[fc911c]

Hi

I am thinking about building a DAC and would like to know what kits are available in the < 1000.00 range. I will be using it with a PC so I will need USB input. The PC sound card just isn't doing it and rather then upgrading that I thing the DAC is the right move for me. SQ is most important to me.

I would like your help and want to hear from people who have built there own and also who have such Dac's that where pre built.

Thanks
Frank

 

[tomb]

Why not look at the Alien DAC thread on this same page?

Alien DAC Construction Thread

Jeff Rossel is offering kits - $34 cost (plus shipping) and a great improvement over the typical sound card. Baseline noise may be slightly higher compared to the best audiophile soundcards, but I think the frequency response holds up well. It will definitely beat any off-the-shelf mass market CD/DVD player, and is also better than the M-Audio Transit, IMHO. Again, the Transit may have only slightly better noise numbers, but I can't hear the difference. Frequency response and dynamics are better with the Alien, IMHO.

MASantos also has a finished version in a Head-Fi sponsored thread:
Alien USB DAC!. It has a very nice metal case with a custom front plate.

 

[riffer]

The Hagerman Chime might be doable for $1000. I haven't built one, but have looked closely at doing so.

 

[fc911c]

Hmm looks interesting, and would look good next to the SP Platinum Extreme.

Anyone dabble in building one?

Thanks
Frank





Quote:

Originally Posted by riffer /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Hagerman Chime might be doable for $1000. I haven't built one, but have looked closely at doing so.

 

[Nebby]

The two dac's I was looking at earlier were the DDDAC1543, about $370 with USB and SPDIF input (http://www.dddac.de/) and the Twisted Pear Audio Opus, about $200 with SPDIF input (http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/opus/opus.aspx) both not factoring casing, jacks, etc.

 

[fc911c]

Thanks for the links, which did you decide on if any?

Frank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebby /img/forum/go_quote.gif The two dac's I was looking at earlier were the DDDAC1543, about $370 with USB and SPDIF input (http://www.dddac.de/) and the Twisted Pear Audio Opus, about $200 with SPDIF input (http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/opus/opus.aspx) both not factoring casing, jacks, etc.

 

[Nebby]

I went with the opus, it's cheaper and the kits that TPA sells were extremely well put together. Now they're selling the kits pre-built and tested for the same price.....so it's really a no brainer IMHO

I started a thread about the opus dac over here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=252858

Needless to say, it's a good headphone dac....but an astoundingly great speaker dac. I found the soundstage much more narrow than the Oritek modded zhaolu when using headphones, but with more apparent detail and definition than the Ori. Between Johnsonad and I, he preferred the wider soundstage of the Oritek, while I preferred the extra detail the Opus had. I do appreciate the extra soundstage the Ori had, but it came down to personal preference I think.

But when used with a two channel speaker setup, that same narrow soundstage of the Opus became extra wide and 3-D (I know it's somewhat of a cliche word to use, but I can't describe it any better). With speakers, the Opus put you inside the music, while the Ori sounded very two-dimensional and distant.

I think I'm probably a little excessive on the enthusiasm, but I hope this helps

To be honest, I'm curious to hear how the dddac sounds, on paper it reads like a polar opposite of the opus dac.

 

[mrarroyo]

Scott Nixon has nice kits, one with a tube.

 

[ezkcdude]

Can we not sticky one of these "DIY Kits?" threads? There's been quite a few lately.

 

[Nebby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezkcdude /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can we not sticky one of these "DIY Kits?" threads? There's been quite a few lately.

What somebody should do is compile a list of frequently asked questions, and link the threads. I've thought about doing this but haven't done it yet