"Best" USB DAC/Amp for $300 or less

[goodyfresh]

Just what it says in the title: What would be your guys' various recommendations as to the "best" available USB DAC for under 300 dollars?  I am currently using my Fiio X3ii player as a USB DAC for my HP Envy 15 Windows 8 laptop, but am looking to get a good non-portable (although if, in this price-range, something portable could give me even better sound, I'm all for it) desktop DAC which will give even further improvement over my onboard sound than the X3ii already does.

I will be using this with Sony MDR-1A headphones, Trinity Delta IEM's (to be bought soon, I think), and using bit-perfect (WASAPI or Kernel Streaming) output from Foobar2000 in Windows 8.

Of course, if you feel like posting a recommendation, please explain the reasoning behind it. . .what you think the DAC sounds like, and why you think it would be the best in this price-range.

Also, what are your guys thoughts on Multibit (R-2R) DAC chips vs. Delta-Sigma chips?  Many people seem to think R-2R/Multibit sounds much better.  Why exactly is this?  And if that is true, then are there any multibit/R-2R DAC's available in the price-range I mentioned?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Audio-GD NFB-15, external DAC/amp, $270 + shipping ($45).
Dual WM8741 DAC chips.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm

 

[cel4145]

^^

What he said about the NFB-15. Very good choice for your budget range.

As for DAC chips? Keep in mind that the DAC chip implementation with the other electronics is more important than the DAC chip itself. So don't get too caught up in deliberating over DAC chips.

 

[Youth]

I haven't heard R2R DACs yet, but I'm about to order one, Audio GD DAC 19 (10th Annivesarry) along with the Audio GD C-2 (11th Annivesarry). The DAC itself is arround $800 so maybe too expensive you for, but I don't know any cheaper R2R, sorry.
 
I've heard Audio GD is good bang for the buck so the above is probably a good suggestion. There's also the NFB-11 in your pricerange but I don't know how it compares to NFB-15. 

 

[goodyfresh]

Thanks for the input so far guys! Ill wait to hear from more people, as well

 

[inthere]

  Just what it says in the title: What would be your guys' various recommendations as to the "best" available USB DAC for under 300 dollars?  I am currently using my Fiio X3ii player as a USB DAC for my HP Envy 15 Windows 8 laptop, but am looking to get a good non-portable (although if, in this price-range, something portable could give me even better sound, I'm all for it) desktop DAC which will give even further improvement over my onboard sound than the X3ii already does.

I will be using this with Sony MDR-1A headphones, Trinity Delta IEM's (to be bought soon, I think), and using bit-perfect (WASAPI or Kernel Streaming) output from Foobar2000 in Windows 8.

Of course, if you feel like posting a recommendation, please explain the reasoning behind it. . .what you think the DAC sounds like, and why you think it would be the best in this price-range.

Also, what are your guys thoughts on Multibit (R-2R) DAC chips vs. Delta-Sigma chips?  Many people seem to think R-2R/Multibit sounds much better.  Why exactly is this?  And if that is true, then are there any multibit/R-2R DAC's available in the price-range I mentioned?

 
 Keep in mind that the MDR-1A's don't scale as well with amplification as the 1R's. They'll sound great out of anything and an amp may not be necessary.

 

[goodyfresh]

   
 Keep in mind that the MDR-1A's don't scale as well with amplification as the 1R's. They'll sound great out of anything and an amp may not be necessary.

I was talking about a DAC/Amp combo device, man.  I already know that abotu the MDR-1A with regards to just amplification alone.  But a DAC improvement can scale well with ANY headphones or IEM's, man.

 

[inthere]

  I was talking about a DAC/Amp combo device, man.  I already know that abotu the MDR-1A with regards to just amplification alone.  But a DAC improvement can scale well with ANY headphones or IEM's, man.

 Yeah, I saw what you posted. Just trying to help. What I'm trying to say is you're not going to get a *noticeable* DAC improvement over the X3ii-not for under $300 and probably not for much more than that, especially with Sony MDR-1A's. You're also not going to see an noticeable amp improvement over the X3. 
 
The Audio-GD NFB-15 is probably a sensational amp; I've never heard it but I have the MDR-1A's and love them. I also have several amp/DAC combo devices. Also several standalone amps and standalone DACs. The MDR 1A's impedance is 24 ohms. The X3 is great for driving those cans and nothing else is going to be a significant improvement. 
 
