Laptop > ? > DAC = which would you go for?

[Distroyed]

If you're just looking for a digital source, all you need is a soundcard capable of bit-perfect output. I can't recall, but isn't the TBAAM such a card? If so, there's $25 and you're good.

 

[audioengr]

Here is how I rate the quality of playback from these stock converters 1= best:

1) Creative Audigy 2 NX
2) Edirol UA-5
3) Squeezebox
4) Transit

I have not heard the HagTech, but I know the chip inside and it does not use a custom driver like the solutions above. It uses the standard Windows drivers (not the same as ASIO).

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer