[wolf18t]

I think this would be your first venture in DIY. In this case I would suggest you to check either the CK2III or the SOHA II. They may not be the newest kids on the block but they are very good sounding headphone amps, relatively easy to build and very well supported. Many builders have build them. They are not too expensive (around 200$) so that would leave you a quite some money spare for the DAC and tools.

 

[luvdunhill]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nullstring /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would also say that the Benchmark DAC is not -that- good either

Have you heard that one?

 

[Uncle Erik]

Build your own if you have the desire. It's a lot more rewarding and you get free warranty service forever.

Another way to look at this is that, generally, retail price is four times the cos of parts. Which is fair - businesses cost money to run and nobody works for free. So if you want to maximize the value of your gear, build i yourself and cut the labor cost out of the total.

One of the real benefits of DIY is that the design has been picked over and built by lots of people. Flaws, shortcomings, etc., are usually spotted and corrected - I think DIY offers more robust hardware.

 

[linuxworks]

DIY also offers transparent designs. you can SEE the design and even the discussion in the forums, as to why this or that was done.

with many commercial units, its a black box. some vendors (sigh!) even paint over their chips to try to hide things. blech!!

DIY designs are honest designs. they really offer value and actual engineering (and not some mystery magic some vendor is hawking).

 

[smeggy]

I like DIY a lot more than I'm capable of doing, even so, I would go the DIY route.

 

[The Monkey]

Can someone please recommend a DAC that they haven't heard?

 

[mugdecoffee]

I strongly disagree with the $100+ estimates for diy equipment. I've built several cmoys, a mini3, a MHSS, a bijou, and even a couple of bantam dacs with nothing more than a $10 Radioshack tool kit, a $10 blue Hakko soldering iron and the soldering braid it came with. Add a $5 spool of solder and you're set.

For casework you'll need more expensive tools but you can get by with just a basic drill if you're going to use Hammond cases which many people do.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nullstring /img/forum/go_quote.gif Maybe I am completely wrong. I have no actual experience with either DAC. It was just my impression from reading about both of them.

Consider one of the more relevent links in my sig for your particular situation.

 

[FallenAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can someone please recommend a DAC that they haven't heard?

Sometimes

When something comes out that looks REALLY good on paper, I might, but otherwise, that's a very bad practice that I really like boomana for bashing on.

 

[The Monkey]

I think the OP should go DIY. Building your own gear feels damn good.

 

[holland]

but can also be a pile of crap if you've not done anything before.

I would start with the y1 from AMB. You can buy predrilled panels, no complex wiring, etc. All parts, including transformers for the SPDIF is onboard. I've been meaning to build one, but I have full-sized DACs.

As for value, it really depends. I've looked at the GD-Compass, but I've not read the megathread. It looks very well built. That's worth alot. I have to say many of my builds aren't as nice. I can't comment on anything other than that.

 

[DoYouRight]

Yea thats where I am at now. I have a Compass, and am not in the design stage of building a B22 and either opus or buffalo32 or something akin. It is really well built but always room for more. And more DIY means ALOT more than a 2x increase retail.

 

[cerbie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugdecoffee /img/forum/go_quote.gif I strongly disagree with the $100+ estimates for diy equipment. I've built several cmoys, a mini3, a MHSS, a bijou, and even a couple of bantam dacs with nothing more than a $10 Radioshack tool kit, a $10 blue Hakko soldering iron and the soldering braid it came with. Add a $5 spool of solder and you're set. For casework you'll need more expensive tools but you can get by with just a basic drill if you're going to use Hammond cases which many people do.

A drill, block of wood, and cheap file set ($3 or so from Parts Express, Harbor Freight, etc.) are all you need to use steel, as well.

$100+ is easy to spend, and I must say I like my 936 (managing the iron's current heat is my Achilles' heal). However, if your main goal is to make one or two gadgets, then it's a total waste.

If you're interested in tinkering, then by all means, DIY. I'll likely never grok the majority of these circuits (though I have surprised myself, on occasion), but it's still fun to mess around. If it weren't, then even $20-30 of equipment would be too much. DIY is not a cost-saving panacea, unless your time and energy are worthless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif DIY also offers transparent designs. you can SEE the design and even the discussion in the forums, as to why this or that was done. with many commercial units, its a black box. some vendors (sigh!) even paint over their chips to try to hide things. blech!! DIY designs are honest designs. they really offer value and actual engineering (and not some mystery magic some vendor is hawking).

QFT. While some companies are good about balancing their own design secrets with offering the customer transparency (Headroom comes to mind), there's a lot of fuzzy info out there. Especially for DACs, there has been enough hype, FUD, and design decisions not matching with the idea of putting out what goes in, to make fully open and transparent designs a nice change of pace, in a traditionally secretive niche.

 

[JamesL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by holland /img/forum/go_quote.gif but can also be a pile of crap if you've not done anything before. I would start with the y1 from AMB. You can buy predrilled panels, no complex wiring, etc. All parts, including transformers for the SPDIF is onboard. I've been meaning to build one, but I have full-sized DACs.

Right... though I'd disagree about "starting with the y1".
SMD soldering isn't hard once you get a hang of it, but the pcm chip and voltage regulators in particular, I wouldn't recommend to someone who hasn't soldered a 8-soic before.. especially with just a radioshack iron.

 

[Billyk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL /img/forum/go_quote.gif Right... though I'd disagree about "starting with the y1". SMD soldering isn't hard once you get a hang of it, but the pcm chip and voltage regulators in particular, I wouldn't recommend to someone who hasn't soldered a 8-soic before.. especially with just a radioshack iron.

There is always some electronic "trash" about, I am sure you can find some anywhere that has lots of SMD parts. Open it it up and go to town practicing soldering and de-soldering, you'll get good enough for a y1 in no time. I hesitate to recommend specific things, but.. I just got an Aoyue 936 for $44.00 shipped. It is a very nice widget and made it quite an easy job of some SMD work I tried it out on last night. Much easier to use that my Weller SP-25.