Portable USB DAC/External Soundcard Hunt

[ZephyrSapphire]

So yeah. Been going around headfi using the search and was looking for a portable DAC. No dac/amp whatsoever. Just a DAC. Found 2 of them. Turtle Beach Audio advantage Micro and HIPPOhifi "The Bloat". Anyone has links to anymore portable DACs?

The reason why I don't want to search for a DAC/amp combo is so that I can use different portable headphone amps with it.

Thanks.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Here is a review of a nice USB DAC for $39

REVIEW: Headstage USB DAC Also Reviewed Meier HEADSIX, iBasso D1 and Headstage Lyrix - Page 6 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Entirely powered by USB, with a clean analog signal out via mini plug, to go into any amp you choose.

 

[Capunk]

Do you consider "Onkyo U55SX" as portable DAC/Soundcard?
That's small enough for me to be called "Portable"

 

[oicdn]

The D1 can be used as both JUST a DAC and as both a DAC and amp. As a dac, it's damn good.

I haven't tried to see if the input jack on the Petite will also work as an in/out like the D1, but if it works, it'll be damn good too...

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Hmm. Maybe I should add more detail on what I'll use it for. Travelling on aeroplane. Need the DAC to be battery-powered.

The D1 looks promising aside from the Li-on battery.

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

I guess I'm still looking..

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

FOR LAPTOPS:

The Headstage USB DAC Headphonia.com is pretty decent, requires no power, has a 3.5mm plug for output, to feed your amp. Needs nothing but USB power. $40. We covered that.

The Behringer U-Control is a USB DAC with a pair of RCA outs, a headphone out with volume control, and an optical S/PDIF out in case you have a seperate optical DAC you want to use (plus a pair of RCA inputs) audioMIDI.com - Your Personal Resource for Computer Music Hardware and Software for about $40

The Creative X-FI Xmod is a USB DAC with headphone out and line out, plus their crossfeed and sound expansion features. About $69 retail.

Sys Concept Inc. Fiber Optic Products Attenuators, Patch cords, Laser Diodes, Connectors, MP3, Toslink, Hybrid Adapter and more has a $29 USB DAC that gives both a line out and optical out

FOR OPTICAL COAX INPUTS TOO.

The iBasso D1 - we covered that. It can be tuned with new opamps if you don't like the sound, and has both analog line-out and headphone amp out, yet smaller than the HeadRoom Micro DAC below.

HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears is selling off their 2006 designed Micro DAC which is on sale for $299 (15% off the total if you buy a Micro Amp with it). Just because it says 2006 doesn't mean out of date. I have one and I feel mine sounds better than the D1. It has analog line-out, but no internal amp like the D1, and takes all three -optical, coax and USB.

 

[brown274]

So if you were wanting to hook your portable amp up to your usb port, or hook a stereo reciever up to usb to bypass your sound card, what would be a cheap way to do this.
I could not find the $40 headstage

 

[22906]

There is a DIY design called the Alien DAC that is pretty cheap to build, or maybe someone can build one for you. It's a good quality USB powered DAC.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brown274 /img/forum/go_quote.gif So if you were wanting to hook your portable amp up to your usb port, or hook a stereo reciever up to usb to bypass your sound card, what would be a cheap way to do this. I could not find the $40 headstage

My post lists 4 options to do that, Headstage is just one of them. And, if you wanted the Headstage you just email him.

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Just bought the new version of the headstage USB DAC. The new version will begin shipping at the end of the month according to headphonia. And please do not ask me to review. This will be my first USB DAC so I have nothing to compare it with

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZephyrSapphire /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just bought the new version of the headstage USB DAC. The new version will begin shipping at the end of the month according to headphonia. And please do not ask me to review. This will be my first USB DAC so I have nothing to compare it with

That's okay, I did the review for you a while back. REVIEW: Headstage USB DAC Also Reviewed Meier HEADSIX, iBasso D1 and Headstage Lyrix - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's okay, I did the review for you a while back. REVIEW: Headstage USB DAC Also Reviewed Meier HEADSIX, iBasso D1 and Headstage Lyrix - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

What I meant was a "newer" model of the USB DAC cable is going to start being shipped at the end of the month.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Hmmm, Robert promised me he'd alert me to anything new. Haven't heard about it at all.

 

[mrarroyo]

I am surprised no one has mentioned the HeadRoom Micro Dac.