[classicalguy]

I really want to buy a USB Dac for less than $100 us. Headphonia has a dac cable, but they will not respond to my emails requesting information. Supposedly, they were going to have an updated version on-line by now. Behringer has a cheap board (202), but some people say the analog out is poor. The 0404 usb seems not to be on sale any longer. I just don't know what to do. Any advice?

 

[xxlMusikfreak]

You can always look for an AlienDAC or build it yourself.

 

[namelock]

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/all...an-buy-197674/

lots of good suggestions here with prices included

for a cheap USB DAC theres always the turtlebeach DAC

Laptop Sound Card - Audio Advantage Micro

I've heard positive things about it

 

[classicalguy]

Tbaam is amped, and is the dac any good anyway? I like the idea of the TI/BB PCM2702/04 dac. Have others had problems dealing with Headphonia before?

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

I still haven't received a reply from Headphonia about my USB DAC Cable which worries me. Putting that aside, Hotaudio40 just released a USB DAC with RCA outputs. He's been receiving some good reviews from headfiers.

 

[sejarzo]

E-MU 0202....$86 plus shipping:

PROVANTAGE: Creative 70EM874006000 E-MU 0202 USB2.0 Audio Interface

 

[LeftyGorilla]

M-Audio has some gear...I use the MobilePre. Probably these don't have quite as good a DAC as the Emu, but I like it for all the ins-and-outs + it isn't Creative.

Can be had under $100 on ebay (mine was $75).

 

[jerryneyk]

They are good but spotty when it comes to communications. You'll have no word from them for a few days, then you get all the emails you want, then maybe nothing for a day or two, and so on.

They are good and honest and reliable in the long run, however. I ordered the Lyrix Pro, didn't like it, it is a good amp, does the job, but, for my ears, too neutral for my tastes. I sent it back and they promptly refunded my money no questions asked.

 

[Hookem]

I have no idea if this would be acceptable for you application and is a little over one hundred dollars.

SUPER Pro DAC 707 USB

 

[classicalguy]

Thanks. I ended up buying a DIYEDEN SVDAC05.

 

[Von Soundcard]

Do any of those DACs - say in the < 500$ region - implement some type of (proprietary ?) transfer protocol over USB to guarantee bit perfect and minimize jitter ?
Like the EMU 0404 USB does...

 

[Chingyul]

Ohh, good post. Looking for some sub $200 or else I'm going with the emu 404.
The DIYEDEN only amps the headphone out right, the RCA out is line out? Any issues working with Vista?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookem /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have no idea if this would be acceptable for you application and is a little over one hundred dollars. SUPER Pro DAC 707 USB

That is actually pretty decent, on par with the iBasso D1 DAC, but for a lot less money. I have one to use with my Apple TV. I bought mine from Super Pro DAC707

Here is another USB DAC that someone on Head-Fi recommended, but I've never heard it. USB DAC HIGH-PERFORMANCE STEREO PREAMPLIFIER / PREAMP - eBay (item 280222129516 end time May-04-08 20:30:18 PDT)

 

[Von Soundcard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Soundcard /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do any of those DACs - say in the < 500$ region - implement some type of (proprietary ?) transfer protocol over USB to guarantee bit perfect and minimize jitter ? Like the EMU 0404 USB does...

Do they ? Do they ?

 

[1UP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Soundcard /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do any of those DACs - say in the < 500$ region - implement some type of (proprietary ?) transfer protocol over USB to guarantee bit perfect and minimize jitter ? Like the EMU 0404 USB does...

No such thing as proprietary here. USB-I2S is the best you'd get, but most would convert to S/PDIF.

There wouldn't be any specific jitter-handling just cause it was USB; clock from the PC and onboard PLL would be the most common implementations.