prelude or microdac?

[KPT]

First post here - please be gentle!

I've started using a PC for almost all of my music listening, but the Audigy card leaves an awful lot to be desired (I know, I know).

Have read a lot of USB DAC threads and am thinking about a microDAC (or a 2007 microDAC).

Getting an X-Fi Prelude would be about $150 cheaper.

My question: Would the external DAC be significantly nicer sounding?

Some details:
--Stereo only, music is the priority, no gaming, no surround.
--I can afford up to us$400 - just.
--Will connect to a decent NAD integrated amp for speaker & headphone listening.
--With external I'd be inclined to use USB, with windows-native intallation, b/c I want to use many typical music & vid programs and can't handle too much messing around with drivers. Could also use optical from the M/B.
--Will probably shift to Vista fairly soon.

Thanks for any tips! I'll let you wise folks guide my wallet.

 

[n4k33n]

I would buy the $2007 Microdac. It uses the space that used to be empty for beefier components then the original.

Anyway, there are a lot of benefits of the microdac. First, its extremely small in comparison with the other dacs on the market. Its easy to carry or move, and looks natural on any desk. Its well built, with a solid company backing it with a 30 day guarantee. It accepts optical/spdif and usb. That means you plug multiple devices into it. A CDP to the optical, and use the computer with the usb, or whatever else you desire.

It uses standard usb audio drivers, meaning it doesn't need specialized drivers. Even the famously trainwreck os called vista will work with it without problems.

A microdac is gonna sound a hell of a lot better than any internal sound card you get. Its just a fantastic product with a great company behind it. You can listen to the guys who tell you that you might be able to get some chinese dac for cheaper. I did the research on all of those too. They are good products, but they really don't seem like they even close to the craftmanship and attention to detail the microdac was made with. And how many of those have a 30 day money back guarantee?

I ordered one myself a month ago. I loved it enough that I sent it back, payed them an extra $400, and am now waiting for my ultra micro dac that should be shipping soon. I am beside myself with excitement.

 

[KPT]

Thanks for the advice n4k33n.

I notice that the prelude and micro use similar components. Do you think the micro sounds better due to it being located away from the overall pc hardware, or due to a better implementation of the components? Or both?

 

[Simon Sez]

Does anyone have the link to where I can buy a microDac please private message if so. Thanks.

 

[Cankin]

^ HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears

a Head-Fi sponsor

 

[KarateKid]

Does anyone know if hardware acceleration (including creative's eax and other 3d effects) will be transfered through the xfi onto a DAC when connected through an optical cable? Would one "lose" any hardware features from the xfi when its connected to a DAC (like 128 hardware voices or how ever many the Xfi can support)?

 

[Capunk]

To person above me:

Yes, everything is retained when you're using digital output from X-FI toolbar (bit-perfect on), the only thing that you loss... is the 7.1 surround capability, because external DAC only accept Stereo signal.

 

[KarateKid]

Well I don't think 7.1 works well for headphones anyhow, so no loss.

For games though I should run my XFi in game mode instead of audio creation (losing bit-perfect in games... probably makes zero difference). Because in audio creation mode you don't get CMSS3D. Just something that I noticed.

 

[infinitesymphony]

The AuzenTech X-Fi Prelude uses the AKM AK4396 for D/A while the MicroDAC uses the Cirrus CS4398. These are very different-sounding DACs, and their sound signatures should be factored into the decision.

In my experience, the AK4396 is cool but somewhat aggressive and very resolving, the CS4398 is just a bit warmer, very detailed, with excellent extension, but a little laid-back. Soundstage and imaging of both are very good.

I'd say that the CS4398 is the more "musical" of the two, while the AK4396 is the more "analytical" DAC. Some people would reverse those opinions.

 

[j0shimi]

KPT, what have you gone for? I have a X-Fi Prelude and am really interested in the MicroDac but want to retain all the 3D effects and EAX when in Gaming Mode on the Prelude.

 

[Robgo]

I bought an auzen rather than use a seperate dac. I think for the money a dac is something to take into consideration when you already have very excellent base components. Kind of like an added luxury. I'm happy without a dac for the moment. I don't have any noise problems with my card EM static problems, noise etc. Absolute silence. I'm going to test different opamps though to try and get an even better sound.

 

[j0shimi]

Yeah I love my Prelude too but I would like to give the MicroDac a go, I just dont want to lose any effects for gaming. Do you know if I would lose them with a MicroDac connected via Toslink or are there any other options?

I do have a slight issue with noise from the card but mainly with IEM's but that's not really an issue. I also use HD650 but with a Gilmore Lite with DPS so I would be interested in your views of different opamps.

 

[Robgo]

you wouldn't lose them over spdif. I used to have mine connected to a receiver/speakers and still got the effects/

Weird. I have absolutely no nose issues with mine.

Three things that worried me beforehand

The cable I was sent was 12' instead of 6'
I read that the Darkvoice 332 hummed for some people
My experience with analog soundcards has been negative with IEM and static.

When I first turned on the darkvoice and put my headphones on I thought for sure it must be off because of how silent it was. I even put the volume very high with no noise on and just heard total silence. I will write my experience with the opamps once I get them. Very cool that this soundcard allows you to change them.

 

[j0shimi]

That's good to hear. What cable did you order? Would the Toslink cable that came with Prelude be ok for use with the MicroDac and keeping all effects?
Yeah the Prelude is amazing, I sold my Elite Pro and got one of these and I can tell you it's definitely better, the bass is a whole lot clearer.

I hadn't even thought about upgrading the opamp until now, this thread is not helping my addiction!

 

[Robgo]

Well I use an analog cable now. Just a dayton cable from parts express (pretty good quality). I wish it were shorter though.

With optical, the cable you use really doesn't matter very much. If there was a fault in the cable then it simple wouldn't output any sound since all it does is transmit binary code. It's not possible for the optical cable to affect sound the same way analog cables can. It either works or it doesn't.


Edit: should also mention that changing the opamp on the soundcard would be pointless if you're using a dac since opamps only affect the analog signal on the soundcard. You could change them on the dac though if it allows it.

I'm not sure of the technicalities, how the eax etc effects work when they're being sent raw to the dac to process, but the effects do work that way.