DAC is the way or am i wrong?

[orys]

I apologise for my lameness.

i am new to all this.
i bought so far a Heed CanAmp amplifier, AKG K340 and K500 headphones which are on the way and i am trying to understand whether my ipod gen 6 160gb is a good source for the Heed amp.
So while searching the forums for info and also google, i found out that there are options of hooking something like an external card on the PC with low latency to play my music off the PC as i am not gonna use my pioneer sx-850 amp to listen through my headphones since it is set up in the living room.
So far i understood that DACs with USB input (does it stand for digital to analogue converter?) exist and i have seen a few models like the ZERO and ZHAOLU which are very cheap, however their upgraded versions are around the $200 mark and still wondering if it is the right way to go. I mean does my alternative the ipod provide better source than these?
Personally i wouldn't think so, being a complete newbie not even owning anything of the already mentioned headphones and amps since they are in transit. I just want to have everything here by New Years Eve which happens to be my birthday to sit and listen to the ****load of mp3s and lossless files i have the proper way.

so besides busting everyone's balls with all my stupid questions, will a DAC with USB input do what i am looking for and will it be a better source than the ipod? Will i just hook the DAC on my pc and choose it as the sound source in the control panel, then hook it to the Heed CanAmp and then plug my K340 on the heed to listen to music while playing it with a mp3 player on the PC?

What would you guys recommend. Would appreciate it if you have provided links and prices.

thanks in advance.

tio

 

[krmathis]

Yeah, that exactly what an external DAC does.
Hooks up to the computer, CD transport, ... and decode the digital audio data to analog signal. Which then are sent further on into the amplifier.

An USB DAC paired up with a computer, lossless files a "must", can make a really great source indeed. The end result depend on the DAC of course, but it will surpass the iPod without any insane investments.

 

[orys]

cool!!!!
which DAC would you recommend based on my setup so far. will recable the K340 for sure but that will be next month off course.

 

[EFN]

Yes you are going the right way. I myself is going that direction now after a 2 year stint with DAP Lineouts. iPod has good Lineout and using an iMod is about the beast anyone can do with the internal Wolfson DAC

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by orys /img/forum/go_quote.gif cool!!!! which DAC would you recommend based on my setup so far. will recable the K340 for sure but that will be next month off course.

Yeah, its very nice and versatile.
Regarding DAC, you mention $200 so I guess thats your budget. I don't know the DAC's around there, since my current DAC cost $2,500 and the previous one around $2,000.

 

[orys]

2500 usd???!!!!
holy **** man, i'm not getting this!!!
i was wondering if you could help me choose between the ZERO (there is an extensive review of this in the forums) and the ZHAOLU D3, since they are the upgraded versions on the Bay and they cost more than 200 usd.
my budget is 200-300 usd so if you know of better alternatives let me know please.

the links are:

ZHAOLU D3 DAC D A CONVERTOR, UPGRADE VERSION, BRAND NEW $229

Zero DAC with the HDAM, LT1364, and upgraded volume pot $220

basicaly there is too many zero DACs with many different options i dont know what they mean.

zero dac, Electronics, Computers Networking items on eBay.com

can someone help me please?

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by orys /img/forum/go_quote.gif 2500 usd???!!!! holy **** man, i'm not getting this!!!

Guess you need to go back reading my post again.

Cause I nowhere implied that you should spend $2,500 on a DAC.

 

[milkweg]

EMU 0404 USB has high end AK5385A DAC chip. Optical/coax in/out, USB in (requires small driver install, both PC and Mac driver available). Best bang for buck in computer audio and far more versatile than any standalone DAC. An external DAC is basically a soundcard in a box with very limited features, this is that and much more.

E-MU Systems - 0404 USB 2.0 - USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface

 

[orys]

so no recommendations?

 

[milkweg]

I just made a good and cheap one. I guess you posted the same time as me?

Use the forum search function. There are many older posts on cheap and expensive DACs.

 

[orys]

hmmm
if this will do the job then i will snatch it.
there's one seller on the bay selling it for $160. will beg him to ship to Europe.

 

[milkweg]

New or used? That's a good price for new.

 

[orys]

new

 

[krmathis]

How about checking out this list?
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/al...pt-2-a-325941/

 

[plonter]

i am too is getting now the ultra micro amp from headroom and planning to hook it up with my computer which will feed the dac with"ice cold" digital information, "pure" digital information. nad then the dac will turn that into a very warm and sweet analog sound for my ah-d5000 cans.

do you guys think that hooking up a dac to any digital source is the best way to get the purest sound that we all wishing for? the pure audiophile sound...?

until now i also used the ipod through the line out and it was great,but i have always thought that i can get a more clean sound without going through the ipod's dac or any other player built in dac.