Help me find a DAC

[RAZRr1275]

So I'll be getting  Bellari HA540 soon and a new DAC seems like a good idea to get with it. I'm looking at the HRT Music Streamer II, the DAC Destroyer, ODAC and the Nuforce UDac. Which one would be the best? Source is the usb port of a laptop with mostly 320 kbps and flac music. Phones are Grado sr80i, Denon d2000 and akg k702. If I could get something under $100 that would be great but not the end of the world. What do y'all think?

 

[RAZRr1275]

anyone heard any of or a couple of these? what do they sound like/what possible differences do they have?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

So I'll be getting  Bellari HA540 soon and a new DAC seems like a good idea to get with it. I'm looking at the HRT Music Streamer II, the DAC Destroyer, ODAC and the Nuforce UDac. Which one would be the best? Source is the usb port of a laptop with mostly 320 kbps and flac music. Phones are Grado sr80i, Denon d2000 and akg k702. If I could get something under $100 that would be great but not the end of the world. What do y'all think?

I've got the DAC Destroyer, is powered by the USB connection, does sound good, $60 on eBay, ships from Canada.
Should be able to decently drive the Denon AH-D2000 without an add-on amplifier, but you would want to use one anyway.

 

[terokk]

Quote:

So I'll be getting  Bellari HA540 soon and a new DAC seems like a good idea to get with it. I'm looking at the HRT Music Streamer II, the DAC Destroyer, ODAC and the Nuforce UDac. Which one would be the best? Source is the usb port of a laptop with mostly 320 kbps and flac music. Phones are Grado sr80i, Denon d2000 and akg k702. If I could get something under $100 that would be great but not the end of the world. What do y'all think?

Personally, I use whatever dac compliments my headphones. As for the AKG k702, I've used the HRT ms2 and it was actually really good, not as great as my other high end dacs obviously but it tames the treble of the akg's quite a bit and gives it more bass impact if that matters to you. Though it does get a bit muddy sometimes depending on your amp.

 

[NOMBEDES]

Advice please.  I have Sennheiser 700's and want to move from SS to desktop tube.  I am 99% I will go with a Woo WA6SE.  Still stumped on a compatible DAC.  
 
I will run iMac = DAC = Woo + Senn 700.
 
Any advice?

 

[RAZRr1275]

do you think you could start your own thread so that this one doesn't get cluttered and i know which advice is mine and which is yours? thanks

 

[NOMBEDES]

No problem.

 

[tme110]

I've listened to a couple of those but owned the HRT and liked it. It's a nice simple no nonsense DAC that you can just through over the edge of your desk and hide it if you want.  It only does 24/96 but that should be ok given the price besides it is asynch which is a great technology for that price.  My biggest hesitation about getting one again personally is that it's only a usb DAC and it's usb powered.  I'd rather have the option of going COAX or optical, esp if it were my only DAC - but if that doesn't matter it doesn't matter...
 

 

[BaudlyDamage]

I've had the HRT Music Streamer II for about a year and I love it. The sound is great and the price point is palpable for almost anyone. 

 

[RAZRr1275]

i decided to give the dac destroyer a shot. Since i'm trying to stay sort of low budget getting the hand made things that swing above their belt price wise is helping out

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

i decided to give the dac destroyer a shot. Since i'm trying to stay sort of low budget getting the hand made things that swing above their belt price wise is helping out

The Seller on Ebay, hotaudio40, is the one I got my Dac Destroyer from.
Ships from Canada.
Can even power my 32-ohm headphones on it's own

 

[RAZRr1275]

Quote:

The Seller on Ebay, hotaudio40, is the one I got my Dac Destroyer from.
Ships from Canada.
Can even power my 32-ohm headphones on it's own

yup - that's who i got it from - scored it for 60 bucks

 

[hionhifi]

I've owned the NuForce before and liked it alot. I'd recommend it. Having said that, alot of DAC's are out now that perform above there price point at first, but after listening, the differences come out. I think the NuForce is a standout even after extended listening.