I need a DAC/Amp/External Sound Card for £50
May 16, 2014 at 10:51 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 10

problematiic

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It must be usable through USB. Preferably not too big so I can switch it between my laptops. It must drive AKG K550s well, and preferably have some upgradeability in it.

Currently I am considering the:
1. SMSL Fort - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fortress-Computer-Decoder-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B009ANWACY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1400251704&sr=1-1&keywords=SMSL+fort
2. Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB Sound Card - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FJMQ4C2/ref=gno_cart_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
3. Asus Xonar U3 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-Xonaru3-Mobile-USB-Soundcard/dp/B004ZI5E1S/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1400251862&sr=1-1&keywords=xonar+u3u3
4. Muse DA20 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/PCM2706-Decoder-Headphone-Amplifier-Adaptor/dp/B008YRHTLO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400256848&sr=8-1&keywords=muse+da20
 
May 16, 2014 at 11:04 AM Post #2 of 10
Would an old style FIIO E7 do the job?
 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FiiO-Portable-Headphone-DAC-Amplifier-black/dp/B003N0XDT4
 
May 16, 2014 at 2:04 PM Post #4 of 10
This is generally considered one of the best for its price: http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=123
 
May 16, 2014 at 2:17 PM Post #6 of 10
Looks good. How powerful is the amplifier? (General impedance. I know sensitivity matters too.)


Sorry. I don't know. I haven't tried it. But the K550s are fairly easy to drive.

Lots of reviews of it:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/hifimediy-sabre-usb-dac
 
May 16, 2014 at 2:58 PM Post #7 of 10
http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=87

I think I'll go for this slightly more expensive version because it supposedly has better performance, it looks a lot more durable, and I would love having the volume dial. Also, for indie rock music, do you think the Sennheiser HD558s or the AKG K550s are better? Cheers!
 
May 16, 2014 at 3:02 PM Post #8 of 10
Haven't heard the 558s, but I like the K550s.

One consideration is that the 558s are open headphones--no isolation from your environment and they will leak sound, if that is a concern.
 

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