[trevmex]

Has anyone tried out the DIY USB DAC kits on ebay with the SMD parts already soldered? http://www.ebay.com/bhp/usb-dac-diy?rmvSB=true

I was thinking of buying one, but I don't know which to get...

 

[tomb]

Most of the Chinese DIY DACs on ebay are incomplete. Except for the very smallest USB-DACs (key: they have a "headphone jack"), all of these DACs are missing a power supply. Depending on the design, you may need several different transformers with a corresponding regulated power supply design for each. Sometimes, these deleted components may be more sophisticated than the DAC board itself.

You don't get something for nothing and these are more misleading than most.