[fjosh]

...that will work in Linux.  Every DAC I come across says Windows and OSX.  Is there drivers that are installed?  Otherwise what is the reasoning behind nobody listing their product will work with Linux?
 
If this does not exist then I need a DAC that will accept HDMI.
 
My laptop does not have optical out.

 

[Jd007]

NAD M51 has HDMI passthrough however only stereo.

 

[fjosh]

NAD M51 - DIRECT DIGITAL DRIVE DAC & PRE - NEW SEALED

$2,673.42
Buy It Now





 
Good lord, that's more then I have in my entire stereo and headphones setup, including TV.
 
I suppose I should have specified, my budget limit is ~$300.  Less is better but nothing junk either.
 
Anymore then that and I'll just start saving for a Pioneer SC AVR with a Sabre 32 chip in it which is $1600 minus what I will sell my Yamaha RX-V667 for.

 

[Jd007]

that site's nad m51 is way overpriced. you can find new ones for sale at $2k, which is already pretty high. personally i would never pay even the $2k new price for it. but used prices are around $1.2-1.5k, which is a great price point for the dac.
 
and yeah you should've stated your budget in the first post. but if it's at $300 then maybe get a used audiophilleo usb (which i think works on linux) to s/pdif converter? then you can use w/e dac you want

 

[fjosh]

Do you think at that low of a budget I should just save for the Pioneer SC-75?  From what I've read ESS's Sabre 32 is a good chip.  Same chip that's in the Oppo BDP-105 which is highly regarded in other audio forums.

 

[linglingjr]

http://www.amazon.com/Trends-UD-10-1-Lite-Audio-Converter/dp/B003W4G4CY
 
 
EVEN BETTER!:
https://www.google.com/search?q=DAC+for+linux&oq=DAC+for+linux&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.3614j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
 
edit: spoon feeding ftw:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/377811/any-experiences-with-usb-dacs-on-linux
 
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1921650

 

[Jd007]

I personally think that getting a good USB to S/PDIF converter that supports Linux is the best. It is better in the long term than finding a USB DAC that supports Linux IMO because having the converter allows you to use pretty much every single DAC and DAC/amp combo in the world without having to worry about OS compatibility. But of course this is just my personal opinion.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  ...that will work in Linux.  Every DAC I come across says Windows and OSX.  Is there drivers that are installed?  Otherwise what is the reasoning behind nobody listing their product will work with Linux?
If this does not exist then I need a DAC that will accept HDMI.
My laptop does not have optical out.

I would think you would want to post Linux/DAC questions in a Linux website forum.
 
Google for "audiophile linux" and "mpd bitperfect"
 
Here are some sites focused on high end audio quality with computers:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/
http://opensourceaudiophile.com/
http://www.dailyaudiophile.com/