[Caution]

you can get the Chaintech AV-710 from Secret Net a NSW Store for dirt cheap

but you will need an amp to use the higher quality Wolfson DAC from what I hear.

 

[Joshatdot]

AV-710 from AU online

http://www.vtechindustries.com.au/vt...o.php?id=AV710

 

[robert1325]

how does the live24bit compare to the Audigy 2? I'm using the latter one right now but have a live24bit lying around....

 

[bindibadgi]

Hey cool! Places in Australia! I will definitely keep those places in mind.

I'm still tossing up as to whether I should get an Alien DAC kit though. If my phones are sensitive enough it should drive them OK right? If it won't drive the phones as well as the sound card, would it still be alright? I listen to my music on a pretty low volume as a rule, but I would hate for the balance to be out or something due to poor driving, and I really can't afford to buy the DAC and an amp (and the phones), even a cmoy, right now.

 

[Herbal]

How about using a "USB Audio Controller"...i.e. one of those external USB soundcards as seen here?

I've got one being posted to me from Hong Kong for £3.5inc shipping.

 

[bindibadgi]

I'm very curious about those, but it seems that it's down to luck as to whether you get a good one or not. I might yet try that, since they are so cheap, but then again, if I pay a bit more now, I'm sure to get something good.

 

[jay.money]

I just got one of these (really, just. I've got about 24 minutes on it) and I'm very happy with the improvement. Do a search on it, there are a few reviews out there...

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/tr...io_ud10_e.html

 

[bindibadgi]

I just read a bit on that one, and it seems some people are less than happy with the analogue out. If that's a real concern then it's out for me, since that's all I'd be using. I'd just have USB in and headphone out. No other DAC, no amp. But I would be using Equation Audio RP-21 phones, which are very sensitive, and I do listen at low levels, so maybe it would be alright for me, and, well, if I really get bitten hard and go out and buy a DAC/amp later, then this thing would feed it well.

But what's the word on that analogue out?

 

[bindibadgi]

Anyone with the AV-710, what chance is there that I will still have interference? I get all the noise from hard drive etc (including mouse movements) and I don't want that!

So how would the av-710 compare to the Trends UD-10 or the Alien DAC? How do they compare to each other?

All I want to do is have one thing that is either in my PC or next to it, which I can plug my headphones into. And I want it to sound good. And I want it to be cheap.

I forgot I had a birthday coming up next week (!!) so I could throw some more money towards this - up to say $150 max, but that would have to include shipping to Australia.

 

[Tachikoma]

COEM Audio Australia has the UD-10 for AUD$160, I think.

 

[bindibadgi]

Yep I noticed COEM, and if I decide to go with this one, I'll be buying from them. That's a good price, though I think it's $165.

Still tossing up though, between:

Alien DAC
Trends UD-10
AV-710
E-MU 0202 and
ESI Juli@

Man I hate this place. I thought I could narrow it down, but I've only increased the number of choices!

 

[Cauhtemoc]

The Juli@ is probably the best in terms of pure audio quality out of the cards you mentioned. It will require an amp though.