[angle_sh00ter]

Hard to get better value than the musiland monitor 02. Very clean transparent DAC - I use it with 2.1 speakers just using the normal 1/8" stereo cable from the subwoofer to the musiland.

 

[Superfrag]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan1894 /img/forum/go_quote.gif From reading posts on these forums and on other forums, I have come up with the following. Musiland > DACMagic DACMagic = Compass DACMagic > Beresford DACMagic > EMU-0404 DACMagic ~ Essence STX So would Musiland be the best choice? Seems pretty cheap considering its meant to be better than the STX. BTW I will not be using any separate Headphone Amp...or anything like that. Hopefully it will be like: foobar2000 > ASIO4ALL > Optical Out > Musiland Monitor 02US > ATH-AD900

This is where the problem occurs.
The onboard optical out is not that great.. thats why I suggested the ASUS Essence STX.
The only reason for you to go with the Musiland is if your using USB or have a good PCI/PCI-E card for the optical/spdif output.

And yeah.. I meant the optical/spdif output of the Essence.

 

[Slash47]

In this pricerange the onboard optical is fine... Don't worry about it.

And I don't like the STX. It has whiny trebles and no depth.

 

[ryan1894]

Yea I could attach it by USB as well. That's fine.

I just thought Optical Out would be better...

Isn't it the same? They are both digital, one uses electricity and one uses light...and since both come out of the motherboard...

It seems that after reading around, people say that Optical/SPDIF is faster than USB, and that Optical definitely eliminates Noise.

Any difference between USB and Optical?

EDIT: After reading around - I suppose I should go USB.

Since my PSU is pretty good - Corsair HX620 - ground shouldn't be too bad, and since supposedly there is "jitter" on optical, and my input will probably be only PC, I'll probably just use usb.

EDIT 2: I don't actually thing the Monitor 02US even HAS input for Optical or Coax...it ONLY has USB...

 

[MomijiTMO]

I happen to have the HX620 and have no jitter via coax.

 

[ryan1894]

heh but musiland doesnt even accept coax

EDIT:

It only has USB Input, then
Medium/High Impedance Headphone Out
Low Impedance Headphone Out
RCA Out
Coaxial Out
TOSLINK Out

 

[angle_sh00ter]

Yes, think of it as an external USB soundcard. Macrog said he liked it better than the Dac Magic which is saying something.

 

[angle_sh00ter]

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/5987573-post276.html

 

[ryan1894]

"The sound quality from the monitor 02's analogue outputs is a noticeable step up from my Dacmagic"

Seems like my type of DAC.

Cheap and good.

 

[Superfrag]

Yup.. go for it. It can also serve as a really nice USB transport some time later.

 

[ryan1894]

I'm hopefully getting these Musiland Monitor 02US's tomorrow - any links to reputable sellers (eBay)? Or any other last minute suggestions?

 

[ryan1894]

OK I've hit another dilemma. I have found an AUNE for about the same price as the Musiland Monitor 02US, and the thing is:

It looks better and has a volume knob.

Does the AUNE sound better than the Musiland?

EDIT: I don't think the AUNE would sound better than the Musiland.

People around here have compared Musiland to the DACMagic, and the AUNE/Zero has never compared to more than others in the same price level: uDAC and such.

EDIT 2: Does the Musiland Monitor 02US have x64 drivers? I ONLY run x64 due to 6GB RAM.