this, for around $100?

I had found the "DAC In the Box" Super Pro and it looks like what I want, except they are not taking orders now

 

[FallenAngel]

All DACs have digital input.

That's why they're DACs (Digital to Analog Convererts).

Unless you snag something off eBay at a really good bargain, I don't think there are a lot of options at $100. Perhaps take a look at the Gamma1. Contact MisterX and get a quote, he's a good builder and it's a nice DAC. You can use USB input if you want as well, might be more convenient, but it's up to you.

 

[obobskivich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif All DACs have digital input. That's why they're DACs (Digital to Analog Convererts). Unless you snag something off eBay at a really good bargain, I don't think there are a lot of options at $100. Perhaps take a look at the Gamma1. Contact MisterX and get a quote, he's a good builder and it's a nice DAC. You can use USB input if you want as well, might be more convenient, but it's up to you.

isn't the Zero only like $120? only other solution I can think of is the FUBAR II

or, yeah, contacting MisterX

 

[Woodlandjustin]

Thanks guys. As you can tell I'm new to all this! Yes, I should have said "Optical input" not "digital input"!

So, I checked the "gamma 1". I was expecting "standard RCA analog output plugs" that I can connect to my amp. The "gamma 1" seems to have 1/8th inch output. Would that be a significant disadvantage?

As for the FUBAR II, that seems to not have an optical input.

The "Zero" looks interesting. Do you know how the sound compares to the "gamma 1"? I also found this: CryoParts USB DAC anyone know how this compares to the above?

Thanks!

 

[Brighten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodlandjustin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks guys. As you can tell I'm new to all this! Yes, I should have said "Optical input" not "digital input"! So, I checked the "gamma 1". I was expecting "standard RCA analog output plugs" that I can connect to my amp. The "gamma 1" seems to have 1/8th inch output. Would that be a significant disadvantage? As for the FUBAR II, that seems to not have an optical input. The "Zero" looks interesting. Do you know how the sound compares to the "gamma 1"? I also found this: CryoParts USB DAC anyone know how this compares to the above? Thanks!

Stay away from that CryoParts DAC and get the Zero.

 

[Currawong]

I started out with the Zero from my MacBook Pro. For more info on it, see the link in my signature. You can play around upgrading it and there are a couple of "upgrade versions" on eBay.

 

[Woodlandjustin]

It seems a shame to pay for the DAC and headphone amp when I will never use the headphone amp. But if it is better than anything else for the price, may as well.

How about the sound difference between the "zero" and the "gamma 1"? Does one sound better than the other?

 

[gevorg]

For under $100, you'll get a much higher bargain if you go the pro-audio route instead of handmade low-production audiophile stuff. For example EMU 0202 USB. On Sale at some Amazon seller for $91+shipping:

Amazon.com: E-MU 0202 USB 2.0 Audio interface: Musical Instruments

 

[krmathis]

Well, digital input is crucial on all DAC's. How else would you feed it digital signal, which it in turn would convert to analog?
$100 is not much, but I am sure you find something on eBay or you could always build one yourself.

 

[Woodlandjustin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gevorg /img/forum/go_quote.gif For under $100, you'll get a much higher bargain if you go the pro-audio route instead of handmade low-production audiophile stuff. For example EMU 0202 USB. On Sale at some Amazon seller for $91+shipping: Amazon.com: E-MU 0202 USB 2.0 Audio interface: Musical Instruments

I was under the impression that the quality would be better going from my optical output, rather than the USB output, on my mac. Is that an incorrect assumption? Also this E-MU seems to do a lot of things I don't need. I can't help thinking it could be better for all the money to go towards the only function I need - the DAC.

Anyway, would anyone like to comment, which has better sound quality for simple DAC function from my Macbook, "zero" or "gamma 1", or now also "E-MU"?

Thanks for sharing!

 

[obobskivich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodlandjustin /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was under the impression that the quality would be better going from my optical output, rather than the USB output, on my mac. Is that an incorrect assumption? Also this E-MU seems to do a lot of things I don't need. I can't help thinking it could be better for all the money to go towards the only function I need - the DAC. Anyway, would anyone like to comment, which has better sound quality for simple DAC function from my Macbook, "zero" or "gamma 1", or now also "E-MU"? Thanks for sharing!

"better" is subjective
and your "less features make the single feature I want better due to that being where my $$$$ is going" reasoning is pretty wack, consider that the Zero and Gamma are specialist devices manufactured in small quantities for a small market, the E-MU is mass produced for a mass consumer market, so its going to cost less to build, and therefore retail for less (in theory, and in practice)

as far as optical out vs USB out, depends on what devices we're talking about, and how good the onboard sound is on your mac

 

[Woodlandjustin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif "better" is subjective

I was thinking in simple terms such as less added noise, less colouring etc i.e. more accurate conversion. I welcome subjective opinions. Any opinions would help if anyone would like to compare these products. Anyone?

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif and your "less features make the single feature I want better due to that being where my $$$$ is going" reasoning is pretty wack, consider that the Zero and Gamma are specialist devices manufactured in small quantities for a small market, the E-MU is mass produced for a mass consumer market, so its going to cost less to build, and therefore retail for less (in theory, and in practice)

I really don't mind in the end. I would just like to know which is the better DAC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif as far as optical out vs USB out, depends on what devices we're talking about, and how good the onboard sound is on your mac

I'm not sure how I could find out about that. It's just a standard "Macbook 2.1", intel core 2 duo, with nothing extra. I will be doing music recordings with clean recorders and want to play them back to my nice amp and monitors, to edit the audio etc. At the moment I am using the headphone output from my macbook into my amp. That has always been fine, but for this monitoring I will need a lower noise floor. So any advise much appreciated. If USB would not make a difference over optical, that would be great as I could run the DAC from my USB hub, instead of having one more wire coming out of the Macbook which would be more messy.

Thanks!

 

[obobskivich]

subjective - Wiktionary

 

[Woodlandjustin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif subjective - Wiktionary

Yes that's right, I'd appreciate any opinions whether subjective or objective.
The Fubar only does 16bit/44.1k.

The E-MU does 24-bit/192kHz.

The gamma 1 does 24-bit 192KHz.

Since I will be using 24 bit 96kHz audio, am I right to think that the E-MU / gamma 1 would be a better choice than the Fubar and Zero? I would also still love to hear if anyone knows how the sound quality on these units compares, and also on how important it would be (or not), optical over USB.

Many thanks

 

[obobskivich]

if you need 24-bit or 96khz decoding, you need hardware that can do it, such as the E-MU or the gamma 1

that seems to answer itself imho