[Ice Max]

I'm looking into adding a DAC into my system. Problem is, I have no idea whats out there in DAC-land. Ideally, I'd like to spend $300 or less on a DAC that I can plug into my sound card (X-fi Xtreme Music, though I may get an X-Fi Prelude eventually.) All it needs is an Spdif input to connect to the sound card, and RCA out jacks, and sound pretty good. Any recommendations?

 

[webbie64]

There are plenty of good DACs out there - read 'good' not 'excellent' - and I wouldn't rule out portable DACs with their mini outs because you could simply add a mini-2-RCA connector.

I'm trying an iBasso D1 with rolled opamps and am quite impressed by the DAC output. Going this approach would also give you a portable amp as an added bonus, though the cost of rolling opamps would also need to be factored in.

Good luck finding what will work for you - in my experience there is a fairly wide variety of quality (including SQ) out there in that price bracket.

 

[Ice Max]

i was just looking at the Headroom Dac, which looks nice, however, it doesn't have RCA outputs ( I'd like to use my new cables made by n_maher that i got at the NYC meet)

 

[infinitesymphony]

All the DACs money can buy...

 

[webbie64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony /img/forum/go_quote.gif All the DACs money can buy...

Which is more easilly explored now at the blog - Simpler, Easier, Dacs. - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

 

[infinitesymphony]

Oh, cool, thanks for the link webbie64. Bookmarked.

The one downside is that it appears the timestamp on the blog doesn't update, so it will be difficult to tell when new DACs have been added (but I hope I'm wrong about this).

 

[webbie64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh, cool, thanks for the link webbie64. Bookmarked. The one downside is that it appears the timestamp on the blog doesn't update, so it will be difficult to tell when new DACs have been added (but I hope I'm wrong about this).

If it turns out to be this way then http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f11/at...ight=post+here

 

[Ice Max]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony /img/forum/go_quote.gif All the DACs money can buy...

Thansk, thats a great link to all the DAC available. Prob gonna get a Constanine+ or a Zalhou 2.0 now.

 

[Jaw007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice Max /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thansk, thats a great link to all the DAC available. Prob gonna get a Constanine+ or a Zalhou 2.0 now.

Good choice.