Changing the op-amp on Elite Pro might be slightly above my ability, it would surely change the sonic character of it and might remove the need for a dac, or it might break the elite pro. As I don't know how to solder or own a soldering iron I would rather pay for a new dac.
Also, it should be noted that audio quality is not op-amp + dac= sound quality, not that those aren't hugely important components, but when comparing old cd players, like Linn Karik/Numerik, or Naim from the mid 90's, and you will find it beats most sub $500 dacs in sound quality, now the op amps and dacs in many of these diy or small company jobs are in theory much better than those available in old hi-fi products, but since even the most expensive dac chips are only a few dollars wholesale, if audio was that simple there would be no such thing as high end audio, unless people just liked shiny shiny diamond crusted cases.
There are a ton of other variables which affect sound quality, any one of which can make the best dac or op amp sound like confused crap, the electrical noise in a computer, as well as the power supply issues etc. imply that a computer case is one of the worst areas to house your sound.
If we assume the best sound card will be the Auzentech Prelude, well that will be about $200, with good dac + op amps + all the million other things in an XFI in it, now if some guy can't stick together a much better musical dac for similar money then there must be something wrong. He doesn't have to add all the other components of a soundcard and can provide a better power source and no noise, it makes no sense if there is not a $400 dac to trounce any commerical soundcard today.
