[Razornova]

I've been meaning to upgrade my audio setup at home ever since I received some audio equipment from my dad.

My current rig:
Sources:
ThinkPad 13
Benjie S5
XDUO X10 (On the way)

AMP:
Bravo Audio Ocean - http://www.head-fi.org/products/bravo-audio-ocean


Cans:
DT1350
HD598 cs
LZ A4 (On the way)

I've shortlisted the following DACs based on reviews, but don't have much idea what I'm doing as I've never dabbled with DACs:
1. HiFimeDIY 9018 - http://hifimediy.com/Sabre-9018-DAC

2. SMSL Sanskrit 6th - http://www.head-fi.org/t/737526/smsl-sanskrit-24bit-192khz-usb-dac

3. FX-Audio DAC-X6 2016 - http://www.head-fi.org/t/809203/fx-audio-dac-x6-2016-release-potential-sub-100-king

The HiFime 9018 prob has the most number of and reliable reviews on it's sound quality, however, I noticed it's only compared against other portable USB DACs in reviews. Am I right to assume desktop DACs like SMSL Sanskrit and FX-Audio X6 are in another class?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Think I would go for a Hifimediy product.
I try not to buy SMSL stuff (reliability issues).

 

[Guidostrunk]

My recommendation would be an odac , or possibly a modi. I believe there's an odac in the "for sale" forum for $100, and a modi for less.

 

[Razornova]

Thanks for the suggestions. However, I've read that the hifime 9018 is rated better than the odac.

 

[Guidostrunk]

It's all subjective. I've read that the odac competes with the yggy. Go figure.

Thanks for the suggestions. However, I've read that the hifime 9018 is rated better than the odac.

 

[Dexter22]

Thanks for the suggestions. However, I've read that the hifime 9018 is rated better than the odac.

I have a Hifimediy 9018 Asynchronous version, and a JDS labs c5d with me right now. I had a o2 for a breif period. If c5d is atleast 80 percent of ODAC, then I can say, go ahead with the 9018, and if you try to 'upgrade' to a ODAC, u will be disappointed, that what u might gain for the extra money is almost nothing. I must agree that the c5d is more silent, but hifimediy with its built in amp is more powerful than the c5d on low gain, and its more spacious.  on A-B'ing I was struggling to setlle on to one! ODAC, must be little better than c5d, but for the price 9018 should be the solid value.

 

[bob80]

I'd go with this one: Douk Audio Dsd1796 http://s.aliexpress.com/m26BvuEf

It features asynchronous USB receiver (xmos) as well as native dsd support.

 

[Dexter22]

I'd go with this one: Douk Audio Dsd1796 http://s.aliexpress.com/m26BvuEf

It features asynchronous USB receiver (xmos) as well as native dsd support.

I think if you were just looking at the specs you can get it even cheaper, https://www.ebay.de/itm/272413546507

I feel the implementation of an inferior chip even in a better way would sound better than a hi end chip poorly implemented. when I listen to hifimediy I have although I feel it's a damn good 9018 chip, the background is not as silent as the c5d with a much cheaper (I guess) pcm 1502 chip. To say, even fiio k1 has the same pcm 1502. The specs of the chip may not be equal to the specs of the dac as such after implementation, or am I wrong here? I don't think the power supply or of any components before the line out and the dac out play a significantrole in tuning the sound

 

[bob80]

I think if you were just looking at the specs you can get it even cheaper, https://www.ebay.de/itm/272413546507

I feel the implementation of an inferior chip even in a better way would sound better than a hi end chip poorly implemented. when I listen to hifimediy I have although I feel it's a damn good 9018 chip, the background is not as silent as the c5d with a much cheaper (I guess) pcm 1502 chip. To say, even fiio k1 has the same pcm 1502. The specs of the chip may not be equal to the specs of the dac as such after implementation, or am I wrong here? I don't think the power supply or of any components before the line out and the dac out play a significantrole in tuning the sound

The one you linked features the pcm5102 instead of dsd1796 and tda1308 instead of the more powerful max4410.

I own the Douk Dac, I use it with my Sennheiser hd598 cs and I feel that its price/performance and features/price ratios are quite high.

Using an external DC source (such as a battery with a step down) allowed me to get a darker background.

 

[music4mhell]

Schiit Fulla 2 can be a good solution !

 

[melen1717]

 And on "entry level DAC" maybe our friend should take a look at Audio Engine D1. Not cheap but very good...
 
Thanks George

 

[melen1717]

  Schiit Fulla 2 can be a good solution !

Changing the subject... I need an A/B speaker switch with RCA jacks. What can you recommend???

 

[Dexter22]

That ac

The one you linked features the pcm5102 instead of dsd1796 and tda1308 instead of the more powerful max4410.

I own the Douk Dac, I use it with my Sennheiser hd598 cs and I feel that its price/performance and features/price ratios are quite high.

Using an external DC source (such as a battery with a step down) allowed me to get a darker background.[/quote ok, now I am thinking : can I isolate the power supply of my hifimediy to get a darker background? I am having a Anker power bank which is 20000 mah, which may feed the dac for a week? What cable should I have?

 

[bob80]

That ac

The one you linked features the pcm5102 instead of dsd1796 and tda1308 instead of the more powerful max4410.

I own the Douk Dac, I use it with my Sennheiser hd598 cs and I feel that its price/performance and features/price ratios are quite high.

Using an external DC source (such as a battery with a step down) allowed me to get a darker background.[/quote ok, now I am thinking : can I isolate the power supply of my hifimediy to get a darker background? I am having a Anker power bank which is 20000 mah, which may feed the dac for a week? What cable should I have?

Your Dac has a single USB cable which carries both data and power. You should split that cable (using a Y usb cable) so that you have two ends. One goes to your power bank, the other to your source.

The USB connector, however, has 4 conductors: 2 for data and 2 for current. You should isolate the 2 current conductors on the cable that carries data to the Dac and the 2 data conductors on the cable that carries power. Doing this you will have a pure DC source and a pure data cable.

 

[Razornova]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733-19.html
 
So after reading the mentioned article.... I might go for something cheap with low noise.