[donnot]

Hi all
 
I've just ordered a pair of sony MH1c's and I am looking for a half-decent DAC as my ultrabook's VIA audio isn't cutting it for me, even with my id america spark IEM's. My budget is $50, preferably including shipping and I live in Australia, which will probably limit my choices. Also, not sure if it is too much to ask for my price range, but another good addon for me would be an optical output that can do 5.1. Not too worried about that though. 
 
Had a look at these so far:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Portable-MUSE-USB-DAC-PCM2704-Sound-Card-Optical-Coaxial-Decoder-PDIF-Converter-/281068165930?pt=AU_Electronics_Audio_Amplifiers&hash=item4170f7db2a&_uhb=1
 
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PCM2704-USB-DAC-TDA1308-Headphone-amplifier-Volume-Control-ELE-EL-D02-BLACK-/230963476750 (not sure if I will need an amp as according to what I've read the mh1's take more power to drive than other iem's).
 
http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=83
 
Possible to get something with bass/treble controls? I'm a bit of a basshead and I'm sick of using EQ's. 
 
Thanks

 

[donnot]

Just had a look at the hifimediy sabre and was wondering if it would be fine without an amp going with my MH1c's. I've heard mixed opinions on how powerful it is and that it sounds better amped.

 

[Oregonian]

The FiiO E-10 is a good little DAC/amp with a bass boost switch. I'm using it in one of my systems and am quite pleased with its sound.

 

[donnot]

The E10 is a little out of my budget; around 80 in Australia, so I'm leaning towards the Hifimediy Sabre. It also has an optical out which will be very useful. Just not sure how it will go with my Sony MH1c's as far as amplification; will I need a separate amp? Only going to be using IEM's with this dac.

 

[BenF]

  The E10 is a little out of my budget; around 80 in Australia, so I'm leaning towards the Hifimediy Sabre. It also has an optical out which will be very useful. Just not sure how it will go with my Sony MH1c's as far as amplification; will I need a separate amp? Only going to be using IEM's with this dac.

 
The Sabre DAC will power MH1C  and other IEMs just fine.
You might want to upgrade to the asynchronous model though:
http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=123

 

[donnot]

I'm no audiophile and from what I've read there isn't a major difference between async and sync so I've just gone with the normal version-seems to get good feedback everywhere!