*If* you had some 300-600 ohm headphones then I'd say go for it, but 24 ohms? i'm sorry. 
 
By all means get a new amp/DAC combo if the goal is to later on down the line buy some better headphones, but if the end goal is to make the MDR 1-A's sound better than with the X3, I don't think it's going to happen. 

 

[Friendly]

I've read good things about the Meridian Explorer 2.
 
I have the first gen Explorer and it does a good job. the E2 is on my short list for possible upgrades. 

 

[goodyfresh]

 
 Yeah, I saw what you posted. Just trying to help. What I'm trying to say is you're not going to get a *noticeable* DAC improvement over the X3ii-not for under $300 and probably not for much more than that, especially with Sony MDR-1A's. You're also not going to see an noticeable amp improvement over the X3. 
 
The Audio-GD NFB-15 is probably a sensational amp; I've never heard it but I have the MDR-1A's and love them. I also have several amp/DAC combo devices. Also several standalone amps and standalone DACs. The MDR 1A's impedance is 24 ohms. The X3 is great for driving those cans and nothing else is going to be a significant improvement. 
 
*If* you had some 300-600 ohm headphones then I'd say go for it, but 24 ohms? i'm sorry. 
 
By all means get a new amp/DAC combo if the goal is to later on down the line buy some better headphones, but if the end goal is to make the MDR 1-A's sound better than with the X3, I don't think it's going to happen. 

I should have gone into more detail, then!  The goal is for NOW to just use the dac/amp to drive the MDR-1A and, eventually, some Trinity Delta IEM's. . .HOWEVER, I eventually plan to make the MDR-1A my exclusively PORTABLE cans, while having the IEM's for when I need more isolation, and otherwise to have something orthodynamic/planar-magnetic for my home desktop use.  I'm thinking probably one of the Mr. Speakers offerings, at the very least the Mad Dog Pro.  And from what I can see it looks like I would definitely get way better performance from most planars with the NFB-15 than with the X3ii.  Frmo the looks of it, things like the Meridian Explorer 2 don't have much more, if even AS much, output power as the X3ii, so would probably not be much point for me to get.  Hmmmmmmm.

Maybe, if I'm going to eventually get the Alpha Dogs or Alpha Prime (the latter would be my ideal, I mean, if not for the new Ether C, but that is reallyyyy expensive) I should just save up more, for longer, and spring for something like the Schiit Bifrost or Gungnir. .  . . .hmmmmmmm.  Idk.

So are you seriously pretty sure that I won't get any actually audible improvements with the Sony MDR-1A by using something like the NFB-15 as opposed to the X3ii?
 
 
What about R-2R/Multibit DAC's, guys?

 

[Youth]

 
I should have gone into more detail, then!  The goal is for NOW to just use the dac/amp to drive the MDR-1A and, eventually, some Trinity Delta IEM's. . .HOWEVER, I eventually plan to make the MDR-1A my exclusively PORTABLE cans, while having the IEM's for when I need more isolation, and otherwise to have something orthodynamic/planar-magnetic for my home desktop use.  I'm thinking probably one of the Mr. Speakers offerings, at the very least the Mad Dog Pro.  And from what I can see it looks like I would definitely get way better performance from most planars with the NFB-15 than with the X3ii.  Frmo the looks of it, things like the Meridian Explorer 2 don't have much more, if even AS much, output power as the X3ii, so would probably not be much point for me to get.  Hmmmmmmm.

Maybe, if I'm going to eventually get the Alpha Dogs or Alpha Prime (the latter would be my ideal, I mean, if not for the new Ether C, but that is reallyyyy expensive) I should just save up more, for longer, and spring for something like the Schiit Bifrost or Gungnir. .  . . .hmmmmmmm.  Idk.

So are you seriously pretty sure that I won't get any actually audible improvements with the Sony MDR-1A by using something like the NFB-15 as opposed to the X3ii?
 
 
What about R-2R/Multibit DAC's, guys?

 
I will let you know when I get my R2R DAC and tell you how it sounds if you'd like. If you're planning to get something like Ether-C later on I'd probably skip the NFB-15 and save up for better gear.

 

[inthere]

 

 
 Yeah, I saw what you posted. Just trying to help. What I'm trying to say is you're not going to get a *noticeable* DAC improvement over the X3ii-not for under $300 and probably not for much more than that, especially with Sony MDR-1A's. You're also not going to see an noticeable amp improvement over the X3. 
 
