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

[jodgey4]

That's always a fair option - that's the best bang for your buck for sure. NFB-11s come up for sale on the forums with decent regularity.

 

[goodyfresh]

  That's always a fair option - that's the best bang for your buck for sure. NFB-11s come up for sale on the forums with decent regularity.

So you agree that the best value, cost-to-performance, would perhaps be to stack the HiFiMeDIY 9018D with a Magni 2 Uber?  Because I most definitely like that idea ^_^

 

[jodgey4]

100%, or a similar amp like the O2.

 

[goodyfresh]

  100%, or a similar amp like the O2.

How would the sound stack-up against that from something with an ES9023 chip instead of an ES9018?  HiFiMeDIY makes this one DAC which is power-isolated, fully asynchronous, pretty much full-featured, but has the 9023 instead of the 9018, and it's only 90 bucks.

 

[cel4145]

The NFB-11 does look interesting.  I'd have to try to figure out where I could find one.

You have to order Audio-GD products from Audio-GD.

 

[goodyfresh]

The NFB-11 and NFB-15 both have an output-impedance of 2 ohms, much higher than the Schiit Magni 2 at 0.2 ohms or the ODAC+O2 at 0.54 ohms, and much higher than my X3 2nd Generation DAP at 0.3 ohms.  Couldnt' this be an issue with sensitive IEM's?  If, say, everything I ever get is giong to have an impedance of at least 16 ohms, should it be an issue. . .would I ever have to worry about any background-hiss on sensitive cans or IEM's?  Like my Sony MDR-1A, for example, are 24 ohms, but very very sensitive, and the Trinity Delta IEM's I plan to get are 16 ohms and quite sensitive as well.
 
Also, anything with an ES9018 chip is going to require extra drivers in Windows, correct?  I acn find the drivers easily though, right?  While the ES9023 won't require drivers. . .does the ES9023 really sound noticably inferior to th ES9018, at all?

 

[inthere]

MDR-1A sound fine on most amps on low gain, but not an improvement over X3. Very good on an O2. O2 distorts when you crank it up on high gain on my planars (Alpha Dog, HE-500, Th-600) but if you don't need it loud it shouldn't be a problem. 
 
Schiit Magni sounds stunningly beautiful with the Planars, so maybe NFB-11/15 is even better (I haven't heard them but I'm curious, I may buy one)

 

[goodyfresh]

  MDR-1A sound fine on most amps on low gain, but not an improvement over X3. Very good on an O2. O2 distorts when you crank it up on high gain on my planars (Alpha Dog, HE-500, Th-600) but if you don't need it loud it shouldn't be a problem. 
 
Schiit Magni sounds stunningly beautiful with the Planars, so maybe NFB-11/15 is even better (I haven't heard them but I'm curious, I may buy one)

So you're saying the Magni 2 sounds noticably better with the Alpha Dogs than the O2?
 
So do you think the output-impedance of 2 ohms on the NFB-11/15 would cause background hiss on something like the Trinity Delta IEM's with their 16 ohm impedance and high sensitivity?  Because while the main reason I plan to get a desktop DAC/Amp combo is for use with my (eventual) purchase of the Alpha Dogs or Alpha Primes, I would obviously like to be able to use the DAC/Amp with ALL my gear!

 

[cel4145]

So do you think the output-impedance of 2 ohms on the NFB-11/15 would cause background hiss on something like the Trinity Delta IEM's with their 16 ohm impedance and high sensitivity?  Because while the main reason I plan to get a desktop DAC/Amp combo is for use with my (eventual) purchase of the Alpha Dogs or Alpha Primes, I would obviously like to be able to use the DAC/Amp with ALL my gear!

I've never heard that the low output impedance is related to background hiss.

The Trinity Delta's sensitivity is not really that high for a 16 ohm IEM. I would imagine if you would ask in the NFB-15 or NFB-11 threads, someone could share their experience with IEMs of similar impedance and sensitivity, or even higher sensitivity.

 

[jodgey4]

2 ohms is very low for an output impedance, and really only affects damping (and power in extreme cases). Noise shouldn't have anything to do with it... some current-drive amps have output impedances in the millions+.

For very power hungry headphones (planars count as they need lots of current), having more power overhead is probably a safe bet. That's one of the few limitations for the O2, though it's still powerful enough for most applications.

 

[goodyfresh]

Thanks guys!

 

[goodyfresh]

Hmmmm. Maybe I should try out the Aune T1 Mk2. I've never given tube sound a try before, and it's supposed to be a great entry-level DAC/Amp combo in that regard.  Also, it uses Advanced Segment Architecture, which if I understand correctly is basically like using R-2R for the top 6 bits, and Delta-Sigma for the other 18, when playing 24-bit audio, which sounds like a nice compromise between R-2R and Delta-Sigma.  And by all accounts it's fairly powerful. . .150mW at 300 ohms.

 

[cel4145]

Hmmmm. Maybe I should try out the Aune T1 Mk2. I've never given tube sound a try before, and it's supposed to be a great entry-level DAC/Amp combo in that regard. 

I've never heard it, but keep hearing great things about it. I don't know how you could go wrong with it.

Also, it uses Advanced Segment Architecture, which if I understand correctly is basically like using R-2R for the top 6 bits, and Delta-Sigma for the other 18, when playing 24-bit audio, which sounds like a nice compromise between R-2R and Delta-Sigma. 

Well, if you want bragging rights about the technology, spend more and get the NFB-11 with the Sabre32 ES9018 DAC chip.

 

[inthere]

Hmmmm. Maybe I should try out the Aune T1 Mk2. I've never given tube sound a try before, and it's supposed to be a great entry-level DAC/Amp combo in that regard. 

I've never heard it, but keep hearing great things about it. I don't know how you could go wrong with it.



Soundwise no, everyone I've let compare it very quickly rate it better than the Asgard 2 and the IFI iCan Micro. The difference is noticeable. More clarity while at the same time having more weight, it's major league.

However, people have reported quality issues; the USB DAC section of mine died 3 days ago. After about 6 months of use.

 

[goodyfresh]

I've never heard it, but keep hearing great things about it. I don't know how you could go wrong with it.
Well, if you want bragging rights about the technology, spend more and get the NFB-11 with the Sabre32 ES9018 DAC chip.

What exactly IS the tech of the ES9018 chip?  What type of architecture does it use?  Is it pure delta-sigma, or what?