DAC recommendations

[Territhemayor]

I've heard that DACs are a worthwhile investment, right now I'm using my X-Fi sound card and people are telling me to upgrade to a DAC. I've got about 6 to 7 hundred to spend, but from what I've seen I wont be needing all that (hopefully, I've seen that they cost like 200-/+)
I'm going to be powering Darth Beyers with these (and possibly Hp-2s and other grados) if that matters. My amp is a BADA PH-12 tube amp. I'm really not looking for a DAC/AMP combo, I'm pretty happy with my amp now.
Does anyone have any quality recommendations?
I'm not so much into cost efficiency as I am quality. I'll pay up for something better, as long as it's not ridiculous.
Thanks a lot

 

[regal]

You can't really tell someone what DAC to buy. They all have a different sound signature that you may or may not prefer.

For $600 - $700 the Stello Da100 and the VDA-2 are popular. You should search for reviews of each sound and make your decision.
I know the VDA-2 has a 30 day return policy (-10%). I would have bought it but I found a PS Audio DLIII at crutchfield who has a 100% money back return policy.

In my opinion the return policy is probably the most important factor. All people have different tastes, and you really can't describe a sound signature with words in a review. So being able to test the waters is most important. If you don't like it, send it back and try another.

 

[Territhemayor]

Yeah I had the same problem when looking for a headphone amp, you cant really just have someone tell you "buy this" becuase there are so many. I know I want to go with either the headroom ULTRA micro DAC or the regular headroom micro DAC. Does anyone have any experience with either of them? The ultra would use almost all my money, b ut it seems worth it. When I said 600 to 700 thats like all my savings, and I also want to get a pair of stax sometime in the future, but I think buying the ultra would be good. Does the ultra's use of 24 bit really help it that much?

Thanks

 

[Cata1yst]

You could get a benchmark 1 used for that price....
In the DIY arena you could get an Opus, which competes with the benchmark at half the price supposedly, that is if you can get your hands on an Opus Kit

 

[OverlordXenu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cata1yst /img/forum/go_quote.gif You could get a benchmark 1 used for that price.... In the DIY arena you could get an Opus, which competes with the benchmark at half the price supposedly, that is if you can get your hands on an Opus Kit

Their price really isn't that far apart when you consider a bunch of options, or the case, though...

 

[n4k33n]

Or you could get a headroom ultra microdac =D

 

[plaidplatypus]

Going from the X-fi to the MicroDAC should be a much bigger leap than from the MicroDAC to the Ultra MicroDAC. I would get the MicroDAC and save for better headphones.

 

[Cata1yst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverlordXenu /img/forum/go_quote.gif Their price really isn't that far apart when you consider a bunch of options, or the case, though...

My speced opus wont go beyond 225...and thats if the new DAC and SPDIF modules come out to be a total of 25$ more shipped than the current bundle
Using 2 hammonds (one for PSU and other for electronics) and Gold plated RCA connectors
Of course if you throw in a zapfilter and another DAC board, wire it all up with silver teflon treated cables and such...yeah i see where your going with that


What are you throwing in yours overlordxenu? and have you gotten your hands on modules yet?

 

[Territhemayor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plaidplatypus /img/forum/go_quote.gif Going from the X-fi to the MicroDAC should be a much bigger leap than from the MicroDAC to the Ultra MicroDAC. I would get the MicroDAC and save for better headphones.

I'm going to go with the ULTRA micro DAC from headroom. I've got alot of good headphones (5 pairs of darth beyers, hp-2s, other vintage grados) and now I want to upgrade the rest of my parts to even out my system. I hope it comes soon! I'm pretty happy with my purchase, the ultra DAC is good enough that I wont need to upgrade it for a LONG time, which is exactly what I'm looking for.
I guess I'll be doing USB, I have a optical output on my mobo. Is going optical worth it? Also, should I just leave my soundcard in there and have it do nothing? I'm fine with that, lol

 

[Redo]

The Ultra MicroDAC is a great option, and would be my first choice <3