The Audio-GD NFB-15 is probably a sensational amp; I've never heard it but I have the MDR-1A's and love them. I also have several amp/DAC combo devices. Also several standalone amps and standalone DACs. The MDR 1A's impedance is 24 ohms. The X3 is great for driving those cans and nothing else is going to be a significant improvement. 
 
*If* you had some 300-600 ohm headphones then I'd say go for it, but 24 ohms? i'm sorry. 
 
By all means get a new amp/DAC combo if the goal is to later on down the line buy some better headphones, but if the end goal is to make the MDR 1-A's sound better than with the X3, I don't think it's going to happen. 

I should have gone into more detail, then!  The goal is for NOW to just use the dac/amp to drive the MDR-1A and, eventually, some Trinity Delta IEM's. . .HOWEVER, I eventually plan to make the MDR-1A my exclusively PORTABLE cans, while having the IEM's for when I need more isolation, and otherwise to have something orthodynamic/planar-magnetic for my home desktop use.  I'm thinking probably one of the Mr. Speakers offerings, at the very least the Mad Dog Pro.  And from what I can see it looks like I would definitely get way better performance from most planars with the NFB-15 than with the X3ii.  Frmo the looks of it, things like the Meridian Explorer 2 don't have much more, if even AS much, output power as the X3ii, so would probably not be much point for me to get.  Hmmmmmmm.

Maybe, if I'm going to eventually get the Alpha Dogs or Alpha Prime (the latter would be my ideal, I mean, if not for the new Ether C, but that is reallyyyy expensive) I should just save up more, for longer, and spring for something like the Schiit Bifrost or Gungnir. .  . . .hmmmmmmm.  Idk.

So are you seriously pretty sure that I won't get any actually audible improvements with the Sony MDR-1A by using something like the NFB-15 as opposed to the X3ii?
 
 
What about R-2R/Multibit DAC's, guys?

 Yeah, pretty sure. Feel free to try it though, just make sure you buy one with a nice return policy. Alpha Dogs and I believe Alpha Primes are both 98 ohms, I have the Alpha Dogs and they definitely benefit from a nice amp. I don't know how long Mr. Speakers will have Alpha Dogs/Primes in stock because the Fostex T50RP's that were being modded have been discontinued. 
 
 I spoke to Dan Clark from Mr. Speakers at Can jam and he said Fostex keeps finding T50 RP's for him to mod so they could be around awhile, but the clock is ticking. 

 

[jodgey4]

Idk of any worthwhile R2R DACs on the market in your budget. I agree, hold off on a DAC/amp until you're ready to buy new headphones.

 

[goodyfresh]

 
 Yeah, pretty sure. Feel free to try it though, just make sure you buy one with a nice return policy. Alpha Dogs and I believe Alpha Primes are both 98 ohms, I have the Alpha Dogs and they definitely benefit from a nice amp. I don't know how long Mr. Speakers will have Alpha Dogs/Primes in stock because the Fostex T50RP's that were being modded have been discontinued. 
 
 I spoke to Dan Clark from Mr. Speakers at Can jam and he said Fostex keeps finding T50 RP's for him to mod so they could be around awhile, but the clock is ticking. 

Well what's he going to be making once he runs out of T50 RP's?  Just the Ether and Ether C, so only summit-fi level stuff?  What good options will I then have in the way of high-mid-fi/low-hi-fi priced closed-back orthos/planars?

Anyway since multiple people are saying the same thing, I'll probably just keep using my Fiio X3ii as a DAC, for now, and get something better in that regard in the future.  Although, who knows. . .I am still kind of concerned that maybe constantly having it plugged-in as a DAC is racking up hours of use on my X3ii and its battery, perhaps shortening its lifespan. . .so maybe I'll just get one of the really cheap decent Sabre DAC's from HiFiMeDIY, or something, just to be able to have something as a dedicated unit on my desktop so I won't have to keep plugging and unplugging my X3ii.  I can get a damn good one from them for 89.99 that is asynchronous and power-isolated, with a Sabre ES9023 chip implemented in it.  Not a very powerful amp in it at all, but I won't need that, as we discussed.

 

[jodgey4]

Stoner Acoustics UD120 is another great option. Add an O2 or Schit Magni or whatever, and you'd be off to a great start.